Who Owns eBay?

When it comes to the question of who owns eBay, the answer is not as straightforward as one might think. While the popular e-commerce platform is well-known around the world, its ownership has changed hands multiple times throughout its history. In this article, we will dive into the complex ownership history of eBay and explore the various companies and individuals who have had a stake in this online marketplace.

eBay's Early Days

eBay was founded in 1995 by Pierre Omidyar as AuctionWeb, a site where people could buy and sell goods online through an auction-style format. It quickly became popular, and in 1997, the company went public with an initial public offering (IPO) that raised $63.5 million.

eBay's IPO made many people involved with the company incredibly wealthy, including Omidyar, who became a billionaire almost overnight. However, he remained the majority shareholder of eBay until 1998, when he decided to sell off a portion of his shares to the public.

eBay's Ownership Changes Hands

Over the years, eBay's ownership has changed hands multiple times. In 2002, eBay acquired PayPal, a popular online payment platform, for $1.5 billion. This acquisition gave eBay a significant advantage in the online marketplace, as buyers and sellers could now complete transactions through PayPal's secure platform.

In 2015, eBay spun off PayPal into a separate company, making it a publicly traded entity. At the time, eBay owned approximately 80% of PayPal's outstanding shares, but that number has since dwindled as eBay continues to sell off its stake in the company.

eBay's Current Ownership

As of 2023, eBay is a publicly traded company listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange under the ticker symbol EBAY. While Pierre Omidyar remains involved with the company as a board member, he no longer holds a majority stake in the company. In fact, no individual or company holds a controlling interest in eBay, as the company is owned by a diverse group of institutional and individual investors.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the question of who owns eBay is not a simple one to answer. While Pierre Omidyar founded the company and was the majority shareholder for several years, he has since sold off a significant portion of his shares. Today, eBay is owned by a diverse group of institutional and individual investors, with no single entity holding a controlling interest in the company.

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