Feb 1, 1975: How a $3,000 Deal Sparked Microsoft’s Global Ascent
In this edition of This Week in Wall Street History, host Todd M. Schoenberger explores a pivotal moment in tech history: February 1, 1975, when Bill Gates and Paul Allen sold their BASIC interpreter for the Altair 8800 to MITS for $3,000 plus royalties—a modest start that launched Microsoft’s lifelong trajectory.
Today, Microsoft is a dominant force: with a market capitalization soaring to approximately $3.7 trillion, it ranks among the largest public companies globally. Over the past year, Microsoft stock has returned +24%, outperforming the S&P 500’s roughly +15% gain. Looking broader, over the last five years Microsoft has delivered a staggering ~158% return, significantly outpacing the ~90% return of the S&P 500. In 2025, Microsoft's stock continues to shine—up about 19% year-to-date, easily ahead of the broader market.
From a humble coding deal to an AI and cloud juggernaut, Microsoft’s journey shows how small moments can lead to monumental success—and how outperformers can lift markets forward.
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