NFLX · Los Gatos, California
Netflix
Blockbuster laughed them out of the room. Then went bankrupt. Netflix hit 325 million subscribers.
Live Price
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Today
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Symbol
NFLX
1997
A $40 late fee and a better idea
The founding myth of Netflix is that Reed Hastings was inspired after paying a $40 late fee to Blockbuster for an overdue copy of Apollo 13. Hastings has since admitted this story was invented for marketing purposes — the real origin was Marc Randolph suggesting that DVDs could be rented by mail. Both versions are entertaining. One is true.
2000
Blockbuster says no to $50 million
In 2000, Netflix offered to sell itself to Blockbuster for $50 million. Blockbuster's CEO laughed them out of the room. At the time, Netflix had 300,000 subscribers and was losing money. Blockbuster had 60 million customers. In 2010, Blockbuster filed for bankruptcy. Netflix was worth $13 billion. By 2026, Netflix would be worth over $400 billion.
2013
House of Cards and the prestige TV bet
Netflix spent $100 million producing two seasons of House of Cards before a single episode had aired, without even a pilot. It was the largest single content bet in television history at the time. The show won three Emmy Awards. The era of streaming-native prestige television had begun — and Netflix had written the rulebook.
2022
The crash and the comeback
In April 2022, Netflix reported its first subscriber loss in over a decade. The stock fell 35% in a day. Within 18 months, Netflix had cracked down on password sharing — converting millions of borrowers into paying subscribers — introduced an ad-supported tier, and added over 40 million new paying members. The recovery was one of the fastest in streaming history.
2026
325 million subscribers and the advertising empire
Netflix ended 2025 with 325 million paid subscribers globally — the largest streaming audience ever assembled. The ad-supported tier, launched in late 2022, reached 250 million monthly active viewers by May 2026, with 60% of new sign-ups now choosing the cheaper ad plan. Ad revenue is on track to double to approximately $3 billion in 2026. Full-year 2025 revenue was $45.18 billion, growing 16% year-over-year, and Netflix guided 2026 revenue of $50–52 billion. The company had also announced an $83 billion offer for Warner Bros. Discovery's streaming assets, which would make it the most dominant entertainment company since the golden age of Hollywood.
The Numbers
market cap
$286B (July 2026)
revenue
$41.2B (FY2025)
net income
$8.6B (FY2025)
employees
14,000
ipo year
2002
ipo price
$15
current ceo
Ted Sarandos & Greg Peters
revenue forecast
$45.8B (2026 analyst consensus)
Who Owns Netflix
Vanguard Group
Largest institutional holder
BlackRock
Institutional investor
Capital Research Global Investors
Institutional investor
Public float
Remaining shares publicly traded
Frequently Asked Questions
Who founded Netflix?
Netflix was founded by Reed Hastings, Marc Randolph.
When was Netflix founded?
Netflix was founded in 1997.
Where was Netflix founded?
Netflix was headquartered in Los Gatos, California.
Why was Netflix created?
The founding myth of Netflix is that Reed Hastings was inspired after paying a $40 late fee to Blockbuster for an overdue copy of Apollo 13. Hastings has since admitted this story was invented for marketing purposes — the real origin was Marc Randolph suggesting that DVDs could be rented by mail. Both versions are entertaining. One is true.
What does Netflix do?
Blockbuster laughed them out of the room. Then went bankrupt. Netflix hit 325 million subscribers. Blockbuster turned down Netflix for $50 million. Netflix now has 325 million subscribers and $45 billion in revenue. The full story of Netflix.
How did Netflix grow?
Netflix ended 2025 with 325 million paid subscribers globally — the largest streaming audience ever assembled. The ad-supported tier, launched in late 2022, reached 250 million monthly active viewers by May 2026, with 60% of new sign-ups now choosing the cheaper ad plan. Ad revenue is on track to double to approximately $3 billion in 2026. Full-year 2025 revenue was $45.18 billion, growing 16% year-over-year, and Netflix guided 2026 revenue of $50–52 billion. The company had also announced an $83 billion offer for Warner Bros. Discovery's streaming assets, which would make it the most dominant entertainment company since the golden age of Hollywood.
Who owns Netflix?
Vanguard Group owns ~8.5%. BlackRock owns 7.2%. Capital Research Global Investors owns ~6.1%. Public float owns ~78.2% (Largest institutional holder)
How much of Netflix does Vanguard Group own?
Vanguard Group owns ~8.5% (Largest institutional holder)
When did Netflix go public?
Netflix had its IPO in 2002, with an initial share price of $15.
How many employees does Netflix have?
Netflix has approximately 14,000 employees.
What is Netflix's revenue?
Netflix generated $41.2B (FY2025) in revenue. Analysts forecast $45.8B (2026 analyst consensus).
What is Netflix's market cap?
Netflix has a market capitalisation of $286B (July 2026).
Who is the CEO of Netflix?
The current CEO of Netflix is Ted Sarandos & Greg Peters.
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