Who Owns Stranger Things?

What does Netflix own?
Netflix operates its streaming platform and produces original content through Netflix Studios, Netflix Animation, and other production units. Its most successful original properties include Stranger Things, The Crown, Squid Game, Wednesday, Bridgerton, Money Heist, and The Witcher. Netflix also licenses content from third-party studios and has expanded into mobile gaming and live programming.

Is Netflix publicly traded?
Yes, Netflix is publicly traded on NASDAQ under ticker NFLX. The company has been publicly traded since its IPO in January 2002, when it sold 5.5 million shares at $15 each. Netflix has no controlling shareholder or parent company. Its shares are held primarily by institutional investors including Vanguard Group, BlackRock, and State Street Corporation, along with individual shareholders worldwide.

Who founded Netflix?
Netflix was founded in 1997 by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph in Scotts Valley, California. Hastings, a software engineer who previously founded Pure Software, provided the initial capital and vision. Randolph, a marketing executive, helped develop the initial business concept. The company started as a DVD-by-mail rental service before evolving into the world's largest streaming platform.

How many subscribers does Netflix have?
Netflix reported 325 million global paid subscribers as of Q4 2025, up from 301.2 million a year earlier. This represents continued global growth driven by the password-sharing crackdown, expansion into new markets, and investment in original and live content. Netflix has approximately twice the subscriber base of Disney+, its nearest competitor.

What is Netflix's revenue?
Netflix reported full-year 2025 revenue of approximately $43.9 billion, up from $39.0 billion in FY2024. Q4 2025 revenue was $12.05 billion, up 17.6% year-over-year. Net income for FY2025 was approximately $8.7 billion. The company guided for organic revenue growth of 12 to 14% for 2026.

Does Netflix have advertising?
Yes, Netflix launched an ad-supported subscription tier in November 2022 in partnership with Microsoft. The ad tier has grown to tens of millions of subscribers and generated over $1.5 billion in advertising revenue in 2025. Netflix plans to roughly double advertising revenue in 2026. The company has transitioned ad sales from Microsoft to its own in-house ad technology platform.

What is Netflix's content spending?
Netflix plans to increase content spending to $20 billion in 2026, up approximately 10% from 2025. This investment covers original series, films, documentaries, licensed content, and live programming. Netflix's content spending is among the highest of any entertainment company, reflecting its strategy of maintaining a competitive content library to attract and retain subscribers.

Who is the CEO of Netflix?
Greg Peters and Ted Sarandos serve as Co-CEOs of Netflix. They were appointed to this role in January 2023 when co-founder Reed Hastings transitioned from CEO to Executive Chairman. Sarandos is responsible for content strategy and partnerships, while Peters oversees technology, product, and advertising. Hastings remains involved as Executive Chairman and is the largest individual shareholder.

Does Netflix have live sports?
Yes, Netflix has expanded into live programming. The company signed a 10-year, $5 billion deal with WWE to stream Raw beginning in January 2025. Netflix also streamed NFL games on Christmas Day in 2024 and 2025, and a live boxing match between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson in July 2024 that attracted approximately 60 million households. Live programming is part of Netflix's strategy to diversify content and attract advertising revenue.