Who Owns Tumblr?
Tumblr is owned by Automattic, a private American web software company. Tumblr is a social media and blogging platform allowing users to create, share, and discover content including text, images, videos, and multimedia.
Parent Company
Automattic Inc.
Acquired
2019
Status
Private
Headquarters
San Francisco, California, USA
Who Owns Tumblr?
- Parent Company: Automattic Inc.
- Ownership Type: Subsidiary
- Acquisition Year: 2019
- Company Type: Privately Held
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| Tumblr | Automattic Inc. | Subsidiary |
History of Tumblr
- Founded: 2007
- Founders: David Karp
- Acquired by Automattic Inc.: 2019
Tumblr was founded in 2007 by David Karp as a social media and blogging platform. The platform launched with the vision of providing an easy-to-use platform for creating and sharing content. Tumblr quickly gained traction among users seeking a simple blogging and content-sharing experience.
In its early years, Tumblr expanded rapidly, attracting millions of users from diverse communities including artists, writers, activists, and fans. The platform became known for its creative communities and user-generated content. Tumblr evolved into a major social media platform.
In 2013, Yahoo acquired Tumblr for approximately $1.1 billion, recognizing the platform's value and user base. Under Yahoo's ownership, Tumblr continued to operate as a distinct brand while benefiting from Yahoo's resources. However, the acquisition faced challenges as Yahoo struggled with its broader business strategy.
In 2019, Verizon Media (Yahoo's successor) sold Tumblr to Automattic for approximately $3 million, a significant decline from the original acquisition price. Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com, acquired Tumblr to expand its content platform portfolio. Following the acquisition, Tumblr has focused on rebuilding and improving the platform.
About Automattic Inc.
Who founded Automattic?
Automattic was founded in 2005 by Matt Mullenweg, who co-created WordPress in 2003. Mullenweg serves as CEO and is the largest individual shareholder.
Does Automattic own WordPress?
No. WordPress is open-source software governed by the WordPress Foundation. Automattic operates WordPress.com as a commercial hosted service and contributes significantly to WordPress core development, but the open-source WordPress project is separate from Automattic's commercial operations.
Is Automattic publicly traded?
No. Automattic is a privately held company and has not pursued a public listing. The company has been valued at approximately $7.5 billion in private funding rounds.
What is the WP Engine lawsuit about?
In September 2024, Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg blocked WP Engine's access to WordPress.org resources, accusing WP Engine of not contributing adequately to the open-source WordPress project. WP Engine filed a lawsuit in October 2024. In December 2024, a federal court issued a preliminary injunction ordering Automattic to restore WP Engine's access. The case was ongoing as of February 2026.
What was Automattic's 2024 revenue?
Automattic reported $710 million in revenue in 2024, up approximately 11% year over year from $580.2 million in 2022.
What platforms does Automattic operate?
Automattic operates WordPress.com, WooCommerce, Tumblr, Jetpack, Akismet, Gravatar, and WordPress VIP, among other services.
- Founded: 2005
- Headquarters: San Francisco, California, USA
- Company Type: Privately Held
Where Is Tumblr Made / Based?
- Headquarters: San Francisco, California, USA
- Manufacturing / Operations: United States
Tumblr Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +Owned by Automattic, a company with expertise in content platforms
- +Access to Automattic's technology infrastructure and resources
- +Integration with WordPress ecosystem and services
- +Global reach and operational scale
- +Established user community and content ecosystem
- +Focus on user empowerment and content creation
Considerations
- -Limited access to public market capital compared to listed companies
- -Dependency on Automattic's strategic priorities
- -Competition from other social media and blogging platforms
- -Regulatory oversight from social media and content authorities
- -Privacy and content moderation concerns
- -Changing social media trends and user preferences
Frequently Asked Questions About Tumblr
Competitors to Tumblr
No direct competitors found in the same category. This could be because Tumblroperates in a unique market segment or we're still building our competitor database.
Jobs at Automattic Inc.
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