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.

Matt Mullenweg co-created WordPress in 2003 and founded Automattic in 2005 to build commercial services around the WordPress ecosystem. WordPress.com launched in 2005 as a hosted blogging platform. Jetpack launched in 2011 as a plugin suite for self-hosted WordPress sites. Akismet, a spam-filtering service, was one of Automattic's earliest products.

Automattic acquired WooCommerce in 2015 for approximately $30 million, significantly expanding its presence in e-commerce. WooCommerce has since grown to power a substantial share of all e-commerce websites globally. In 2019, Automattic acquired Tumblr from Verizon Media for a reported $3 million, a fraction of the $1.1 billion Yahoo paid for Tumblr in 2013.

The company reported revenue of $45 million in 2012, $418.3 million in 2021, $580.2 million in 2022, and $710 million in 2024. Automattic has remained private throughout its history, with Mullenweg consistently declining to pursue a public listing.

In September 2024, Mullenweg publicly accused WP Engine, a managed WordPress hosting company, of being a "cancer to WordPress" and of not contributing sufficiently to the open-source WordPress project. Automattic blocked WP Engine's access to WordPress.org resources, including plugin updates. WP Engine filed a lawsuit against Automattic and Mullenweg in October 2024. In December 2024, a federal court issued a preliminary injunction ordering Automattic to restore WP Engine's access to WordPress.org resources. The dispute generated significant controversy in the WordPress community and raised questions about the governance of the WordPress open-source project and the relationship between Automattic and WordPress.org.

Automattic has implemented sustainability initiatives focused on remote work culture, open-source contribution, and ethical technology practices across its global operations. The company's distributed workforce model represents a significant environmental advantage, eliminating the need for large office buildings and reducing commuting-related carbon emissions across its approximately 4,000 employees in over 90 countries.

The company's environmental strategy centers on its fully remote work model, which reduces office energy consumption, eliminates commuting emissions, and allows employees to work from locations with lower carbon footprints. Automattic has documented the environmental benefits of distributed work and serves as a model for remote-first technology companies seeking to reduce their environmental impact.

In open-source ethics, Automattic maintains a strong commitment to contributing to the WordPress open-source project and other open-source initiatives. The company employs numerous WordPress core contributors and provides significant resources to maintain and improve the WordPress ecosystem. However, the company's relationship with the open-source community has faced scrutiny following the WP Engine controversy, which raised questions about the boundaries between commercial interests and open-source governance.

For ethical business practices, Automattic maintains comprehensive programs for data privacy, content moderation, and responsible platform management across its services including WordPress.com, Tumblr, and WooCommerce. The company has established content policies, privacy controls, and community guidelines that balance free expression with user safety and platform responsibility.

Automattic engages in community support through WordPress education programs, developer conferences, and open-source initiatives. The company publishes annual reports on its distributed work practices and contributes to discussions about the future of remote work and open-source software development.

Automattic has received recognition for workplace innovation, remote work leadership, and technology entrepreneurship in the web publishing and e-commerce industries.

• Great Place to Work Certification: Multiple years of recognition for workplace culture and employee satisfaction across its distributed workforce, demonstrating successful remote work implementation.
• Remote Work Leadership Awards: Recognition for pioneering distributed work practices and serving as a model for remote-first technology companies in the post-pandemic work environment.
• Technology Innovation Awards: Recognition for WordPress.com, WooCommerce, and other platforms' contributions to web publishing and e-commerce innovation from technology publications and industry associations.
• Entrepreneur Recognition: CEO Matt Mullenweg has received numerous awards for entrepreneurship and technology innovation, particularly for his role in creating WordPress and building Automattic's commercial ecosystem.
• Open Source Community Awards: Recognition for contributions to the WordPress open-source project and support for open-source software development, though this recognition has been complicated by recent governance controversies.

Automattic has faced significant controversy and regulatory scrutiny related to WordPress governance, competitive practices, and the company's role in the open-source ecosystem.

WordPress governance controversy represents the most significant challenge, particularly regarding CEO Matt Mullenweg's dual role as Automattic CEO and WordPress.org steward. In September 2024, Mullenweg blocked WP Engine's access to WordPress.org resources, accusing the company of not contributing adequately to the open-source project. This action triggered a major legal dispute and governance crisis in the WordPress community.

WP Engine lawsuit and court injunction created substantial legal and reputational risks for Automattic. WP Engine filed a lawsuit in October 2024 seeking restoration of access to WordPress.org services. In December 2024, a federal court issued a preliminary injunction ordering Automattic to restore WP Engine's access, marking a significant setback for the company's governance approach.

Open source community backlash has emerged from the WordPress community regarding Automattic's commercial practices and perceived conflicts of interest. Questions about fair competition, trademark usage, and the separation between commercial and open-source activities have drawn scrutiny from developers, contributors, and open-source advocates.

Competitive practices have faced attention regarding Automattic's market position in the WordPress ecosystem and its relationships with other companies in the space. The company's control over key WordPress resources and commercial services has raised questions about market fairness and competitive behavior.

Data privacy and security compliance includes oversight regarding customer data handling across Automattic's various platforms and services. The company must navigate complex privacy regulations while maintaining services for millions of global users.