eBay Inc.
American multinational e-commerce corporation that facilitates consumer-to-consumer and business-to-consumer sales through its online marketplace platform.
Company Type
public
Founded
1995
Headquarters
San Jose, California, USA
Stock
NASDAQ: EBAY
About eBay Inc.
Who owns eBay?
eBay is publicly traded on NASDAQ under ticker EBAY. The company has a broad institutional and retail shareholder base with no controlling shareholder. Jamie Iannone serves as CEO.
eBay is publicly traded on NASDAQ under ticker EBAY. The company has a broad institutional and retail shareholder base with no controlling shareholder. Jamie Iannone serves as CEO.
Who founded eBay?
eBay was founded by Pierre Omidyar in 1995 in San Jose, California, originally under the name AuctionWeb.
eBay was founded by Pierre Omidyar in 1995 in San Jose, California, originally under the name AuctionWeb.
Is eBay publicly traded?
Yes, eBay is publicly traded on NASDAQ under ticker EBAY. The company has been publicly traded since its IPO in September 1998.
Yes, eBay is publicly traded on NASDAQ under ticker EBAY. The company has been publicly traded since its IPO in September 1998.
Does eBay still own PayPal and StubHub?
No. eBay spun off PayPal as an independent company in 2015. eBay sold StubHub to Viagogo in 2021 for approximately $4.05 billion. eBay also sold its classifieds businesses (Gumtree, Kijiji, etc.) to Adevinta in 2021.
No. eBay spun off PayPal as an independent company in 2015. eBay sold StubHub to Viagogo in 2021 for approximately $4.05 billion. eBay also sold its classifieds businesses (Gumtree, Kijiji, etc.) to Adevinta in 2021.
What is eBay best known for?
eBay is best known for its online marketplace connecting buyers and sellers of new, used, and collectible goods. The platform is particularly strong in collectibles, vintage items, electronics, and used goods. eBay pioneered the online auction model in 1995.
eBay is best known for its online marketplace connecting buyers and sellers of new, used, and collectible goods. The platform is particularly strong in collectibles, vintage items, electronics, and used goods. eBay pioneered the online auction model in 1995.
History of eBay Inc.
eBay was founded on September 3, 1995, by Pierre Omidyar in San Jose, California, under the name AuctionWeb. The platform was initially a side project for Omidyar, who was working as a software developer. The first item sold on the platform was a broken laser pointer for $14.83, purchased by a collector of broken laser pointers.
AuctionWeb grew rapidly through word-of-mouth, attracting buyers and sellers of collectibles, electronics, and other goods. The company was renamed eBay in 1997. Meg Whitman joined as CEO in 1998 and led the company through its IPO in September 1998, which raised $63 million and valued the company at approximately $700 million.
eBay expanded aggressively through acquisitions in the early 2000s:
- **PayPal** (2002): Acquired for approximately $1.5 billion. PayPal became eBay's primary payment method and a major revenue contributor. eBay spun off PayPal as an independent company in 2015.
- **Skype** (2005): Acquired for approximately $2.6 billion. eBay sold Skype to a private equity group in 2009 and Microsoft acquired it in 2011.
- **StubHub** (2007): Acquired for approximately $310 million. eBay sold StubHub to Viagogo in 2021 for approximately $4.05 billion.
- **Gumtree, Kijiji, and other classifieds businesses**: eBay built a portfolio of classified ad sites globally, which it sold to Adevinta in 2021 for approximately $9.2 billion.
John Donahoe became CEO in 2008 and led eBay through a period of significant growth and strategic refocusing. Devin Wenig became CEO in 2015 following the PayPal spinoff. Jamie Iannone became CEO in 2020.
Under Iannone's leadership, eBay has focused on its core marketplace business, investing in technology improvements, seller tools, and category-specific initiatives (particularly in collectibles, luxury goods, and refurbished electronics). The company has also invested in authentication services for high-value categories including sneakers, trading cards, and watches.
For fiscal year 2024, eBay reported revenue of approximately $10.3 billion.
Brands Owned by eBay Inc.
eBay Inc. owns 0 brands in our database.
Stock Information
eBay Inc. Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +Dominant position in collectibles, used goods, and resale markets
- +Approximately 132 million active buyers and approximately 2 billion live listings
- +Growing advertising revenue provides higher-margin income stream
- +Authentication services for sneakers, trading cards, and watches build buyer trust
- +Asset-light marketplace model with strong free cash flow generation
Considerations
- -Competition from Amazon's dominant position in new goods e-commerce
- -2020 cyberstalking scandal damaged reputation and led to leadership changes
- -Declining active buyer count in recent years as competition intensifies
- -Counterfeit goods remain a persistent challenge
- -Attracting younger buyers who prefer newer platforms (Depop, Poshmark, StockX)
Frequently Asked Questions About eBay Inc.
Who owns eBay?
eBay is publicly traded on NASDAQ under ticker EBAY. The company has a broad institutional and retail shareholder base with no controlling shareholder. Jamie Iannone serves as CEO.
Who founded eBay?
eBay was founded by Pierre Omidyar in 1995 in San Jose, California, originally under the name AuctionWeb.
Is eBay publicly traded?
Yes, eBay is publicly traded on NASDAQ under ticker EBAY. The company has been publicly traded since its IPO in September 1998.
Does eBay still own PayPal and StubHub?
No. eBay spun off PayPal as an independent company in 2015. eBay sold StubHub to Viagogo in 2021 for approximately $4.05 billion. eBay also sold its classifieds businesses (Gumtree, Kijiji, etc.) to Adevinta in 2021.
What is eBay best known for?
eBay is best known for its online marketplace connecting buyers and sellers of new, used, and collectible goods. The platform is particularly strong in collectibles, vintage items, electronics, and used goods. eBay pioneered the online auction model in 1995.
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