Spotify Technology S.A. is a publicly traded audio streaming company headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, with its corporate domicile in Luxembourg. It is one of the world’s largest platforms for music, podcasts, and digital audio streaming. The company trades on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the ticker symbol SPOT.
Founded in April 2006 by Daniel Ek and Martin Lorentzon, Spotify has become a global leader in audio streaming, serving over 600 million monthly active users across 180+ markets. As of 2025, it is led by Daniel Ek, who continues to serve as Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
Ownership Status of Spotify
There is no single private owner of Spotify. Since it is a publicly traded company, ownership is distributed among institutional investors, mutual funds, and individual shareholders. Ownership percentages fluctuate over time as shares are bought and sold on the open market and disclosed through filings such as SEC Forms 13D, 13G, and 13F.
Major Shareholders
| Shareholder / Entity | Ownership Percentage | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Daniel Ek | 15.6% (ordinary shares) | Co-founder and CEO; maintains significant influence. |
| Martin Lorentzon | 9.8% | Co-founder; long-term major shareholder. |
| Tencent Holdings Ltd. | 8.1% | Strategic investor; part of a 2017 equity swap with Spotify. |
| Baillie Gifford & Co. | 4.7% | Major institutional investor. |
| BlackRock, Inc. | 4.0–5.0% | Large passive investment firm via ETFs and funds. |
Note: The remaining shares are held by institutional investors, mutual funds, and retail shareholders.
Key Shareholder Highlights
Spotify’s shareholder base includes a mix of founders, long-term investors, and global funds.
- Daniel Ek, the company’s co-founder and CEO, remains the largest individual shareholder, holding roughly 15.6% of Spotify’s ordinary shares. He continues to play a central role in both strategic and product decisions.
- Martin Lorentzon, co-founder, holds close to 10% of Spotify’s shares, maintaining a strong influence in corporate direction.
- Tencent Holdings, through a 2017 share swap, owns about 8% of Spotify. This partnership reflects strategic ties between Spotify and Tencent Music Entertainment.
- Baillie Gifford and BlackRock are major institutional investors known for long-term, passive investment strategies.
Together, these investors account for a large portion of Spotify’s total outstanding shares, ensuring balanced governance between founders and institutions.
About Daniel Ek
Daniel Ek is the Swedish entrepreneur and co-founder of Spotify. Born on February 21, 1983, in Stockholm, he began programming and building websites as a teenager. Before Spotify, he founded an online advertising company called Advertigo, which he later sold to TradeDoubler—co-founded by Martin Lorentzon—laying the groundwork for their future partnership.
Under Ek’s leadership, Spotify became the world’s top audio-streaming platform and a pioneer in personalized listening experiences such as Discover Weekly and Wrapped.
Daniel Ek Net Worth
As of 2025, Daniel Ek’s net worth is estimated at around US $9.2 billion, according to Forbes.
Most of his wealth comes from his stake in Spotify and its rising share price on the NYSE. Ek is known for reinvesting in technology and innovation, including funding European tech startups and sustainability ventures.
Recent Developments in Ownership
- Daniel Ek has periodically sold small portions of his stake under pre-planned trading programs (Rule 10b5-1).
- Institutional ownership in Spotify remains strong, averaging around 65%–70% of all outstanding shares.
- The Tencent-Spotify share swap, initiated in 2017, remains one of the most notable cross-holdings in the global streaming industry.
- As of 2025, there have been no major ownership takeovers or hostile bids. Spotify continues to operate independently under its founder-led structure.
FAQs
1. Who is the current owner of Spotify?
There is no single owner. Spotify is a publicly traded company owned by its shareholders. Major holders include Daniel Ek, Martin Lorentzon, Tencent Holdings, Baillie Gifford, and BlackRock.
2. Is Spotify publicly traded or privately owned?
Spotify is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the ticker symbol SPOT.
3. Who founded Spotify?
Spotify was founded by Daniel Ek and Martin Lorentzon in 2006 in Stockholm, Sweden.
4. Has the ownership changed recently?
Ownership changes from time to time due to normal trading activity and institutional adjustments. There have been no major changes in control as of 2025.
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