Discord Inc. is a privately held American software company that operates Discord, a popular communication platform for voice calls, video calls, text messaging, and community “servers.” It is headquartered in San Francisco, California, USA, and was founded in 2015.
Discord started as a tool for gamers but has since expanded into broader community use, connecting people around hobbies, education, work, and social interests. It supports multiple platforms including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and web browsers.
As of 2025, Discord has hundreds of millions of users worldwide and is led by CEO Humam Sakhnini—who took over leadership from co-founder Jason Citron in April 2025—with Citron remaining on the board of directors.
Discord Inc. is not publicly traded yet; its shares aren’t available on public stock exchanges, and it remains a privately owned company with a mix of founding equity and venture capital investment.
Ownership Status of Discord
Since Discord Inc. is a privately held company, there is no single public owner like you would find with a publicly traded corporation. Ownership is distributed among co-founders, early employees, and private investors who took part in funding rounds. Because Discord is private, it doesn’t have to disclose detailed share ownership publicly, meaning the exact breakdown isn’t fully transparent.
Major Shareholders (Estimated)
| Shareholder / Entity | Ownership Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Jason Citron | Co-Founder, Major Shareholder | Likely the largest individual stakeholder with an estimated ~10–15% stake. |
| Stanislav Vishnevskiy | Co-Founder, Shareholder | Co-founder and CTO, estimated to hold ~5–10%. |
| Benchmark Capital | Early VC Investor | Venture capital firm from early funding rounds. |
| Index Ventures | VC Investor | Participated in early and growth investments. |
| Greylock Partners | VC Investor | Venture investor supporting product growth. |
| Dragoneer Investment Group | Growth Investor | Contributed in later funding rounds. |
| Institutional & Other Investors | Multiple VC / Growth Funds | Including IVP, Spark Capital, and others that joined later rounds. |
Note: The exact ownership percentages are estimates based on private market reporting; real figures are confidential. Additional employee equity and other private investors also hold portions of the company.
Key Shareholder Highlights
Because Discord Inc. has raised multiple rounds of funding from venture capital firms and strategic partners, the founders’ initial ownership has been diluted over time. However, co-founders Jason Citron and Stanislav Vishnevskiy remain key leaders and significant owners.
- Jason Citron — As co-founder and former CEO, Citron maintains a leading individual stake and continues to influence Discord’s strategy from his board position.
- Stanislav Vishnevskiy — As co-founder and CTO, Vishnevskiy’s stake reflects his early role and continued technical leadership.
- Venture Capital Investors — Firms like Benchmark, Index Ventures, and Greylock Partners provided early capital, helping Discord grow and scale beyond gaming.
- Growth Investors — Later injections from groups like Dragoneer and others support expansion and potential future events such as an IPO.
Recent Developments in Ownership
Leadership Transition (2025)
In April 2025, Discord appointed Humam Sakhnini as CEO, succeeding co-founder Jason Citron, who stepped into a board role and advisor position—a move tied to preparing for the company’s next growth phase and potential public offering.
IPO Considerations
Discord has been reported to be in discussions about eventually going public, meaning its ownership structure may evolve with an IPO (initial public offering) that could introduce public shareholders. However, as of late 2025, Discord remains private.
FAQs
1. Who is the current owner of Discord?
Discord doesn’t have a single owner. It is owned by Discord Inc., with equity held by co-founders, employees, and venture capital investors.
2. Is Discord publicly traded or privately owned?
Discord is privately owned and its shares are not listed on public stock exchanges.
3. Who founded Discord?
Discord was founded in 2015 by Jason Citron and Stanislav Vishnevskiy.
4. Has the ownership changed recently?
There hasn’t been a major change in ownership like a sale or acquisition. However, Discord’s leadership saw a shift in 2025 when Citron stepped down as CEO. Future changes may occur if the company goes public.
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