4. Microsoft Buys LinkedIn
In 2016, Microsoft shocked the business world by spending $26.2 billion in cash to buy LinkedIn; paying nearly 50% above its market value. For Microsoft, it was a daring gamble: to integrate its software empire with the world’s largest professional network of over 400 million users. What looked like a pricey risk at the time has since proven to be a bold play that reshaped how business professionals connect, work, and grow.