While Apple Announces $45 Billion Dividend, Microsoft Has Already Paid Over $68 Billion

Two weeks ago, Apple announced for the first time about their dividends for their shareholders. Combining dividends, share repurchases, and cash used to net-share-settle vesting RSUs, Apple anticipates to utilize approximately $45 billion of domestic cash for over first three years of their programs. As usual, some tech bloggers made statements that no other company has done so, its historic, record amounts, etc,. Just to inform them about some numbers of Microsoft Financials.

1) What is the total value of dividend paid by Microsoft in its history?  Approximately $68 Billion.

2) What is the total value of stock re-purchase programs to date? Approximately $138 Billion.

So Microsoft numbers approximately equals $206 Billion. That’s an incredible number for a 20+ year old company. I don’t think any other modern technology company has returned so much amount to its shareholders.

Source: Microsoft