So you’ve started building your business using Shopify. You’re exploring themes, adding products, and getting your store ready for customers. But at some point, one key question might pop into your head.
Who actually owns Shopify?
And if I'm putting my whole business on this platform, how much control do I really have?
It’s a smart question — especially if you’re scaling, taking payments, and relying on Shopify as the foundation of your ecommerce growth. In this article, we’ll walk through exactly who owns Shopify, how its structure works, and why it matters to you as a store owner.
Quick Answer:
Shopify is a publicly traded company owned by its shareholders, but its founder, Tobi Lütke, still controls it through supervoting shares. This means he holds around 40% of the voting power, even though he owns less than 7% of the company. So while many people own a piece of Shopify, Tobi still has the final say on major decisions.
1. Shopify is a Public Company — But That’s Only Half the Story
Shopify is publicly traded, which means it's listed on the New York Stock Exchange (SHOP) and Toronto Stock Exchange (SHOP.TO). So technically, thousands of people around the world own a piece of it.
This includes:
- Institutional investors like Vanguard, BlackRock, and Fidelity
- Individual retail investors
- Company insiders and executives
But here’s where things get interesting: the power to make major decisions doesn’t lie with most shareholders.
It lies with Tobi Lütke, Shopify’s founder.
2. Tobi Lütke Still Controls Shopify Through Supervoting Shares
Tobi Lütke, who co-founded Shopify in 2006, is no longer the CEO. He stepped down in 2023 and passed the role to long-time Shopify exec Harley Finkelstein. But Tobi didn’t walk away. Far from it.
Instead, he retained something called “supervoting shares.”
These are special shares that give him 10 times the voting power of regular shareholders.
Here’s a breakdown of how this works:
| Type of Shareholder | Voting Power (approx.) | Ownership % |
|---|---|---|
| Tobi Lütke (Founder) | ~40% | ~7% |
| Vanguard, BlackRock, etc | ~35%–40% | ~20%+ |
| Other Public Investors | ~20% | ~70%+ |
Even though Tobi owns a smaller piece of the company financially, he controls a major portion of the votes. This lets him:
- Approve or block major decisions
- Influence board member selection
- Guide product and company direction
In simple terms: he can steer the ship, even if he doesn’t own the majority of it.
3. Why Supervoting Shares Exist (And Why Shopify Uses Them)
Supervoting shares are controversial — but common in tech companies. The goal is to give founders long-term control so they can make strategic decisions without interference from short-term shareholders.
Companies that also use this structure include:
- Google (Alphabet) — founders have extra votes
- Meta (Facebook) — Mark Zuckerberg holds control
- Snapchat — public shareholders have zero voting rights
Shopify followed this model because Tobi Lütke wanted to stay focused on the company’s mission: making commerce better for everyone, without being swayed by short-term market pressure.
This matters to merchants because it shows Shopify isn’t likely to pivot to unrelated products or make rapid-fire changes based solely on investor demand.
4. Who Are Shopify’s Biggest Shareholders?
Here’s a look at Shopify’s top institutional investors (as of 2025):
| Investor | Ownership Stake |
|---|---|
| Vanguard Group | 8.1% |
| BlackRock | 6.9% |
| Morgan Stanley | 4.2% |
| Fidelity | 3.5% |
| ARK Invest | 2.8% |
These firms manage mutual funds, retirement accounts, and ETFs. So if you’ve got money in the S&P 500, you might own a piece of Shopify — indirectly.
Still, none of these investors have enough voting power to override Tobi Lütke’s decisions.
5. Leadership Today: Meet the People Running Shopify
While Tobi Lütke remains Chair of the Board, the day-to-day CEO role is now held by Harley Finkelstein.
Harley Finkelstein: CEO
Harley’s been with Shopify since 2010. He’s served as Chief Operating Officer and President and is widely seen as the public face of the company today.
He leads areas like:
- Business operations
- Public communications
- Partner relationships
- Shopify’s expansion into enterprise ecommerce (Shopify Plus)
Key Executives
Other key leaders at Shopify include:
- Kaz Nejatian, Chief Operating Officer
- Allan Leinwand, Chief Technology Officer
- Jeff Hoffmeister, Chief Financial Officer
Together, this leadership team works on growing Shopify’s reach across industries, adding new tools, and serving merchants at every stage — from beginner to enterprise.
6. Is Shopify Owned by Amazon?
This is a common misconception. No, Shopify is not owned by Amazon. In fact, they are considered competitors in many ways — especially when it comes to seller platforms and fulfilment.
Amazon runs its own marketplace, while Shopify lets you build your own branded store. That said, Shopify stores can integrate with Amazon for multi-channel selling.
Shopify vs Amazon: Quick Comparison
| Feature | Shopify | Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| Ownership | Public, founder-controlled | Public, founder no longer involved |
| Store Control | Full customisation | Amazon-controlled product listings |
| Branding | Your own website & brand | Amazon's branding |
| Fees | Monthly + transaction | Listing + referral + fulfilment fees |
| Audience | You bring your own traffic | Built-in traffic from Amazon users |
So while they can work together, they serve different purposes — and are entirely separate companies.
7. Major Shopify Milestones That Shaped Ownership
Here’s a quick timeline of the key events that helped shape Shopify’s ownership structure:
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2006 | Shopify founded by Tobi Lütke, Scott Lake, and Daniel Weinand |
| 2015 | Shopify goes public on NYSE and TSX |
| 2022 | Introduced Shopify’s supervoting share structure |
| 2023 | Tobi Lütke steps down as CEO, Harley becomes CEO |
| 2023 | Shopify sells logistics division to Flexport, returns to software focus |
| 2024 | Shopify launches major AI tools and reclaims profitability |
Each of these milestones strengthened Shopify’s focus on ecommerce tools — not becoming a shipping company, logistics hub, or retailer.
8. Why It Matters to You as a Shopify Store Owner
So why should you care about Shopify’s ownership structure if you’re running a store?
Here’s how it affects you:
Stability and Vision
Tobi Lütke’s continued control gives Shopify long-term direction. You don’t have to worry about new leadership changing the business model every year or chasing trends just to please investors.
Feature Consistency
Because Shopify focuses on core software, most updates revolve around tools that help you sell more — like checkout improvements, AI content tools, and third-party app integrations.
Fewer Disruptions
Compared to some ecommerce platforms that pivot hard or sunset features, Shopify is relatively stable. Ownership isn’t fragmented, and leadership stays aligned with merchant needs.
9. How Shopify Makes Its Money (And Who Benefits)
Understanding Shopify’s revenue sources helps clarify who really benefits when the company grows.
Primary Revenue Streams
Shopify makes money from:
- Monthly subscriptions (Basic, Shopify, Advanced, Plus)
- Payment processing fees via Shopify Payments
- Transaction fees (if you use external payment gateways)
- App Store commissions
- Theme Store sales
- Shopify Capital loans
As the company grows, shareholders — including founders, institutions, and everyday investors — benefit from rising stock value.
But merchants benefit too — especially as new features and resources are funded by Shopify’s reinvestment into its platform.
10. Key Stats That Show Shopify’s Ownership and Impact
Here are some recent Shopify stats you’ll want to know:
- Over 2.1 million merchants use Shopify (2025)
- Shopify’s 2024 revenue: $8.94 billion (Statista)
- 70% of Plus merchants now use Shopify Magic (AI tools)
- Shopify stock price grew 180% from Jan 2023 to May 2025
- Top brands using Shopify: Gymshark, Allbirds, Kylie Cosmetics, Heinz
These stats show that Shopify isn’t just for small businesses — it’s trusted by household names and high-volume brands.
Summary: Who Really Owns Shopify?
To wrap up:
- Shopify is owned by shareholders, but controlled by founder Tobi Lütke
- Lütke uses supervoting shares to keep long-term control
- Shopify’s leadership is stable, product-focused, and committed to merchants
- You can run your business on Shopify knowing the platform isn’t likely to change drastically overnight
For store owners, this means you’re building on a platform with stable leadership, a clear roadmap, and ongoing innovation.
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