Valve Earns More Per Employee Than Amazon, Microsoft, and Netflix Combined

While Valve might seem like a dominant force in the PC gaming sector, it operates with a surprisingly small team compared to its extensive influence.

Despite having only 336 employees, a figure revealed during an ongoing antitrust lawsuit by Wolfire Games, Valve’s financial efficiency is extraordinary.

This gaming powerhouse manages Steam, the leading platform in PC game sales, which serves nearly 40 million daily users.

Legal documents revealed to PC Gamer show that Valve surpasses major tech companies like Amazon, Microsoft, Netflix, Apple, and Facebook in income generated per employee, although the exact figures were not disclosed.

Back in 2018, Facebook ranked second after Valve, earning about $780,400 per employee annually, which dwarfs the earnings at larger companies with significantly more employees.

For instance, Amazon, with over 1.5 million employees, only made around $15,892 per worker.

This efficiency comes despite Valve’s limited workforce, which has remained relatively stable in size over the years.

Only a fraction of its employees, 79 to be exact, work directly on Steam, the company’s main revenue source. Meanwhile, others are divided among game development and hardware projects.

The structure of Valve, a privately held entity, usually keeps its operational and financial specifics out of the public eye, making these insights particularly notable.

The company’s ability to generate more income per employee than industry giants reflects its operational efficiency and mastery in monetizing its platforms.

Looking forward, 2025 could bring new challenges and scrutiny for Valve. The antitrust case against the company has recently gained class action status, potentially increasing legal pressures.

Moreover, concerns about content moderation on Steam have attracted attention from U.S. Senator Mark Warner, who has called for more stringent oversight to prevent the spread of extremist content.

Despite these hurdles, Valve’s performance remains a standout story in the tech world, showcasing how a company can achieve significant financial success with a relatively small team.