Clue 1 · The Basics
U.S. consumer discretionary company · large-cap · listed on Nasdaq · headquartered in Seattle, Washington.
Clue 2 · The Numbers
Generates roughly $12 billion in annual revenue by taking a cut of transactions it never actually fulfills — classic middleman economics at scale.
Clue 3 · The History
Born in 1996 as a division of Microsoft, it was spun off and went public in 1999, right before the dot-com bubble made that look either brilliant or terrifying.
Clue 4 · The Secret
It quietly owns a portfolio of booking brands you use all the time — including a site named after a very small, budget-friendly lodging option.
Clue 5 · The Lore
Its Vrbo brand became a household name during the pandemic when everyone decided they'd rather rent a stranger's lake house than share a hotel elevator.
Clue 6 · The Giveaway
One app to book flights, hotels, car rentals, and cruises — because apparently planning a vacation wasn't stressful enough without a site named after expeditions.