New statistics indicate that Valve is one of the most efficient companies on the planet, with massive earnings despite relatively few employees.
Valve is reportedly one of the most efficient companies in the world, producing a ton of revenue despite having fewer than 500 employees. As the maker of the most popular PC gaming platform around, Steam, it seems that Valve has no shortage of success.
Though Valve achieved most of its fame in the 2000s, the company is approaching its 30th anniversary, having been established in 1996. Initially, Valve focused on producing games, releasing Half-Life in 1998. In 2003, Valve would create Steam, which served as a distribution platform for Half-Life 2 and its later games. It’s since evolved into an open market for all PC game developers.
Valve May Be Making Almost $50 Million Per Employee, Per Year
Research firm Alinea Analytics has estimated that Steam has generated over $16 billion in revenue in 2025 alone, which as of November 13, is up 5.7% from what it earned in 2024. It’s estimated that Valve could reach $17 billion in revenue before the year’s end. After taking into account how much of the money Valve actually pockets from selling other companies’ games, it’s estimated that Valve has made $4 billion in 2025.
