How Wikipedia Makes Money

IMAGE VIA WIKIPEDIA Full Article

Wikipedia is an online encyclopedia that is edited and maintained by over 300,000 mostly anonymous volunteers.

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The site boasts around 56 million articles in over 300 languages. More than 15 billion articles are read on Wikipedia – every month.

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Wikipedia’s breakthrough came months after its launch when the 9/11 terrorist attack prompted many to search for reliable information on what was happening.

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The non-profit Wikimedia Foundation oversees all of Wikipedia's assets and manages its growing endowment. Full Article

But how does Wikipedia actually make money if it’s completely free to use?

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DONATIONS

In 2021, Wikipedia generated $163 million in revenue, most of which came in the way of donations that its users made. IMAGE VIA UNSPLASH Full Article

The treasurer behind the foundation invests portions of the donations into a diverse pool of assets with varying degrees of risk.

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A small percentage of Wikipedia’s revenue is derived from selling branded merchandise such as socks or t-shirts.

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