On: How AirBnB Became a Billion Dollar Company

[qq66]

I have no horse in this race, but $x billion company has traditionally referred to revenues. The usage of "___ company" to mean valuation is new (last five years), rare among traditional press outlets, and overrepresented among the startup/Silicon Valley crowd. The idiom may be changing in meaning, but if so, it's in the early stages.

[btilly → qq66]

Hmm, that doesn't fit with my recollection.

But when I Googled for "billion dollar company" then "million dollar company" the first usage I found that wasn't in some way tied to startups was http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/most-popular//red-mill-goes-t... where it clearly refers to revenue.

Ah well. Around here there is no question which usage is more common.

PS You may be amused that the top hit for "x billion dollar company" is http://hackerne.ws/item?id=2033232 which involves you.