🐧 What Does the Linux Foundation Actually Fund?#
Spoiler: less than 3% of its budget goes to the Linux kernel. 😱
📊 Numbers from the 2025 Annual Report#
According to the Linux Foundation’s annual report, with revenues over $311 million, here’s how spending breaks down:
| Category | Budget |
|---|---|
| Cloud, Containers & Virtualization | 23% |
| Networking & Edge | 14% |
| AI, ML, Data & Analytics | 12% |
| Web & Application Development | 10% |
| Linux Kernel | ~3% |
🤔 Mission Creep?#
The term for this is mission creep or openwashing: the Linux Foundation has expanded its mission to the point where “Linux” is almost just a brand name for an organization focused on cloud, AI, and open standards.
💡 Explanation in a nutshell#
The Linux Foundation is a nonprofit organization with over $311M in annual revenue, but according to its own annual report, only ~3% goes to the Linux kernel. The rest funds cloud, AI, networking, certifications, and events — sparking criticism about whether the foundation still serves its original mission.
More information at the link 👇
Also published on LinkedIn.
