AMD: From an Oil Money-Backed Company to an Innovation Leader in the AI Era

 

AMD (Advanced Micro Devices)

[Posting: 2025.05.03]
Once considered the perpetual second place in the PC business, AMD has emerged as a truly recognized company in the market by riding the AI boom. It leveraged TSMC's advanced process nodes below 5nm to launch products, while Intel continued producing PCs using 10nm-class technology.

Previously known for its ties to oil money, AMD spun off its manufacturing operations into GlobalFoundries in 2008, transitioning into a fabless company. Since then, it has grown steadily—acquiring Xilinx in 2022 to enter the FPGA and adaptive computing markets, and acquiring ZT Systems in 2024 to strengthen its server business.

Under the technological leadership of current CEO Lisa Su, AMD has gained recognition as an innovation leader in the semiconductor industry and plays a pivotal role in the AI era. Through aggressive M&A strategy, it continues to expand its business scope, becoming one of the companies that demonstrate only innovation can survive in the semiconductor ecosystem.


[Semiconductor] AMD Company Overview (2024) – History, Revenue, Product Line, Foundries, Oil Money, Org Chart

✅ AMD Overview & Company History

Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) is a U.S.-based global semiconductor company founded in 1969. It develops CPUs, GPUs, AI accelerators, and high-performance computing solutions.

📌 Key Milestones

  • 1969: Founded in Santa Clara, California

  • 2006: Acquired ATI Technologies, entering the GPU market

  • 2008: Spun off manufacturing arm to form GlobalFoundries

  • 2022: Acquired Xilinx, expanding into adaptive computing and FPGAs

  • 2024: Acquired ZT Systems to strengthen its data center/server business

📊 AMD 5-Year Financial Performance (2020–2024)

YearRevenue (B$)Operating Income (B$)
20209.761.37
202116.343.64
202223.201.26
202322.680.40
202425.801.90

  • 2024 rebound fueled by growth in AI and server markets

  • Contributions from Xilinx and Instinct GPU lines enhanced revenue

🧩 AMD Product Line & Applications

📦 Product Portfolio

  • CPU: Ryzen (PC/laptops), EPYC (Servers), Ryzen Embedded

  • GPU: Radeon (graphics cards), Instinct (AI accelerators)

  • AI Accelerators: MI300X, MI325X, MI350 (2025), MI400 (2026 planned)

  • SoC/FPGA: Custom SoCs for game consoles, Xilinx-based embedded chips

🧠 Applications

  • Data Centers: EPYC CPUs, MI Series AI chips

  • Consumer PCs: Ryzen processors, Radeon graphics

  • Automotive: Infotainment, ADAS, sensor processing

  • Embedded/Industrial: Storage, networking, IoT, robotics

🏭 AMD Foundry Partners & Tech Nodes

Foundry PartnerNode (nm)Key Products
TSMC5nm / 4nm / 3nm / 2nmRyzen, EPYC, Instinct MI series
GlobalFoundries12nm ~ 28nmEmbedded chips, mainstream CPUs
Samsung Foundry3nm GAA (under review)Potential collaboration on future AI SoCs

AMD’s collaboration with TSMC is central to its product competitiveness.

🌍 AMD and Middle East Oil Money (Mubadala)

  • 2007: Abu Dhabi sovereign fund Mubadala acquired an 8.1% stake in AMD for $622 million

  • 2008: Played a key role in the spinoff of AMD's manufacturing arm, establishing GlobalFoundries

  • 2019: Fully divested AMD stake, ending direct investment

  • Middle Eastern sovereign funds continue to expand investments in AI and semiconductor technology sectors, indicating potential future collaborations

🧑‍💼 AMD Executive Team & Organizational Structure (2024)

👩‍💼 Key Executives

  • Dr. Lisa Su – Chair & CEO

  • Jean Hu – EVP & Chief Financial Officer

  • Mark Papermaster – EVP & Chief Technology Officer

  • Forrest Norrod – EVP, Data Center Solutions

  • Phil Guido / Darren Grasby – Chief Commercial & Sales Officers

  • Ruth Cotter / Robert Gama – Chief Administrative & HR Officers

  • Vamsi Boppana – Head of AI Group

  • Tim Keating – SVP, Government Relations

  • Andrej Zdravkovic – SVP, GPU & Software Engineering

🧩 Organizational Notes

  • Matrix-style structure led by CEO Lisa Su

  • Divisional VPs focused on core product areas (CPU, GPU, AI, Embedded)

💰 AMD Employee Salaries (2025 Estimates)

PositionAnnual Salary (USD)
Company-wide Average~$199,000 (approx. ₩270M)
Software Engineer$142,000 – $493,000
Principal Engineer~$224,000
Executive Level (SVP/VP)$300,000 – $1,000,000+

Competitive with top-tier Silicon Valley firms.

🔍 Conclusion: What Makes AMD a Key Player?

  • ✅ Transitioned to fabless business model using TSMC as core partner

  • ✅ Diversified portfolio into AI accelerators, servers, and adaptive computing

  • ✅ Historical backing by Mubadala, forming GlobalFoundries

  • ✅ Strong technical leadership under Lisa Su

AMD is now one of the leading forces in CPUs, GPUs, AI, and embedded semiconductors, with a robust roadmap and strategic alliances powering future growth.

Popular posts from this blog

Qualcomm : Beyond Mobile AP – Expanding into PC, Automotive, and Edge AI

Image
  [Posting: 2025.04.22] The company Qualcomm , which became widely known in the early 2000s through the licensing of CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) technology , played a pivotal role in the mobile era by beginning to equip Android phones with its Snapdragon APs  (Application Processor) . Today, Qualcomm is expanding its market presence by replacing Intel Core processors in PCs with Snapdragon X Elite , and is also entering the fields of Edge AI and automotive applications . It is currently the sole supplier of APs for the Galaxy S25 series , highlighting its strong position in the premium market . However, as Taiwan’s MediaTek is steadily capturing market share not only in the premium segment but also in the mid- and low-end markets , it remains to be seen whether Qualcomm has the technological capabilities to maintain its solid footing in the Android mobile space. 📊 [Semiconductor] Qualcomm Company Analysis – 2024 Earnings, Product Line, Foundry Partners, and Sal...
Read more

TSMC : Company Analysis, the Ultimate Dominator in the Foundry Jungle — The Undisputed World No.1

Image
  [Published Date: April 17, 2025] TSMC: The Foundry Powerhouse Feeding Taiwan TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company) is a foundry company established in 1987 by Morris Chang. Since 2000, it has consistently led the development of foundry technology and remains at the forefront even today. The company is notorious for its demanding workload—employees are even required to surrender their mobile phones upon entering the workplace . Although the turnover rate was relatively high in the past, TSMC appears to be retaining talent by increasing performance-based bonuses. For instance, the turnover rate for new hires dropped from 17.6% in 2021 to 8.9% in 2023. While TSMC employs many brilliant individuals, its work intensity is known to be significantly higher than that of Korean companies. This approach might be what enables it to consistently lead and survive in the competitive semiconductor ecosystem. In such an environment where technological companies must avoid complacen...
Read more

NXP: The World’s No.2 Automotive Chipmaker, Standing Shoulder to Shoulder with Infineon and STMicro

Image
  NXP NXP, the world’s second-largest automotive semiconductor company , was spun off from Philips’ semiconductor division in 2006 and now forms a core part of the automotive semiconductor ecosystem alongside Infineon, STMicro, TI, and Renesas. NXP is recognized for its strong technological capabilities in automotive SoCs and MCUs. While Infineon and STMicro operate their own fabrication facilities, NXP is a pure fabless company that collaborates primarily with foundries such as TSMC, Samsung Foundry, GlobalFoundries, and UMC. This means that even though it ranks second in revenue, NXP is considered a leader in this segment purely through its design capabilities. Automotive accounts for 56% of its revenue, followed by Industrial & IoT (18%) and Mobile (12%) . The company’s overall revenue and operating profit are likely to increase depending on how it balances revenue contributions between automotive and consumer/industrial segments. As the share of SoCs and MCUs in elect...
Read more