Microsoft didn't spawn Apple. They were siblings, sometimes cooperating and sometimes fierce rivals. Microsoft also bailed out Apple so that it could exist to this day.

Microsoft was the big software giant (well, IBM, but . . .) when Facebook and Netflix and Google got their starts, so ex-'softies likely had an influence on culture and practices in those companies. Amazon is also Seattle-land headquartered and I know there was cross-pollination there.

Even if you think Microsoft is totally crap and not a FAANG, there was some fecal transplant going on with the FAANGs.

M(eta) A(pple) N(vidia) G(oogle) A(mazon) -> MANGA

Yes, it ignores the Google/Alphabet change, but they still seem to be pushing the "Google" brand more than Meta is pushing the "Facebook" brand so I think that's reasonable.

P.S. It also seem rather apropos that they're only one letter away from MAGA.

That is very strange and curious to me.

MS is absolutely faang.

The market value they gained is quite recent, so it's not legacy.