WordPress powers over 40% of all websites, but you might be surprised by some of the famous names using it. From global news outlets to Fortune 500 companies, WordPress handles massive traffic and complex requirements. These examples demonstrate what's possible with the platform.
Major News and Media
The New York Times Company
The New York Times uses WordPress for many of their blogs and sub-sites, handling millions of visitors daily. Their implementation shows WordPress can scale to handle enterprise-level traffic.
BBC America
The American arm of the British Broadcasting Corporation runs on WordPress. The site features complex media integration, live content, and high traffic volumes.
TechCrunch
The leading technology news site uses WordPress to publish hundreds of articles monthly, managing breaking news, galleries, and complex content types.
Reuters
One of the world's largest news agencies uses WordPress for their blogs. When speed and reliability matter for breaking news, they trust WordPress.
The New Yorker
The iconic magazine's website runs on WordPress, featuring long-form journalism, multimedia content, and the publication's distinctive design aesthetic.
Rolling Stone
The legendary music magazine uses WordPress to deliver content about music, culture, and politics to millions of readers.
Major Brands and Corporations
Sony Music
Sony's global music division uses WordPress for multiple artist websites and corporate properties, demonstrating enterprise confidence in the platform.
Mercedes-Benz
The luxury automotive brand uses WordPress for various global sites, combining sophisticated design with brand consistency.
Microsoft News Center
Microsoft's corporate news hub runs on WordPress—yes, even Microsoft uses WordPress for certain properties.
Walt Disney Company
Several Disney properties use WordPress, managing the complex content needs of one of the world's largest entertainment companies.
Vogue
Condé Nast's flagship fashion publication uses WordPress to deliver stunning visual content to fashion enthusiasts worldwide.
Popular Blogs and Publications
The Official Star Wars Blog
Lucasfilm's Star Wars news center uses WordPress to keep millions of fans updated on their favorite franchise.
Harvard Business Review
The prestigious business publication uses WordPress to distribute thought leadership content to business professionals globally.
The Blog Herald
Appropriately, this leading blog about blogging runs on WordPress, showcasing the platform's capabilities to its expert audience.
Variety
The entertainment industry's paper of record uses WordPress to cover Hollywood news and box office analysis.
E-Commerce Success Stories
WooCommerce + WordPress
While specific store examples vary, WooCommerce (WordPress's e-commerce plugin) powers over 5 million online stores. Major brands and small businesses alike sell billions of dollars annually through WordPress-based stores.
AllBlacks.com
New Zealand's famous rugby team uses WooCommerce on WordPress for merchandise sales, proving the platform handles sports retail demands.
Educational Institutions
Harvard University
Many Harvard department sites and blogs run on WordPress, trusted by one of the world's most prestigious universities.
Stanford University
Stanford uses WordPress across numerous departments and initiatives, managing complex academic content needs.
MIT
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology relies on WordPress for various web properties, from department sites to research blogs.
Government and Non-Profit
The White House (Historical)
The official White House website has used WordPress at various times, demonstrating government-level trust in the platform's security and reliability.
NASA
Multiple NASA blogs and project sites use WordPress to share space exploration news with the public.
The Obama Foundation
Former President Obama's foundation uses WordPress for their digital presence and community engagement.
Music and Entertainment
Beyoncé
One of the world's biggest music stars uses WordPress for her official website, handling massive traffic spikes during announcements.
Katy Perry
The pop star's website runs on WordPress, managing tour information, media, and fan engagement.
Snoop Dogg
The rapper's official site uses WordPress to connect with fans and promote his various ventures.
What These Examples Prove
Scalability
WordPress handles millions of visitors daily. With proper hosting and optimization, there's no ceiling on traffic capacity.
Flexibility
From simple blogs to complex news operations, WordPress adapts to diverse content needs. Custom post types, plugins, and themes enable any functionality.
Security
When government agencies, financial institutions, and major corporations trust WordPress, security concerns are clearly addressable with proper implementation.
Design Possibilities
These sites range from minimalist to media-rich, proving WordPress doesn't impose design limitations. Whatever aesthetic you envision, WordPress can achieve it.
Enterprise Readiness
The largest organizations in the world choose WordPress. The platform's maturity, ecosystem, and capabilities satisfy enterprise requirements.
How They Achieve This
Famous WordPress sites succeed through:
- Premium hosting: Enterprise-grade hosting providers optimized for WordPress
- Custom development: Tailored themes and plugins for specific needs
- Caching and CDNs: Performance optimization for high traffic
- Security measures: Hardening, monitoring, and professional maintenance
- Expert teams: Dedicated developers managing ongoing optimization
WordPress for Your Business
If WordPress handles The New York Times, Sony Music, and NASA, it can certainly handle your business website. The same platform powering global brands is available to you—often at a fraction of the cost of custom development.
The key isn't the platform itself but how you implement it. With quality hosting, proper optimization, and thoughtful design, WordPress delivers professional results at any scale.
These famous WordPress sites prove that platform choice isn't limiting—it's enabling. WordPress provides the foundation; your vision and implementation determine the outcome.