The Internet is different from any other kinds of business. The more there is, the more valuable it becomes. The more it's sold, the more there is, and yet more can be sold. Anyone who buys it can then sell yet more. The more middlemen in the game, the cheaper it becomes to the end user.
Different companies own the different networks.
But the interconnection is not owned by anyone. Companies and governments choose to connect themselves to the net or not. For example, my web site is 209.24.47.8. In addition to this, there are also Domain Names. It's easier for people to remember the name.