Table:
|  |  | Fiscal Year Ended August 31, |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
| Common stock outstanding: |  |  |  |
| Beginning balances | 164,588,172 | 177,727,653 | 186,998,472 |
| Shares issued upon exercise of stock options | 11,348 | 30,832 | 172,620 |
| Shares issued under employee stock purchase plan | 1,282,042 | 1,105,400 | 1,228,316 |
| Vesting of restricted stock | 1,983,261 | 2,727,229 | 2,102,049 |
| Purchases of treasury stock under employee stock plans | (489,836) | (793,052) | (550,096) |
| Treasury shares purchased(1) | (13,854,607) | (16,209,890) | (12,223,708) |
| Ending balances | 153,520,380 | 164,588,172 | 177,727,653 |
Paragraphs:
Common Stock Outstanding
The following represents the common stock outstanding for the fiscal year ended:
(1) During fiscal years 2018, 2017 and 2016, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of $350.0 million, $450.0 million and $400.0 million, respectively, of the Company’s common stock under share repurchase programs, which were repurchased during fiscal years 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
Question:
What was the Ending balance in 2017?
Answer: 177,727,653