In 2015, Intel acquired Altera Corporation.
Altera, founded in 1983, specialized in programmable logic devices, especially field-programmable gate arrays, or FPGAs. Unlike fixed-function chips, FPGAs can be configured after manufacturing for tasks such as communications, industrial control, networking, and embedded computing. Altera became a significant rival to Xilinx in that market.
Intel announced the acquisition in June 2015 and completed it in December for approximately $16.7 billion in cash. The purchase was Intel’s largest acquisition at the time and gave the processor maker access to Altera’s programmable-chip technology, customers, and engineering expertise. Intel operated the business as its Programmable Solutions Group.
The relationship was not entirely new: Altera had partnered with Intel on manufacturing and technology before the takeover. A later development can cause confusion in current references: Intel began separating the programmable-chip business, and the Altera name returned as an independent company in 2025 after Silver Lake acquired a controlling stake. That does not change the historical answer for 2015.