Facebook acquired WhatsApp for $19 billion in 2014. Facebook announced the deal in February 2014, valuing the purchase at approximately $19 billion through a combination of cash, Facebook shares, and restricted stock units for WhatsApp employees.
WhatsApp, founded in 2009 by Jan Koum and Brian Acton, had grown into one of the world's most popular mobile messaging services. Its simple phone-number-based design and focus on low-cost international messaging made it especially popular outside the United States.
The transaction officially closed in October 2014 after regulatory review. Although the headline value was $19 billion, Facebook's share price rose before closing, causing the final reported value to reach roughly $21.8 billion. WhatsApp continued operating as a separate app under Facebook, later renamed Meta.