What year did Apple acquire Beats Electronics?

Apple acquired Beats Electronics in 2014. The deal brought the popular Beats headphones and speakers brand, along with the Beats Music streaming service, into Apple's business.

Beats was founded in 2006 by music producer Dr. Dre and Interscope co-founder Jimmy Iovine. Before the acquisition, the company had become especially known for stylish, heavily marketed headphones and had expanded into subscription music streaming with Beats Music in January 2014.

Apple announced the acquisition in May 2014 for approximately $3 billion, describing it as a combination of hardware, music services, and creative talent. The transaction officially closed in August 2014. Dr. Dre and Iovine joined Apple, while Beats continued as a distinct brand.

A common mix-up is confusing Apple's 2014 acquisition with earlier ownership changes: HTC sold its remaining stake in Beats in 2013, but Apple did not acquire the company until the following year. Beats Music was later replaced by Apple Music in 2015.