Facebook’s 2014 acquisition of WhatsApp was valued at approximately $19 billion.
Facebook announced its agreement to acquire WhatsApp in February 2014. The deal was valued at about $19 billion, consisting of cash, Facebook shares, and restricted stock units for WhatsApp employees. The transaction closed in October 2014 after regulatory review.
WhatsApp was founded in 2009 by Jan Koum and Brian Acton. It had grown into a major messaging service before the acquisition, emphasizing internet-based text, voice, and later video communication. Facebook, now known as Meta Platforms, kept WhatsApp as a distinct service rather than replacing it with Facebook Messenger.
The value is often quoted as $19 billion, although the final value of a share-based transaction can change as the acquirer’s stock price moves. The deal is also sometimes confused with Facebook’s $1 billion acquisition of Instagram in 2012. Facebook changed its corporate name to Meta Platforms in 2021, while WhatsApp retained its product name.