Facebook acquired WhatsApp in 2014 in a transaction valued at approximately $19 billion.
WhatsApp was founded in 2009 by Jan Koum and Brian Acton. It began as a status-updating application before becoming a widely used internet messaging service for text messages, photographs, videos, documents, and voice calls.
Facebook announced the acquisition in February 2014. The consideration included cash, Facebook shares, and restricted stock units for WhatsApp employees, making it one of the largest technology acquisitions at the time.
The deal did not immediately turn WhatsApp into Facebook Messenger. WhatsApp remained a distinct service with its own app, branding, and product development. In 2021, Facebook’s parent company changed its name to Meta Platforms.