Who owns Meta WhatsApp - briefly?
Meta Platforms, Inc., formerly known as Facebook, Inc., owns WhatsApp. The acquisition was completed in February 2014 for $19 billion.
Who owns Meta WhatsApp - in detail?
The ownership of Meta's WhatsApp is a topic of significant interest, given the platform's global influence and user base. To understand who effectively owns WhatsApp under the Meta umbrella, one must delve into its corporate structure and history.
WhatsApp was initially founded in 2009 by Brian Acton and Jan Koum, both former Yahoo employees. The platform quickly gained traction as a secure and user-friendly messaging service. In February 2014, Facebook—now known as Meta Platforms Inc.—acquired WhatsApp for approximately $19 billion in cash and stock. This acquisition marked a significant step for Facebook in expanding its reach into the mobile messaging market.
Post-acquisition, WhatsApp continued to operate independently within Facebook's structure, retaining much of its original team and operational philosophy. However, the ultimate ownership and control of WhatsApp reside with Meta Platforms Inc., with Mark Zuckerberg serving as the company's CEO and majority shareholder.
Meta's corporate governance ensures that strategic decisions related to WhatsApp are aligned with Meta's broader vision and goals. This alignment is crucial for integrating WhatsApp's features with other Meta platforms, such as Facebook and Instagram, while maintaining WhatsApp's core values of security, privacy, and simplicity.
In summary, while Brian Acton and Jan Koum founded WhatsApp, the ownership has since transitioned to Meta Platforms Inc., with Mark Zuckerberg holding significant influence over its operations and strategic direction.