Key Stats
- Market capitalization stands at $1.62 trillion as of December 2025
- Daily active people across all apps reached 3.35 billion in December 2024
- Annual revenue for 2024 totaled $164.50 billion
- The company employs 74,067 workers worldwide
- Monthly active users surpassed 3.98 billion across the Family of Apps
Meta Platforms, Inc. operates as a multinational technology conglomerate headquartered in Menlo Park, California. The company owns Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger, and Threads, serving billions of users globally through social networking and communication services.
Originally founded as Facebook in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg and fellow Harvard students, the company rebranded to Meta in October 2021. This name change reflected a strategic pivot toward building the metaverse through virtual and augmented reality technologies.
Meta generates nearly all its revenue from digital advertising. The company ranks among the most valuable technology firms worldwide and competes directly with Google, TikTok, and other major digital platforms for user attention and advertising dollars.
Meta Platforms History
Meta Platforms Co-founders
Meta Platforms Competitors
Meta competes against technology giants across multiple sectors including social media, digital advertising, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence. The company faces pressure from both established players and emerging platforms seeking younger audiences.
| Company | Parent Organization | Headquarters | Primary Competition |
|---|---|---|---|
| YouTube | Alphabet Inc. | San Bruno, USA | Video content and advertising |
| TikTok | ByteDance | Beijing, China | Short-form video and young users |
| Snapchat | Snap Inc. | Santa Monica, USA | Messaging and AR features |
| X (Twitter) | xAI Holdings Corp | San Francisco, USA | Real-time news and text sharing |
| Pinterest Inc. | San Francisco, USA | Visual discovery and shopping | |
| Microsoft | Sunnyvale, USA | Professional networking | |
| Tencent | Shenzhen, China | Messaging in Asian markets | |
| Amazon | Amazon.com Inc. | Seattle, USA | Digital advertising revenue |
| Apple | Apple Inc. | Cupertino, USA | Privacy controls affecting ads |
| Reddit Inc. | San Francisco, USA | Community discussions |
Meta Platforms Marketcap
Meta Platforms reached a market capitalization of $1.62 trillion in December 2025. The company recovered strongly from a significant decline in 2022 when its valuation dropped to $319 billion amid concerns about metaverse investments and competition from TikTok.
Meta Platforms Revenue
Meta generated $164.50 billion in revenue during 2024, representing a 22% increase from the previous year. Digital advertising accounts for approximately 98% of total revenue across Facebook, Instagram, and other platforms.
Meta Platforms Acquisitions
Meta has completed over 90 acquisitions since its founding, with several transformative deals shaping the company’s product portfolio. The strategy focuses on eliminating competition and acquiring talent alongside promising technologies.
The Instagram acquisition in April 2012 for $1 billion stands as one of the smartest tech deals in history. Instagram now generates significant advertising revenue and reaches over 2 billion monthly active users. The platform introduced Stories, Reels, and shopping features under Meta ownership.
WhatsApp joined Meta in February 2014 through a $19 billion acquisition that remains one of the largest tech purchases ever. The messaging platform serves over 2 billion users globally and has expanded into business communications and payments. Meta has worked to integrate WhatsApp with its other messaging services while maintaining end-to-end encryption.
The Oculus VR purchase in March 2014 for approximately $2 billion marked Meta’s entry into virtual reality. Oculus now operates as part of Reality Labs, developing Quest headsets and VR software. The division continues investing heavily in metaverse technology despite ongoing operating losses.
Meta acquired Giphy in 2020 for $400 million to enhance visual content sharing across its platforms. However, regulatory challenges in the UK forced Meta to sell Giphy to Shutterstock in 2023 for just $53 million. Other notable acquisitions include Beluga (which became Messenger), Kustomer for customer service, and various AI and gaming companies.
The company prefers acquiring talented engineering teams rather than fully developed products. Many acquired startups see their products discontinued while their teams join Meta to work on core platform features.
FAQs
Who founded Meta Platforms?
Mark Zuckerberg founded Facebook with co-founders Eduardo Saverin, Dustin Moskovitz, Chris Hughes, and Andrew McCollum at Harvard University in February 2004.
When did Facebook become Meta?
Facebook Inc. officially rebranded to Meta Platforms Inc. on October 28, 2021. The stock ticker changed from FB to META on NASDAQ in June 2022.
How many users does Meta have?
Meta reports 3.35 billion daily active people and 3.98 billion monthly active users across Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger combined.
What companies does Meta own?
Meta owns Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger, Threads, and Reality Labs, which includes the Quest VR headset line and Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses.
Where is Meta headquartered?
Meta Platforms maintains its headquarters in Menlo Park, California. The company operates offices in over 80 cities across more than 40 countries worldwide.