Who owns WhatsApp: How much money does this platform generate?

WhatsApp, the globally popular messaging platform, has been owned by Meta since its high-profile acquisition in 2014. Despite being free for users, WhatsApp generates massive revenue through value-added services. So, how does this platform make money, and how much revenue does it bring in annually?

1. Who owns WhatsApp?

Currently, WhatsApp is owned by Meta Platforms (META), the multinational technology conglomerate founded by Mark Zuckerberg. The acquisition of WhatsApp in February 2014 proved to be a significant advantage for Meta, particularly in terms of stock value. Since then, META’s share price has surged by over 370%, rising from approximately $71 to $335 (as of now).

2. The history of WhatsApp

Although WhatsApp is now the world’s most widely used messaging platform, few people know that it started as a small startup with just 250,000 users in 2009. By 2011, with financial backing from investors like Sequoia Capital, WhatsApp experienced rapid growth. By February 2013, the platform had reached 200 million active users, and by the end of 2013, this number had surpassed 400 million.

This explosive growth made WhatsApp a hot commodity in the tech industry. In 2014, just a year after raising capital at a $1.5 billion valuation, Facebook (now Meta) decided to acquire the app for a staggering $19 billion—one of the largest acquisitions in tech history.

Key figures from the WhatsApp acquisition:

• $4 billion in cash
• $12 billion in Facebook stock
• $3 billion in restricted stock units for WhatsApp’s founders

The deal yielded enormous returns for early investors. For example, Sequoia Capital saw a 5,000% return on its investment in WhatsApp.

After becoming part of Meta, WhatsApp continued to expand and solidify its position as the world’s leading messaging app. As of January 2025, the platform has reached 2.95 billion active users worldwide.

3. Development timeline of WhatsApp

• February 2009 – WhatsApp was founded by Jan Koum and Brian Acton, both former employees of Yahoo.
• August 2009 – WhatsApp 2.0 was launched on Apple’s App Store, featuring push notifications, which helped the app reach 250,000 users.
• 2010 – WhatsApp rejected several acquisition offers from Google.
• Early 2011 – WhatsApp became one of the most downloaded mobile applications in the United States.
• February 2013 – The platform reached 200 million monthly active users.
• April 2013 – WhatsApp secured $50 million in funding from Sequoia Capital, valuing the company at $1.5 billion.
• December 2013 – The number of monthly active users reached 400 million.
• February 2014 – Facebook (now Meta) acquired WhatsApp for $19 billion, marking the largest acquisition in social media history.

4. How much money does WhatsApp make?

WhatsApp does not publicly disclose its revenue reports, but estimates suggest that the platform generated approximately $1.3 billion in 2024. Although the messaging app does not display direct advertisements, WhatsApp generates revenue from various sources, primarily WhatsApp Business and additional services.

In addition to WhatsApp Business, the platform also earns money through WhatsApp Pay – an online money transfer service available in select countries. WhatsApp may charge transaction fees or collaborate with banks and financial institutions to receive commissions.

Furthermore, WhatsApp is experimenting with indirect advertising integration through the Meta ecosystem. While the app itself does not display ads within chat interfaces, businesses can run ads on Facebook and Instagram that direct users to WhatsApp conversations, generating revenue for Meta – WhatsApp’s parent company.

Thanks to its smart monetization strategy, WhatsApp has built a sustainable business model, generating billions of dollars in revenue without compromising user experience.

With Meta’s backing, WhatsApp not only maintains a free experience for users but also continues expanding its revenue-generating services without affecting convenience. In the future, the platform is likely to introduce new revenue models, further increasing its profitability.