Business As Usual In The New Silicon Valley

Now here is one spectacular tale. A company, with little PR or marketing, grows in just a handful of years to connect half a billion people around the world through a simple messaging app. The company gets acquired for a hefty sum; in this case, the largest sum ever in the history of venture-backed startup acquisitions. Billionaires and millionaires are created almost out of thin air.

How Facebook's WhatsApp Deal Compares to Other Tech Acquisitions

Facebook announced Wednesday that it will acquire popular messaging app WhatsApp for $16 billion ($19 billion, if you include restricted stock units for the WhatsApp staff). It's hard to believe that only two years ago, the social network acquired Instagram for a then-shocking $1 billion. How times (and dollars) have changed.

Facebook Buying WhatsApp For $19B, Will Keep The Messaging Service Independent

Facebook is purchasing messaging giant WhatsApp for $16 billion in cash and stock, according to a regulatory filing. The deal is being cut for $12 billion in Facebook shares, $4 billion in cash and an additional $3 billion in RSUs for employee retention. A termination fee is attached to the deal that would cost Facebook $1 billion in cash and $1 billion in shares if the deal fails to pass regulatory muster.