As of my last knowledge update in September 2021, here are some of the most successful startup exits (acquisitions or initial public offerings) in history. Please note that these rankings might have changed since then, and new successful exits may have occurred:
Facebook's Acquisition of WhatsApp:
In 2014, Facebook acquired the messaging app WhatsApp for $19 billion. WhatsApp continues to be one of the most popular messaging platforms globally.
Alphabet's Acquisition of YouTube:
Google (now part of Alphabet Inc.) acquired YouTube in 2006 for $1.65 billion. YouTube has become the largest video-sharing platform on the internet.
Microsoft's Acquisition of LinkedIn:
In 2016, Microsoft acquired the professional networking platform LinkedIn for approximately $26.2 billion.
Visa's Acquisition of Plaid:
Visa announced the acquisition of fintech startup Plaid for $5.3 billion in January 2020. Plaid specializes in enabling apps to connect with users' bank accounts.
eBay's Acquisition of PayPal:
eBay acquired online payment platform PayPal in 2002 for $1.5 billion. PayPal later became a separate publicly-traded company.
Salesforce's Acquisition of Tableau:
In 2019, Salesforce acquired data visualization and analytics software company Tableau for around $15.7 billion.
Facebook's Acquisition of Oculus VR:
In 2014, Facebook acquired virtual reality company Oculus VR for $2 billion. This marked Facebook's entry into the VR space.
Amazon's Acquisition of Whole Foods Market:
Amazon acquired organic grocery chain Whole Foods Market in 2017 for $13.7 billion, expanding its presence in the retail sector.
Facebook's Acquisition of Instagram:
In 2012, Facebook acquired the photo-sharing app Instagram for approximately $1 billion.
Microsoft's Acquisition of GitHub:
Microsoft acquired software development platform GitHub in 2018 for $7.5 billion.
Apple's Acquisition of Beats Electronics:
Apple acquired Beats Electronics, including its headphones and streaming music service, Beats Music, for $3 billion in 2014.
Cisco's Acquisition of AppDynamics:
Cisco acquired application performance monitoring and management company AppDynamics in 2017 for approximately $3.7 billion.
Uber's Acquisition of Postmates:
Uber acquired food delivery startup Postmates for $2.65 billion in 2020, expanding its food delivery services.
Adobe's Acquisition of Magento:
Adobe acquired e-commerce platform Magento for $1.68 billion in 2018, enhancing its digital commerce capabilities.
PayPal's Acquisition of Venmo:
PayPal acquired mobile payment app Venmo as part of its acquisition of Braintree for $800 million in 2013.
