Microsoft is currently the most valuable company in the world, boasting a market capitalization of $3.26 trillion, which is more than the GDP of several countries. Founded by Bill Gates and his associates, the company took 44 years to achieve a $1 trillion valuation.
In contrast, other tech giants reached this milestone at a much faster pace:
Apple: 42 years
Amazon: 24 years
Google (Alphabet): 21 years
Tesla: 18 years
But what sets Facebook apart is its speed — "Facebook achieved this milestone faster than any of them, reaching a $1 trillion valuation in just 17 years after its founding in 2004 and crossing the threshold in 2021."
"Mark Zuckerberg was just 19 years old when he launched Facebook in 2004." By 2021, the company had rebranded to Meta Platforms to align with its new metaverse ambitions. According to a NavBharatTimes report, Meta's current market capitalization is $1.489 trillion, making it the seventh most valuable company in the world.
Meta stands as the largest social media conglomerate, with ownership of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp under its belt.
In terms of market valuation, Meta follows these six companies:
Microsoft
Apple
Nvidia
Amazon
Alphabet (Google’s parent)
Saudi Aramco
According to Forbes, "Mark Zuckerberg, co-founder and CEO of Meta Platforms, ranks second among the richest individuals in the world in 2025, with a staggering net worth of $216 billion."
In 2004, Zuckerberg secured a $500,000 angel investment from venture capitalist Peter Thiel. As per NavBharatTimes, Zuckerberg officially named his company “Facebook” in 2005. That same year, Yahoo offered to buy Facebook for $1 billion, a deal Zuckerberg famously declined.
The year 2012 was transformative. Facebook:
Acquired Instagram for $1 billion
Launched its IPO
Surpassed one billion users
Notably, in 2007, Zuckerberg made history: "at just 23 years old, Zuckerberg became the youngest self-made billionaire in history."
In 2014, Facebook made its largest acquisition ever by purchasing WhatsApp for $19 billion. This remains Facebook’s biggest deal and surpassed any acquisition made by Google, Microsoft, or Apple.
“Discussions between the two companies had been ongoing for two years before the deal was finalized.”
In October 2021, Facebook transitioned into Meta Platforms, a name meant to reflect its push toward metaverse development. Today, Meta includes Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, forming a powerful digital ecosystem.
“Zuckerberg owns about 13% of Meta Platforms and ranks as one of the wealthiest individuals in the world, following Elon Musk, Tesla head.”
The history of Facebook is a fascinating journey from a small college networking site to the world's largest social media platform. Here's a detailed account of its evolution:
The Conception and Launch (2003-2004):
Facemash (2003): The groundwork for Facebook was laid in October 2003 when Mark Zuckerberg, a sophomore at Harvard University, created a website called "Facemash." This controversial "hot or not" style site compared the attractiveness of female Harvard students by using photos scraped from the university's online face books (student directories). Despite attracting significant traffic (450 visitors generating 22,000 votes in two days), the site was quickly shut down by Harvard administrators due to privacy violations and security breaches. However, Facemash's popularity demonstrated the demand for a social connection platform among students.
TheFacebook.com (February 4, 2004): Inspired by the success of Facemash and recognizing the need for a dedicated social networking site for Harvard students, Zuckerberg, along with fellow Harvard students Eduardo Saverin, Dustin Moskovitz, and Chris Hughes, launched "TheFacebook" on February 4, 2004. Initially, membership was exclusive to Harvard College students, requiring a Harvard.edu email address to register. The platform allowed students to create profiles, upload photos, share personal information like class schedules and club affiliations, and connect with other students.
Early Growth and Features (Mid-2004): TheFacebook quickly gained popularity within Harvard, with over half of the undergraduate population signing up within the first month. Recognizing the potential, the founders expanded access to other prestigious universities like Stanford, Columbia, and Yale in March 2004. By June 2004, over 250,000 students from 34 schools had joined the platform. A crucial early feature, the "Wall," was introduced in September 2004, allowing friends to post messages on a user's profile, significantly enhancing social interaction.
Name Change and Acquisition of Facebook.com (August 2005): The company acquired the domain name Facebook.com for a reported $200,000 and officially dropped "The" from its name, becoming simply "Facebook." This marked a step towards a broader appeal beyond just university students.
Opening to High Schools and Beyond (September 2005 - 2006): In September 2005, Facebook expanded its reach to include high school networks. A significant turning point came in September 2006 when Facebook opened its registration to anyone aged 13 and older with a valid email address, transforming it from a closed academic network to a public social networking service.
Introduction of the News Feed (September 2006): The launch of the News Feed was a pivotal moment in Facebook's history. This feature provided users with a real-time, personalized stream of updates from their friends, sparking initial privacy concerns but ultimately becoming central to user engagement and content discovery on the platform.
Facebook Platform and Mobile Access (2007): Facebook launched its developer platform in May 2007, allowing third-party developers to create applications and games that could run within the Facebook ecosystem. This move significantly enhanced user engagement and the platform's functionality. In January 2007, Facebook also launched its mobile access, allowing users to connect via their cell phones, further driving growth and convenience.
The "Like" Button (February 2009): The introduction of the "Like" button on February 9, 2009, became a ubiquitous feature of the platform, simplifying how users expressed approval and interacted with content.
Surpassing Milestones: Facebook continued its rapid growth, surpassing 100 million users in 2008 and reaching over 500 million monthly active users globally by 2010.
Acquisition of Instagram (April 2012): In a significant move to bolster its mobile presence, Facebook acquired the popular photo-sharing app Instagram for approximately $1 billion in cash and stock.
Initial Public Offering (IPO) (May 2012): Facebook went public on May 18, 2012, with one of the largest IPOs in tech history, raising $16 billion and valuing the company at over $100 billion.
Focus on Mobile and Video: Facebook increasingly focused on its mobile platform and the growing importance of video content.
Acquisition of WhatsApp (February 2014): Facebook acquired the messaging app WhatsApp for $19 billion, further expanding its reach in the communication space.
Controversies and Regulatory Scrutiny: The platform faced increasing scrutiny and controversies related to data privacy (most notably the Cambridge Analytica scandal in 2018), misinformation, and its impact on elections and global events.
Rebranding to Meta (October 2021): In October 2021, Facebook announced its corporate rebranding to Meta Platforms, Inc. ("Meta"), reflecting the company's broader ambitions beyond social networking to encompass the metaverse and virtual reality technologies. However, the social networking platform itself retained the name "Facebook."
Continued Evolution: Facebook continues to evolve, adapting to changing user behavior, technological advancements (including exploring AI-powered search tools as of May 2025), and regulatory landscapes. It remains a dominant force in social media, connecting billions of people worldwide, although it faces ongoing challenges related to content moderation, privacy, and competition.
The history of Facebook is a story of rapid growth, innovation, and significant impact on how people connect, communicate, and consume information globally. From its humble beginnings as a Harvard-only platform, it has become a cultural and technological phenomenon, shaping the digital age in profound ways.
Facebook’s rapid ascent to a $1 trillion valuation in just 17 years demonstrates its unparalleled growth among modern tech giants. While companies like Microsoft and Apple took over four decades to hit the mark, Facebook’s strategic acquisitions, massive user base, and early investments helped it accelerate past its peers.
Now rebranded as Meta Platforms, the company continues to innovate beyond social media — from immersive virtual experiences to AI integration. As of 2025, Meta stands as the seventh most valuable company in the world and remains the largest force in global social networking.
With Mark Zuckerberg ranking among the top two richest individuals, Facebook’s journey from dorm room project to trillion-dollar empire is nothing short of extraordinary.