The $19 Billion WhatsApp Deal Was Big, But Not the Year's Biggest (Infographic) So far in 2014, there have been three M&A deals larger than Facebook's $19 billion purchase of WhatsApp.

By Catherine Clifford

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Remember when Facebook bought Instagram for $1 billion and that seemed crazy? Entrepreneurs in the tech community were dreaming about being the next Instagram, and from Silicon Valley to Silicon Alley, everyone was weighing in on whether Facebook paid too much or not enough. That was 2012.

Then, Facebook bought messaging mobile application WhatsApp for $19 billion. That was in February of this year. And suddenly everybody -- entrepreneurs, investors, bakers, grocery store clerks, yoga teachers, train conductors -- was weighing in on whether Facebook had made a good decision or a bad decision. What was Mark Zuckerberg thinking?

Related: Facebook Buys Popular Fitness-Tracker App So It Can Know Even More About You

Turns out that while that $19 billion made our jaws drop, there were three larger acquisitions already in 2014. Comcast bought Time Warner Cable for $45 billion, Charter bought Time Warner Cable for $37 billion and Actavis bought Forest Laboratories for $25 billion, according to this infographic generated by personal finance website FinancesOnline.com.

In most tech acquisitions, the goal is either talent or intellectual property. Take a looksee at the infographic below to see recent trends in mergers along with some of the biggest acquisitions from tech giants Google, Microsoft, Apple and Facebook.

Related: Love It or Hate It, Facebook Is So Hot Right Now

Click to Enlarge+
The $19 Billion WhatsApp Deal Was Big, But Not the Year's Biggest (Infographic)

Catherine Clifford

Senior Entrepreneurship Writer at CNBC

Catherine Clifford is senior entrepreneurship writer at CNBC. She was formerly a senior writer at Entrepreneur.com, the small business reporter at CNNMoney and an assistant in the New York bureau for CNN. Clifford attended Columbia University where she earned a bachelor's degree. She lives in Brooklyn, N.Y. You can follow her on Twitter at @CatClifford.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Money & Finance

Investing In Our Youth: The Financial Literacy Movement

The importance of financial literacy for children is paramount.

Side Hustle

'My Brain Thrives on Variety': His Side Hustle Inspired By 'The 4-Hour Workweek' Led to $600,000 in 16 Months

Mark Hellweg, 42, knows what it takes to start a business "with a fraction of the capital."

Business News

'Pre-Boarding Scam': Customers Furious at Southwest Airlines After 20 Passengers Ask For Wheelchair Assistance to Board

A viral tweet is slamming the airline's wheelchair policy for boarding and disembarking.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Social Media

How To Start a Youtube Channel: Step-by-Step Guide

YouTube can be a valuable way to grow your audience. If you're ready to create content, read more about starting a business YouTube Channel.