Meet Brian Acton, WhatsApp co-founder who was rejected for job by Facebook in 2009, tech giant later acquired messaging app for up to $19 billion

Brian Acton, co-founder of WhatsApp, was once rejected by Facebook for a job. Years before Facebook bought WhatsApp for a deal valued up to $19 billion, Acton's job application was rejected. In 2009, he revealed publicly that Facebook rejected him, but instead of criticising the tech giant, he said something no one expected. Acton said that the job interview gave him a golden chance to meet "some fantastic people." He added that he at that time felt like looking forward to "life's next adventure."

Interestingly, no one knew that a rejection will soon become the reason behind a remarkable technology story. Five years after rejecting Acton, Facebook returned to him. This time it wasn't a job offer. The tech giant wanted to buy the messaging business he helped to build and grow.

What happened when Facebook rejected Acton?

Acton used to work at Yahoo before looking for the next big opportunity in 2009. On August 3, 2009, he publicly revealed that Facebook rejected him for a job, according to a Business Insider report.

But, Facebook wasn't the only big company that turned him down during that period. According to reports and an earlier post from 2009, even Twitter had once rejected him.

Acton still didn't give up and moved forward despite rejections during his career. His next chapter brought him back with Jan Koum, who was his ex-Yahoo colleague.

How did he become co-founder of WhatsApp?

At that time, Koum was already working on a messaging application. Acton later joined him and built the company, which later went on to become WhatsApp. The idea around building WhatsApp at that time was simple. The goal was to provide a service that connected messaging to a user's phone number and contacts. It was different from a traditional social network account.

Interestingly, time was also on their side. With the advancement of technology and increase in use of smartphones, messaging through mobile was becoming popular, and an important part of life.

After launch of WhatsApp, its users grew rapidly. A small messaging platform soon became part of people's life and a tool for everyday tasks.

Facebook's official announcement of the acquisition had at that time stated that WhatsApp had more than 450 million monthly users. The platform had grown far beyond the founders even imagined by early 2014.

The fast-paced growth made WhatsApp one of the most valued business. But, the company that once rejected Acton, soon came to acquire what we helped build.

Why did Facebook acquire WhatsApp?

Facebook, on February 19, 2014, announced an agreement to acquire WhatsApp. According to reports, the potential value of the deal was about $19 billion.

After the deal, the story of Acton became widely popular. The company that once rejected him, later came to him to acquire what he built. The story became a perfect example of how a rejection can't determine what someone truly is. Acton's story of rejection from Facebook, and later co-founding WhatsApp shows that life never stops after a simple rejection. Hard work and innovation helped Acton achieve massive success.