Recent reports spotlight growing acquisition interest from major tech giants. Meta’s substantial investment in ScaleAI and rumoured pursuit of other AI startups have dominated headlines. Meanwhile, Apple is reportedly in early talks to acquire Perplexity AI, eyeing its advanced search capabilities. While these developments are drawing significant attention, the strategy of acquiring innovative startups remains a well-established playbook in the tech industry.The world's largest technology firms have engaged in multi-billion dollar acquisitions to expand their service ecosystems and integrate key technologies. The Big Tech – Alphabet (Google), Amazon, Apple, Meta and Microsoft – have struck landmark deals and purchased companies with both competing and complementary technologies. These acquisitions have often served as a component of their growth and innovation strategies. Here are some of the key acquisitions and investments by the Big Tech in their history.Here are one-line summaries for each acquisition, including the year and finances involved.