The tech world has seen some jaw-dropping deals over the past decade, with companies shelling out billions to dominate markets, expand their ecosystems, and stay ahead of the competition. 

The latest headline-grabber? Alphabet's potential $32 billion acquisition of cybersecurity firm Wiz marks Google's parent company's biggest deal ever. But that's just the tip of the iceberg.

Here's a look at the ten largest tech deals that have reshaped the industry in the last decade. 

1. Walt Disney snags Twenty-First Century Fox for $71 billion (March 2019) 

In a move that shook the entertainment industry, Disney acquired Twenty-First Century Fox, gaining control of iconic franchises like X-Men and Avatar. The deal also bolstered Disney's streaming service, Disney+, as it took on Netflix.  

2. Broadcom's $69 billion VMware takeover (November 2023)

Broadcom's acquisition of cloud computing company VMware aimed to strengthen its position in cloud infrastructure and software. The deal, completed in November 2023, marked one of the largest tech mergers in history.  

3. Microsoft's $69 billion Activision Blizzard gamble (October 2023)

Microsoft's purchase of gaming giant Activision Blizzard was a bold bet on the future of gaming and the metaverse. The deal gave Microsoft control of blockbuster franchises like 'Call of Duty' and 'World of Warcraft'.  

4. Dell Technologies' $67 billion EMC Corp deal (September 2016)

Dell's acquisition of EMC Corp created a tech powerhouse, combining Dell's hardware expertise with EMC's data storage solutions. The deal remains one of the largest in tech history.  

5. Elon Musk's $44 billion Twitter takeover (October 2022)

Elon Musk's purchase of Twitter (now X) was as controversial as it was expensive. The deal sparked debates about free speech, platform moderation, and the future of social media. X remains a popular platform - for more reasons than one. 

6. Broadcom's $37 billion Avago Technologies merger (February 2016)

Broadcom's merger with semiconductor supplier Avago Technologies created a semiconductor giant, positioning the company as a key player in the global chip industry. 

7. IBM's $34 billion Red Hat acquisition (July 2019)

IBM's purchase of software company Red Hat was a strategic move to dominate the hybrid cloud market. The deal highlighted IBM's shift from legacy hardware to cloud-based solutions.  

8. Cisco's $28 billion Splunk deal (March 2024)

Cisco's acquisition of Splunk, a data analytics and cybersecurity firm, aimed to enhance its capabilities in AI-driven security and observability.  

9. Salesforce's $27.7 billion Slack buy (July 2021)

Salesforce's purchase of communication platform Slack was a bid to compete with Microsoft Teams in the workplace collaboration space. The deal integrated Slack into Salesforce's customer relationship management ecosystem. 

10. Microsoft buying LinkedIn for $26.2 billion (December 2016)

Microsoft's acquisition of LinkedIn transformed the professional networking platform into a hub for enterprise tools and services.

Honourable mentions

In April 2020, T-Mobile US buying Sprint for $23 billion meant that the company was by-then the third-largest wireless carrier in the US. 

Meta Platforms buying WhatsApp for $22 billion in October 2014 solidified the Facebook parent's dominance in global messaging.

Why these deals matter

These mega-deals reflect the tech industry's relentless pursuit of innovation and market dominance. From cloud computing and cybersecurity to entertainment and gaming, companies are betting big on the future. Alphabet's Wiz acquisition could be the latest example of how tech giants are willing to spend billions to stay ahead.  

As the tech landscape continues to evolve, one thing is clear: the race for supremacy is far from over, and the price tags are only getting bigger.