Meta Invests $3.5B in Eyewear Giant EssilorLuxottica Amid Wearable Tech Push

Meta has acquired a nearly 3% stake in EssilorLuxottica, the parent company of Ray-Ban and Oakley, for approximately $3.5 billion. The two companies have collaborated on smart glasses since 2019 and plan to continue working together "into the next decade." The investment aligns with Meta's focus on wearable tech.

Meta Platforms (META) has acquired a nearly 3% stake in EssilorLuxottica, the parent company of Ray-Ban and Oakley, for approximately $3.5 billion. This strategic move aligns with Meta's focus on wearable technology and underscores its commitment to developing AI-powered eyewear for the mainstream market [1].

The two companies have collaborated on smart glasses since 2019, with the first-generation Ray-Ban Meta glasses selling millions of units since launch. The new Oakley Meta HSTN line, which features a 3K camera and IPX4 water resistance, targets athletes and represents a pivot from fashion to performance [2].

The investment also reflects Meta's push to secure its hardware ambitions while it wages a costly talent war to poach top AI researchers. According to Meta’s Head of Wearables, Alex Himel, the Oakley launch is just the beginning, indicating further advancements in wearable technology [3].

This strategic bet on wearable AI solidifies a partnership that has proven fruitful, providing Meta with a solid foundation for more ambitious hardware. The investment underscores Meta’s long-term vision to bring the power of intelligent eyewear to more people, in more ways, than ever before.

References:
[1] https://www.investopedia.com/meta-buys-stake-in-the-parent-company-of-ray-ban-and-oakley-report-says-11768572
[2] https://www.techradar.com/computing/virtual-reality-augmented-reality/4-key-changes-meta-is-making-with-its-oakley-smart-glasses-to-make-them-stand-out-from-the-ray-ban-ai-specs
[3] https://winbuzzer.com/2025/07/09/meta-invests-3-5-billion-in-ray-ban-parent-essilorluxottica-to-fuel-ai-glasses-push-xcxwbn/