Meta Platforms increased its ownership of eyewear conglomerate EssilorLuxottica to a minimum of 3 % in a transaction completed on December 9 2025. The investment, valued at roughly €3 billion (about $3.5 billion), gives Meta a foothold in the supply chain for its Ray‑Ban Meta smart‑glasses and positions the company to benefit from the rapid expansion of AI‑enabled wearables.
EssilorLuxottica, which owns the Ray‑Ban brand, reported record Q3 2025 revenue of €6.867 billion, up 11.7 % year‑over‑year. The surge was largely driven by the Ray‑Ban Meta line, which contributed more than 4 percentage points to group growth. The company’s guidance for 2026 remains in the mid‑single‑digit revenue growth range, underscoring confidence in the continued demand for AI‑powered glasses.
Meta’s Reality Labs division, which includes the smart‑glasses business, posted a revenue increase in Q3 2025 but is expected to see a modest year‑over‑year decline in Q4 2025. The dip reflects the lag between product launch and full‑scale production, as well as intensified competition from Google’s announced AI‑glasses plans. Despite the short‑term headwind, Meta’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg emphasized that the company remains “excited to see these efforts scale further in 2025,” highlighting a long‑term belief in the hardware‑AI integration.
The stake increase aligns with Meta’s strategic pivot away from the broader metaverse concept toward focused AI and hardware initiatives. By securing a significant share in EssilorLuxottica, Meta gains influence over design, manufacturing, and distribution of its smart‑glasses, potentially accelerating time‑to‑market and reducing supply‑chain risk.
Analysts note that the investment signals Meta’s confidence in the smart‑glasses market, which is projected to grow at a compound annual rate of 15 % over the next five years. The move also positions Meta to negotiate better terms for future hardware collaborations and to leverage EssilorLuxottica’s global retail network.
The announcement comes amid growing competitive pressure, as Google plans to launch its own AI‑powered glasses. EssilorLuxottica’s CEO Francesco Milleri stated that the company views glasses as “the next computing platform,” underscoring a shared vision with Meta for a future where eyewear delivers AI‑driven experiences.
Overall, Meta’s stake in EssilorLuxottica represents a strategic investment that could strengthen its hardware ecosystem, provide a steady revenue stream from a high‑growth product line, and deepen its partnership with a leading eyewear manufacturer.
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