Meta Forecasts $115B-$135B CapEx, Expenses Up to $169B in 2026
Meta Platforms plans 2026 capital expenditures of $115 billion to $135 billion, with total annual expenses potentially reaching $169 billion. This positions Meta among the largest AI spenders in Big Tech alongside Amazon’s $200 billion and Alphabet’s $175–$185 billion forecasts.
1. 2026 Capital Expenditure Outlook
Meta expects to allocate $115 billion to $135 billion in capital expenditures in 2026, marking a substantial increase as the company scales its AI infrastructure, data centers and hardware platforms.
2. Annual Expense Projections
Total operating expenses are projected to climb to as much as $169 billion in 2026, driven by expanded R&D, content moderation and global rollout of AI-driven products and services.
3. Big Tech AI Spending Context
Meta’s planned capex places it behind Amazon’s $200 billion and Alphabet’s $175–$185 billion AI investments, but ahead of Microsoft’s $37.5 billion and Tesla’s $20 billion forecasts.
4. Strategic Implications for Meta
Elevated spending underscores Meta’s commitment to an AI-led growth strategy, though it may pressure free cash flow and operating margins as investments intensify.