Mark Zuckerberg, born on May 14, 1984, is an American entrepreneur who co-founded Facebook and Meta Platforms, serving as CEO and controlling shareholder. He launched Facebook in 2004 with Harvard roommates Eduardo Saverin, Andrew McCollum, Dustin Moskovitz, and Chris Hughes.
Zuckerberg dropped out of Harvard to focus on Facebook, taking it public in 2012 and becoming the world’s youngest self-made billionaire at 23 in 2008. He also established the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. His life and Facebook’s controversies were depicted in the 2010 film “The Social Network,” which won several Academy Awards.
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Mark Zuckerberg’s Net Worth
Mark Zuckerberg, with a net worth of $169 billion, is the youngest among the world’s top 100 richest and notably younger than anyone in the top 30 by over a decade.
His wealth primarily stems from his Facebook shares, owning about 400 million total shares, including 12 million Class A and 365 million Class B shares. These Class B shares grant him approximately 81% ownership of this type and 53% of Facebook’s voting rights. With control over co-founder Dustin Moskovitz’s voting rights, Zuckerberg commands about 58% of the total voting power.
Early life
Mark Zuckerberg was born on May 14, 1984, in White Plains, New York. Raised in a Reform Jewish household with three sisters, he showed an early aptitude for computers, writing software in middle school. At Ardsley High School and then Phillips Exeter Academy, he developed a program linking computers and built a music player that learned listening habits.
Attending Harvard, Zuckerberg gained a reputation as a programming prodigy, creating CourseMatch and Facemash, the latter of which was shut down for using student photos without permission, leading to his public apology. His ventures set the stage for launching Facebook.
Career
In January 2004, Mark Zuckerberg began coding a new website, launching “Thefacebook” on February 4, 2004, at thefacebook.com, with co-founders Eduardo Saverin, Andrew McCollum, Dustin Moskovitz, and Chris Hughes. The concept was inspired by photo directories like the one at his prep school, which was called “The Facebook.”
Shortly after the launch, Zuckerberg faced accusations from Harvard seniors—Cameron Winklevoss, Tyler Winklevoss, and Divya Narendra—of using their ideas to create a competing product, leading to a lawsuit that settled with Facebook shares and cash. Zuckerberg expanded Facebook to other universities, eventually dropping out of Harvard to focus on the project in Palo Alto, where he met investor Peter Thiel. Despite controversies, Facebook’s growth was explosive, reaching 500 million users by 2010.
Personal life
Mark Zuckerberg met Priscilla Chan, a fellow Harvard student, in 2003 and they began dating. Chan moved into Zuckerberg’s Palo Alto home in 2010 while attending medical school at UCSF.
They married on May 19, 2012, in a ceremony that coincided with her medical school graduation. The couple has three daughters: Maxima, born in December 2015, August, born in August 2017, and Aurelia, born in March 2023. They revealed Maxima’s Chinese name, Chen Mingyu, in a Chinese New Year video. The family also includes a Puli dog named Beast, who has a significant following on Facebook.
How can I contact Mark Zuckerberg directly?
To contact Mark Zuckerberg by email, use [email protected] or [email protected]. Report scams or phishing attempts to [email protected].
Conclusion
Mark Zuckerberg’s journey, from a young programmer in New York to one of the world’s wealthiest individuals, is a testament to innovation, determination, and vision. While figures like net worth are impressive, they only touch the surface of his broader impact on the digital world.
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FAQs about Mark Zuckerberg’s Net Worth
- How did Zuckerberg amass his wealth?
- Primarily from his ownership stake in Facebook/Meta.
- Is Zuckerberg the richest person in the world?
- As of 2023, he ranks 9th.
- Does he take a regular salary from Meta?
- No, his official salary is just $1 per year.
- What are his other sources of income?
- Apart from his ownership in Meta, he receives compensation from the company, like the $27m in 2021.
- Did the movie “The Social Network” accurately depict his journey to wealth?
- While the film showcased aspects of his early career, it’s dramatized for entertainment and doesn’t capture the entirety of his professional journey.
