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{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name         = Mark Zuckerberg
| name = Mark Zuckerberg
| birth_name   = Mark Elliot Zuckerberg
| birth_name = Mark Elliot Zuckerberg
| birth_date   = {{Birth date and age|1984|5|14}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1984|5|14}}
| birth_place = [[White Plains, New York]], U.S.
| birth_place = [[White Plains, New York]], U.S.
| nationality = American
| nationality = American
| occupation   = {{hlist|Business executive|programmer}}
| occupation = {{flatlist|
| known_for    = Co-founding [[Facebook]] and [[Meta Platforms]]
* Business executive
| title        = {{indented plainlist|
* programmer
* Chairman and CEO of [[Meta Platforms]]
}}
}}
| education   = [[Harvard University]] (dropped out)
| known_for = Co-founding [[Facebook]] and [[Meta Platforms]]
| spouse      = Priscilla Chan (m. 2012)
| title = Chairman and CEO of [[Meta Platforms]]
| children     = 3
| education = [[Harvard University]] (dropped out)
| children = 3
| years_active = 2004–present
| years_active = 2004–present
| awards      = {{indented plainlist|
| website = {{URL|about.meta.com}}
* ''Time'' Person of the Year (2010)
}}
| website     = {{URL|about.meta.com}}
}}
}}


'''Mark Elliot Zuckerberg''' (born May 14, 1984) is an American businessman, programmer, and internet entrepreneur who co-founded the social media platform [[Facebook]] in 2004 and serves as chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of its parent company, [[Meta Platforms]]. Born in [[White Plains, New York]], Zuckerberg developed an early aptitude for computer programming and built several software projects during his high school years before enrolling at [[Harvard University]]. It was at Harvard, in February 2004, that he launched "TheFacebook" from his dormitory room alongside co-founders [[Eduardo Saverin]], [[Andrew McCollum]], [[Dustin Moskovitz]], and [[Chris Hughes]].<ref>{{cite web |title=How Facebook Was Founded |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/how-facebook-was-founded-2010-3#we-can-talk-about-that-after-i-get-all-the-basic-functionality-up-tomorrow-night-1 |publisher=Business Insider |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> The platform grew rapidly among college campuses and eventually expanded worldwide, becoming one of the most-used websites in history. Zuckerberg took the company public in May 2012 and became the world's youngest self-made billionaire in 2008, at the age of 23.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mark Zuckerberg Profile |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/mark-zuckerberg/ |publisher=Forbes |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> His career has been marked by both extraordinary commercial growth and persistent legal and political scrutiny, including lawsuits over the creation and ownership of Facebook, congressional testimony regarding user privacy, and ongoing litigation concerning the platform's impact on younger users.
'''Mark Elliot Zuckerberg''' (born May 14, 1984) is an American businessman, programmer, and internet entrepreneur who co-founded the social networking service [[Facebook]] in 2004 and serves as chairman and chief executive officer of its parent company, [[Meta Platforms]]. What began as a college project in a Harvard dormitory room grew into one of the largest technology companies in the world, fundamentally reshaping how billions of people communicate, share information, and interact online. Zuckerberg became the world's youngest self-made billionaire in 2008 at age 23.<ref name="forbes">{{cite web |title=Mark Zuckerberg |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/mark-zuckerberg/ |publisher=Forbes |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> He has remained a controlling shareholder of Meta Platforms through a dual-class share structure, giving him decisive authority over the company's strategic direction. Alongside his wife, Priscilla Chan, he established the [[Chan Zuckerberg Initiative]], a philanthropic organization. His career has also been marked by significant legal and political scrutiny, including lawsuits over the creation and ownership of Facebook and ongoing controversies regarding user privacy and the platform's effects on younger users. In February 2026, Zuckerberg testified in a landmark trial examining whether social media companies are fueling a teen mental health crisis.<ref name="yahoo-trial">{{cite news |date=2026-02-21 |title=Mark Zuckerberg Grilled in Social Media Addiction Trial That Could Cost Platforms Billions |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/mark-zuckerberg-grilled-social-media-200423259.html |work=Yahoo News |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


== Early Life ==
== Early Life ==


Mark Elliot Zuckerberg was born on May 14, 1984, in [[White Plains, New York]], to Edward Zuckerberg, a dentist, and Karen Zuckerberg (née Kempner), a psychiatrist. He was raised in [[Dobbs Ferry, New York]], a village in [[Westchester County]], alongside his three sisters: Randi, Donna, and Arielle.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Face of Facebook |last=Vargas |first=Jose Antonio |date=2010-09-20 |url=https://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/09/20/100920fa_fact_vargas |work=The New Yorker |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Mark Elliot Zuckerberg was born on May 14, 1984, in [[White Plains, New York]]. He grew up in [[Dobbs Ferry, New York]], in a household that encouraged education and intellectual curiosity. His father, Edward Zuckerberg, is a dentist, and his mother, Karen (née Kempner), is a psychiatrist.<ref name="newyorker">{{cite news |last=Vargas |first=Jose Antonio |date=2010-09-20 |title=The Face of Facebook |url=https://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/09/20/100920fa_fact_vargas |work=The New Yorker |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> He has three sisters: Randi, Donna, and Arielle.


Zuckerberg showed an interest in computers at an early age. His father, Edward, introduced him to [[Atari BASIC]] programming and later hired a private computer tutor, David Newman, to work with the young Zuckerberg. Newman would later describe his pupil as a "prodigy."<ref>{{cite web |title=The Face of Facebook |last=Vargas |first=Jose Antonio |date=2010-09-20 |url=https://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/09/20/100920fa_fact_vargas |work=The New Yorker |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> During his middle school years, Zuckerberg began building software programs for practical and recreational purposes. One of his early projects was a messaging program called "ZuckNet," which allowed the computers in the family's home and his father's dental office to communicate with one another — a rudimentary internal instant messaging system.
Zuckerberg developed an interest in computers at an early age. His father taught him Atari BASIC programming during his childhood, and later hired software developer David Newman to tutor him privately.<ref name="newyorker" /> While still in middle school, Zuckerberg created a messaging program called "ZuckNet," which allowed computers in the family home and his father's dental office to communicate with each other — a rudimentary form of instant messaging that the family used internally before commercial products like AOL Instant Messenger became widely available.<ref name="businessinsider-founding">{{cite web |title=How Facebook Was Founded |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/how-facebook-was-founded-2010-3#we-can-talk-about-that-after-i-get-all-the-basic-functionality-up-tomorrow-night-1 |publisher=Business Insider |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


While still in high school, Zuckerberg built a music player called Synapse Media Player, which used [[machine learning]] to learn users' listening habits. The program attracted interest from several technology companies, including [[AOL]] and [[Microsoft]], which reportedly sought to acquire the software and hire the teenage developer.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mark Zuckerberg's Inspiration for Facebook Before Harvard |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120201185222/http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/mark_zuckerberg_inspiration_for_facebook_before_harvard.php |publisher=ReadWriteWeb |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> Zuckerberg declined these offers, choosing instead to pursue a college education. He attended [[Phillips Exeter Academy]], a prestigious preparatory school in [[New Hampshire]], where he excelled in classics and sciences. He also captained the school's fencing team.
During his years at [[Ardsley High School]] and later at [[Phillips Exeter Academy]], Zuckerberg continued to develop software projects. He and a friend, Adam D'Angelo, built a music player called Synapse Media Player that used [[machine learning]] to learn users' listening habits. The software attracted interest from technology companies, including [[AOL]] and [[Microsoft]], both of which reportedly sought to acquire the program and hire Zuckerberg, though he declined.<ref name="newyorker" /> The project was posted on [[Slashdot]], a technology news site, where it received positive attention.<ref>{{cite web |title=Synapse Media Player |url=http://slashdot.org/articles/03/04/21/110236.shtml |publisher=Slashdot |date=2003-04-21 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> Zuckerberg's early programming activities demonstrated both technical skill and an inclination toward building tools for social interaction and user behavior analysis, themes that would come to define his later work.


During this formative period, Zuckerberg developed a fascination with both programming and human social networks — an intersection of interests that would later inform the creation of Facebook.
Before attending Harvard, Zuckerberg had already explored the idea of building online social tools. According to reporting by ReadWriteWeb, his inspiration for social networking predated his arrival at the university.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mark Zuckerberg: Inspiration for Facebook Before Harvard |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120201185222/http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/mark_zuckerberg_inspiration_for_facebook_before_harvard.php |publisher=ReadWriteWeb (archived) |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


== Education ==
== Education ==


In September 2002, Zuckerberg enrolled at [[Harvard University]] as a member of the class of 2006. He studied computer science and psychology. At Harvard, Zuckerberg quickly gained a reputation as a talented programmer. During his sophomore year, he created a program called Facemash, which allowed students to compare the attractiveness of their peers by pulling photos from the university's online student directories ("face books"). The site generated controversy and was shut down by the Harvard administration after it drew complaints about privacy and the unauthorized use of student photographs.<ref>{{cite web |title=TheFacebook.com's Darker Side |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100614061858/http://www.stanforddaily.com/2004/03/10/thefacebookcoms-darker-side/ |publisher=The Stanford Daily |date=2004-03-10 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=How Mark Zuckerberg Hacked Into the Harvard Crimson |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/how-mark-zuckerberg-hacked-into-the-harvard-crimson-2010-3 |publisher=Business Insider |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Zuckerberg enrolled at [[Harvard University]] in 2002, where he studied computer science and psychology.<ref name="newyorker" /> At Harvard, he quickly gained a reputation as a skilled programmer. In his sophomore year, he created a website called Facemash, which allowed students to compare the attractiveness of their classmates using photos pulled from university directories. The site generated controversy and was shut down by the Harvard administration, which raised concerns about privacy violations and unauthorized use of student data.<ref>{{cite web |title=TheFacebook.com's Darker Side |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100614061858/http://www.stanforddaily.com/2004/03/10/thefacebookcoms-darker-side/ |publisher=The Stanford Daily (archived) |date=2004-03-10 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


Zuckerberg left Harvard after his sophomore year to focus on the rapidly growing Facebook, and he did not complete his undergraduate degree at that time. In May 2017, Harvard awarded him an honorary [[Doctor of Laws]] degree. Zuckerberg returned to campus to deliver the university's commencement address at its 366th commencement ceremony.<ref>{{cite web |title=Harvard Awards 10 Honorary Degrees at 366th Commencement |url=http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2017/05/harvard-awards-10-honorary-degrees-at-366th-commencement/ |publisher=Harvard Gazette |date=2017-05 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Mark Zuckerberg Finally Got His Harvard Degree |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/college/2017/05/25/mark-zuckerberg-finally-got-his-harvard-degree/37432061/ |publisher=USA Today |date=2017-05-25 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
The Facemash episode presaged both the appeal and the controversy that would surround Zuckerberg's later ventures. In February 2004, while still a sophomore, Zuckerberg launched "TheFacebook" from his Harvard dormitory room.<ref name="businessinsider-founding" /> He left Harvard shortly thereafter to focus on growing the company and did not complete his undergraduate degree at that time.
 
In 2017, Harvard awarded Zuckerberg an honorary degree. He delivered the commencement address at the university's 366th graduation ceremony.<ref>{{cite web |title=Harvard Awards 10 Honorary Degrees at 366th Commencement |url=http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2017/05/harvard-awards-10-honorary-degrees-at-366th-commencement/ |publisher=Harvard Gazette |date=2017-05 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=2017-05-25 |title=Mark Zuckerberg Finally Got His Harvard Degree |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/college/2017/05/25/mark-zuckerberg-finally-got-his-harvard-degree/37432061/ |work=USA Today |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


== Career ==
== Career ==
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=== Founding of Facebook ===
=== Founding of Facebook ===


In February 2004, Zuckerberg launched "TheFacebook" from his Harvard dormitory room. The platform was initially limited to Harvard students, requiring a harvard.edu email address to register. Zuckerberg was joined in the venture by his roommates Eduardo Saverin, who handled the business side of the operation, Andrew McCollum, who helped design the site, Dustin Moskovitz, and Chris Hughes.<ref>{{cite web |title=How Facebook Was Founded |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/how-facebook-was-founded-2010-3#we-can-talk-about-that-after-i-get-all-the-basic-functionality-up-tomorrow-night-1 |publisher=Business Insider |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
On February 4, 2004, Zuckerberg launched "TheFacebook" from his Harvard dormitory. He co-founded the site with his roommates [[Eduardo Saverin]], [[Andrew McCollum]], [[Dustin Moskovitz]], and [[Chris Hughes]].<ref name="businessinsider-founding" /> The website was initially limited to Harvard students, requiring a harvard.edu email address to register. It spread rapidly through the campus, and within weeks it had expanded to other [[Ivy League]] universities and then to additional colleges and universities across the United States.
 
The founding of Facebook was not without dispute. Cameron Winklevoss, Tyler Winklevoss, and Divya Narendra, three Harvard students who had been developing a social networking concept called HarvardConnection (later ConnectU), alleged that Zuckerberg had been hired to help build their platform and instead used their ideas to create Facebook. The dispute led to a protracted legal battle. In 2008, a federal judge ruled on the case, effectively ending the initial phase of the litigation.<ref>{{cite news |date=2008-06-26 |title=Judge Ends Facebook's Feud With ConnectU |url=http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/26/judge-ends-facebooks-feud-with-connectu/index.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> The Winklevoss twins ultimately received a settlement reportedly valued at $65 million, which grew substantially in value. By 2012, when Facebook went public, the Winklevoss twins' stake from the settlement was estimated to be worth roughly $300 million.<ref>{{cite news |date=2012-02-02 |title=Facebook IPO Could Give Winklevoss Twins $300m Fortune |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2012/feb/02/facebook-ipo-winklevoss-300m-fortune |work=The Guardian |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
 
During this early period, Zuckerberg was also reported to have accessed the accounts of Harvard Crimson reporters who were investigating him, using login data from Facebook's servers.<ref>{{cite web |title=How Mark Zuckerberg Hacked Into the Harvard Crimson |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/how-mark-zuckerberg-hacked-into-the-harvard-crimson-2010-3 |publisher=Business Insider |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> This incident later contributed to scrutiny over his approach to user data and privacy.
 
=== Growth and IPO ===


Within weeks, the site had spread to other [[Ivy League]] universities and then to colleges across the United States. Its rapid growth prompted Zuckerberg to leave Harvard at the end of his sophomore year, relocating to [[Palo Alto, California]], to run the company full-time. During this early period, the company dropped "The" from its name, becoming simply "Facebook."
After leaving Harvard, Zuckerberg moved Facebook's operations to [[Palo Alto, California]]. The company attracted early investment from [[Peter Thiel]] and later from [[Accel Partners]], fueling rapid expansion. Facebook's user base grew from a college-only network to a platform open to anyone aged 13 and older. By the mid-2000s, Facebook had become the dominant social networking platform in the United States and was expanding globally.


The creation of Facebook was not without controversy. Before Zuckerberg launched his site, he had been approached by fellow Harvard students Cameron Winklevoss, Tyler Winklevoss, and Divya Narendra to help them build a social networking site called HarvardConnection (later renamed ConnectU). The three alleged that Zuckerberg had stolen their idea and used it to build Facebook. They filed a lawsuit against Zuckerberg in 2004, beginning a protracted legal battle. In 2008, a judge oversaw a settlement in which Facebook paid the ConnectU founders $65 million in cash and stock.<ref>{{cite web |title=Judge Ends Facebook's Feud With ConnectU |url=http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/26/judge-ends-facebooks-feud-with-connectu/index.html |publisher=The New York Times |date=2008-06-26 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Facebook IPO: Winklevoss Twins Set for $300m Fortune |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2012/feb/02/facebook-ipo-winklevoss-300m-fortune |work=The Guardian |date=2012-02-02 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> The lawsuit and its surrounding drama became central to the narrative of the 2010 film ''[[The Social Network]]'', directed by [[David Fincher]] and written by [[Aaron Sorkin]].
Zuckerberg's approach to managing the company was shaped by his desire to maintain control over its direction. He instituted a dual-class share structure that gave him majority voting power even as external investors acquired economic stakes in the company. This governance structure has remained a defining feature of the company.


=== Growth of Facebook and IPO ===
A profile of Zuckerberg and the company published by ''Rolling Stone'' in 2006 explored the intense competition within the technology industry for control of social networking and the personal dynamics behind Facebook's rapid rise.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Battle for Facebook |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080703220456/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/21129674/the_battle_for_facebook/ |publisher=Rolling Stone (archived) |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


Under Zuckerberg's leadership, Facebook expanded beyond college campuses. By September 2006, the platform was open to anyone aged 13 and older with a valid email address. The site's user base grew at an extraordinary pace, reaching 100 million registered users by August 2008 and surpassing one billion monthly active users by October 2012.
In 2007, Facebook launched the Facebook Platform, allowing third-party developers to build applications that operated within the social network. Reporting by ''The Wall Street Journal'' covered the strategic implications of this move, which helped cement Facebook's position as a central hub of online activity.<ref>{{cite news |date=2007-07 |title=Facebook Platform |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB118539991204578084 |work=The Wall Street Journal |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


A pivotal moment in the company's history came on May 18, 2012, when Facebook held its [[initial public offering]] (IPO) on the [[NASDAQ]] stock exchange. The IPO valued the company at approximately $104 billion, making it one of the largest technology IPOs in history. Zuckerberg retained a controlling stake in the company through a dual-class share structure, which gave him majority voting power over corporate decisions. This structure has allowed him to maintain decisive control over the company's direction throughout its history.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mark Zuckerberg Profile |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/mark-zuckerberg/ |publisher=Forbes |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
On May 18, 2012, Facebook held its [[initial public offering]] (IPO) on the [[NASDAQ]] stock exchange, with a peak [[market capitalization]] of over $104 billion — the largest valuation at that time for a newly listed public company. Zuckerberg retained majority control of the company's voting shares through the offering.<ref name="forbes" />


Zuckerberg had already made history in 2008, at the age of 23, when he became the world's youngest self-made billionaire, according to ''Forbes''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mark Zuckerberg Profile |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/mark-zuckerberg/ |publisher=Forbes |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
=== Expansion and Rebranding to Meta ===


=== Strategic Acquisitions ===
Under Zuckerberg's leadership, the company pursued an aggressive acquisition strategy, purchasing [[Instagram]] in 2012 and [[WhatsApp]] in 2014, among other companies. These acquisitions significantly expanded the company's reach and user base, making it one of the most influential technology conglomerates in the world.


Over the following decade, Zuckerberg oversaw a series of major acquisitions that expanded the company's reach beyond its flagship social network. In 2012, Facebook acquired the photo-sharing platform [[Instagram]] for approximately $1 billion. In 2014, the company purchased the messaging service [[WhatsApp]] for approximately $19 billion, and it acquired the virtual reality hardware company [[Oculus VR]] for $2 billion. These acquisitions positioned Facebook as a dominant force across multiple sectors of the digital communications landscape, though they also attracted regulatory scrutiny regarding market competition.
In October 2021, Zuckerberg announced that Facebook, Inc. would be renamed to [[Meta Platforms]], reflecting a strategic pivot toward building the "[[metaverse]]" — an interconnected set of virtual and augmented reality experiences. The rebranding came amid intensifying criticism of the company related to content moderation, misinformation, and the internal research documents leaked by former employee [[Frances Haugen]].


=== Rebranding to Meta Platforms ===
Zuckerberg has also directed significant company resources toward [[artificial intelligence]]. In January 2026, he stated that AI tools were enabling individual employees at Meta to accomplish work that previously required entire teams, signaling a shift in the company's hiring strategy and approach to workforce development.<ref>{{cite news |date=2026-01 |title=Zuckerberg Says AI Is Letting One Employee Do the Work of Entire Teams |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/meta-says-ai-letting-one-employee-do-work-of-teams-2026-1 |work=Business Insider |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


In October 2021, Zuckerberg announced that Facebook, Inc. would be renamed [[Meta Platforms]], reflecting a strategic shift toward building the "[[metaverse]]" — a term describing immersive, interconnected virtual environments. The rebrand signaled Zuckerberg's ambition to move the company beyond social media into virtual and augmented reality technologies. The company's primary social media products, including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, continued to operate under their existing names as subsidiaries of Meta Platforms.
Meta's hardware division has developed products including the [[Ray-Ban Meta]] smart glasses, which combine camera functionality with AI-powered features. The glasses drew public attention in February 2026 when members of Zuckerberg's entourage wore them into a courtroom during a trial, prompting a rebuke from the presiding judge over the no-recording policy.<ref name="fortune-glasses">{{cite news |date=2026-02-20 |title=Mark Zuckerberg's entourage threatened with contempt for wearing Meta AI glasses into a no-recording courtroom |url=https://fortune.com/2026/02/20/mark-zuckerbergs-contempt-of-court-meta-glasses-courtroom-trial-social-media-addiction/ |work=Fortune |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=2026-02-20 |title=Judge Blasts Zuckerberg's Team Over Bonkers Courtroom Antics |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/judge-blasts-mark-zuckerbergs-team-over-bonkers-courtroom-antics/ |work=The Daily Beast |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> The incident raised questions about the social norms surrounding wearable recording devices in sensitive environments.<ref>{{cite news |date=2026-02-23 |title=Did Meta Just Accidentally Prove Smart Glasses Are a Liability? |url=https://gizmodo.com/did-meta-just-accidentally-prove-smart-glasses-are-a-liability-2000725585 |work=Gizmodo |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


=== Artificial Intelligence Strategy ===
=== Legal Challenges and Regulatory Scrutiny ===


In more recent years, Zuckerberg has directed Meta's focus increasingly toward [[artificial intelligence]]. In early 2026, Zuckerberg stated that AI technology was enabling individual employees at Meta to perform work that previously required entire teams, signaling the company's adoption of new hiring and organizational strategies centered on AI-driven productivity.<ref>{{cite news |title=Zuckerberg Says AI Is Letting One Employee Do the Work of Entire Teams |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/meta-says-ai-letting-one-employee-do-work-of-teams-2026-1 |work=Business Insider |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> Meta has invested heavily in AI research, developing large language models and integrating AI features across its product line, including its Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses.
Throughout his career, Zuckerberg and Meta have faced extensive legal and regulatory challenges. The early lawsuit by the Winklevoss twins and Divya Narendra was the first of many legal disputes concerning the company.


=== Ongoing Legal Challenges ===
Privacy and data handling have been recurring points of contention. The company's practices with user data led to scrutiny by government agencies in the United States and abroad. Zuckerberg has appeared before the [[United States Congress]] on multiple occasions to testify about Facebook's handling of user data, its role in the spread of misinformation, and its impact on democracy and public discourse.


Zuckerberg's career has been accompanied by persistent legal and regulatory challenges. Beyond the early ConnectU lawsuit, Facebook and later Meta have faced extensive scrutiny regarding [[user privacy]], [[data security]], and the platform's impact on public discourse. In 2018, Zuckerberg testified before the [[United States Congress]] in the wake of the [[Cambridge Analytica]] scandal, in which data from millions of Facebook users was harvested without consent and used for political advertising purposes.
In February 2026, Zuckerberg took the stand as a witness in a landmark trial examining allegations that social media platforms, including those operated by Meta, are designed in ways that are addictive to children and teenagers. During his testimony, Zuckerberg stated that the company's algorithm was not intentionally designed to be addictive for younger users.<ref name="yahoo-trial" /> The trial, which could result in billions of dollars in potential liability for technology companies, was closely watched by regulators, parents' advocacy groups, and the technology industry.<ref>{{cite news |date=2026-02-18 |title=Mark Zuckerberg faces a jury today |url=https://www.npr.org/2026/02/18/g-s1-110537/up-first-newsletter-cbs-anderson-cooper-mark-zuckerberg-iran-nuclear-program-dhs-tricia |work=NPR |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


In February 2026, Zuckerberg took the stand in a landmark trial examining whether social media companies bear responsibility for fueling a [[mental health crisis]] among teenagers. During his testimony, Zuckerberg stated that Meta's algorithm is not intentionally designed to be addictive for children and teens.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mark Zuckerberg Grilled in Social Media Addiction Trial That Could Cost Platforms Billions |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/mark-zuckerberg-grilled-social-media-200423259.html |work=Yahoo News |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=2026-02-18 |title=Mark Zuckerberg faces a jury today |url=https://www.npr.org/2026/02/18/g-s1-110537/up-first-newsletter-cbs-anderson-cooper-mark-zuckerberg-iran-nuclear-program-dhs-tricia |work=NPR |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> The trial attracted significant public attention, and an incident in which members of Zuckerberg's entourage wore camera-equipped Ray-Ban Meta AI glasses into the no-recording courtroom drew a scolding from the presiding judge, with threats of contempt charges.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mark Zuckerberg's entourage threatened with contempt for wearing Meta AI glasses into a no-recording courtroom |url=https://fortune.com/2026/02/20/mark-zuckerbergs-contempt-of-court-meta-glasses-courtroom-trial-social-media-addiction/ |work=Fortune |date=2026-02-20 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Judge Blasts Zuckerberg's Team Over Bonkers Courtroom Antics |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/judge-blasts-mark-zuckerbergs-team-over-bonkers-courtroom-antics/ |work=The Daily Beast |date=2026-02-20 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> The trial, which could cost social media platforms billions of dollars in damages, represents one of the most significant legal tests of the technology industry's liability for user harm.
=== Philanthropy and Other Ventures ===


=== Space Exploration Investment ===
Zuckerberg and his wife, [[Priscilla Chan]], established the [[Chan Zuckerberg Initiative]] (CZI) in December 2015, pledging to donate 99% of their Facebook shares — then valued at approximately $45 billion — over their lifetimes. The CZI is structured as a [[limited liability company]] rather than a traditional charitable foundation, allowing it to invest in for-profit companies, make political donations, and lobby for legislation in addition to making charitable grants.


Beyond the core operations of Meta, Zuckerberg has pursued philanthropic and scientific interests. In 2016, he joined a $100 million initiative called [[Breakthrough Starshot]], which aims to develop and launch tiny space probes capable of traveling to the nearest star system, [[Alpha Centauri]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Mark Zuckerberg Joins $100 Million Initiative to Send Tiny Space Probes to Explore Nearby Stars |url=https://www.newsweek.com/mark-zuckerberg-joins-100-million-initiative-send-tiny-space-probes-explore-447513 |work=Newsweek |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
In 2016, Zuckerberg joined the Breakthrough Starshot initiative, a $100 million research program to develop technology for sending small space probes to the [[Alpha Centauri]] star system. The project, also backed by physicist [[Stephen Hawking]] and investor [[Yuri Milner]], aims to use laser-propelled light sails to reach nearby stars within a human generation.<ref>{{cite news |date=2016 |title=Mark Zuckerberg Joins $100 Million Initiative to Send Tiny Space Probes to Explore Alpha Centauri |url=https://www.newsweek.com/mark-zuckerberg-joins-100-million-initiative-send-tiny-space-probes-explore-447513 |work=Newsweek |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


== Personal Life ==
== Personal Life ==


Zuckerberg married Priscilla Chan on May 19, 2012, in the backyard of their home in Palo Alto, California. The wedding took place one day after Facebook's IPO. Chan, a physician and philanthropist, had met Zuckerberg while both were students at Harvard. Together they have three children.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mark Zuckerberg Profile |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/mark-zuckerberg/ |publisher=Forbes |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Zuckerberg married [[Priscilla Chan]] on May 19, 2012, in a ceremony held in the backyard of their home in Palo Alto, California. The wedding took place the day after Facebook's IPO. Chan, a physician and philanthropist, is co-founder of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. The couple has three children.<ref name="newyorker" />


In December 2015, Zuckerberg and Chan announced the formation of the [[Chan Zuckerberg Initiative]] (CZI), a limited liability company through which they pledged to donate 99% of their Facebook shares — then valued at approximately $45 billion — over their lifetimes. CZI focuses on advancing education, curing disease, connecting people, and building community. The initiative's structure as an LLC rather than a traditional charitable foundation allows it to make political donations, invest in companies, and engage in lobbying in addition to making grants.
In 2023, Zuckerberg reportedly purchased a large sailing yacht. Video footage of the vessel circulated on social media in early 2026, prompting public discussion about the lifestyles of technology executives.<ref>{{cite news |date=2026-02-21 |title=Video of Mark Zuckerberg's massive yacht sparks backlash: 'Who needs a boat this big?' |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/celebrity/articles/video-mark-zuckerbergs-massive-yacht-050000336.html |work=Yahoo Entertainment |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


As of December 2025, ''Forbes'' estimated Zuckerberg's personal wealth at approximately $220 billion, making him one of the wealthiest people in the world.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mark Zuckerberg Profile |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/mark-zuckerberg/ |publisher=Forbes |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> In February 2026, reports emerged that Zuckerberg and Chan were considering purchasing property on [[Indian Creek Island]] in Florida, potentially relocating from California.<ref>{{cite news |title=Will Mark Zuckerberg be the latest billionaire to leave California for Florida? |url=https://nypost.com/2026/02/20/real-estate/will-mark-zuckerberg-move-to-florida/ |work=New York Post |date=2026-02-20 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Zuckerberg maintains properties in multiple locations. In early 2026, reporting indicated he and Chan were considering the purchase of property on Indian Creek Island in [[Florida]], prompting speculation about a potential relocation from California.<ref>{{cite news |date=2026-02-20 |title=Will Mark Zuckerberg be the latest billionaire to leave California for Florida? |url=https://nypost.com/2026/02/20/real-estate/will-mark-zuckerberg-move-to-florida/ |work=New York Post |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


Zuckerberg has spoken publicly about personal interests including fencing (a sport he practiced during his time at Phillips Exeter Academy), learning Mandarin Chinese, and martial arts. He has set annual personal challenges for himself, ranging from reading a book every two weeks to learning to hunt his own food.
Zuckerberg has received an honorary degree from Harvard in 2017, during which he delivered the commencement address at the university's 366th commencement.<ref>{{cite news |date=2017-06 |title=Zuckerberg Receives Harvard Honorary Degree |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-40053163 |work=BBC News |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


== Recognition ==
== Recognition ==


In 2010, ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine named Zuckerberg its [[Time Person of the Year|Person of the Year]], citing his role in connecting more than half a billion people worldwide through Facebook and transforming the way humans communicate.
Zuckerberg has appeared repeatedly on lists of the world's most influential and wealthiest individuals. ''[[Forbes]]'' has consistently ranked him among the world's richest people, with an estimated net worth of US$220 billion as of December 2025.<ref name="forbes" /> In 2008, he was identified as the world's youngest self-made billionaire at age 23.<ref name="forbes" />


The same year, the film ''[[The Social Network]]'' was released. Directed by David Fincher and written by Aaron Sorkin, the film dramatized the founding of Facebook, Zuckerberg's legal disputes with the Winklevoss twins and Eduardo Saverin, and the broader culture of Silicon Valley entrepreneurship. The film won three [[Academy Awards]] and received widespread critical acclaim, though Zuckerberg himself described the portrayal as fictionalized. Actor [[Jesse Eisenberg]] portrayed Zuckerberg in the film.
In 2010, ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' named Zuckerberg its Person of the Year, citing the impact of Facebook on global communication.


In 2017, Zuckerberg returned to Harvard to receive an honorary Doctor of Laws degree and deliver the commencement address at the university's 366th graduation ceremony. In his speech, he spoke about the importance of purpose and community.<ref>{{cite web |title=Harvard Awards 10 Honorary Degrees at 366th Commencement |url=http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2017/05/harvard-awards-10-honorary-degrees-at-366th-commencement/ |publisher=Harvard Gazette |date=2017-05 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
The 2010 film ''[[The Social Network]]'', directed by [[David Fincher]] and written by [[Aaron Sorkin]], dramatized the founding of Facebook and the legal disputes that followed. The film, which starred [[Jesse Eisenberg]] as Zuckerberg, won three [[Academy Awards]] and was nominated for several others, including Best Picture. Zuckerberg has stated that the film's portrayal of his motivations was not accurate.<ref name="newyorker" />


Zuckerberg has appeared on numerous annual rankings of the world's most influential and wealthiest individuals, including the ''Forbes'' Billionaires List and the ''Forbes'' list of the World's Most Powerful People.
''PC Magazine'' included Zuckerberg in its coverage of notable technology figures during the early growth of Facebook.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mark Zuckerberg |url=https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,1748374,00.asp |publisher=PC Magazine |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


== Legacy ==
== Legacy ==


Mark Zuckerberg's creation of Facebook fundamentally altered the landscape of online communication, social interaction, and digital media. The platform, which began as a college directory, grew into a global infrastructure connecting billions of users and reshaped industries ranging from advertising and journalism to politics and public health. The model of social networking that Facebook popularized — user-generated content, algorithmic news feeds, targeted advertising — became the dominant paradigm of the consumer internet in the 2010s and continues to exert substantial influence.
Mark Zuckerberg's impact on the technology industry, global communication, and the broader cultural landscape is extensive. Facebook, now Meta Platforms, connected billions of users worldwide and helped establish social networking as a fundamental element of internet usage. The platform model Zuckerberg pioneered — a centralized social graph supported by targeted advertising — became the dominant business model for consumer internet companies in the 2010s and 2020s.


The company's trajectory under Zuckerberg's leadership also brought into sharp relief a range of societal questions that continue to shape technology policy. Issues of data privacy, algorithmic amplification of harmful content, platform monopoly power, and the mental health effects of social media on young people have become central topics in public policy debates worldwide. Zuckerberg's repeated appearances before legislative bodies in the United States and Europe, and the ongoing 2026 social media addiction trial, underscore the degree to which his company's products have become intertwined with questions of public welfare and democratic governance.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mark Zuckerberg Grilled in Social Media Addiction Trial That Could Cost Platforms Billions |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/mark-zuckerberg-grilled-social-media-200423259.html |work=Yahoo News |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
His career has also been central to public debates about the power of technology companies, the responsibilities of platform operators, data privacy, and the effects of social media on mental health, particularly among young people. The ongoing 2026 trial in which Zuckerberg testified represents a potential turning point in how governments regulate social media's impact on minors.<ref name="yahoo-trial" />


The rebranding of Facebook to Meta Platforms in 2021 and the company's subsequent investments in virtual reality, augmented reality, and artificial intelligence represent Zuckerberg's effort to define the next era of computing. Whether the metaverse and AI-driven products achieve the transformative impact Zuckerberg envisions remains an open question, but the scale of Meta's investment in these areas has influenced the broader technology industry's strategic direction.
Through Meta, Zuckerberg has invested heavily in virtual and augmented reality, artificial intelligence, and other emerging technologies. His decision to rebrand the company as Meta in 2021 signaled a long-term commitment to immersive computing, though the financial returns on those investments remain a subject of ongoing analysis.


Through the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan have also become among the most prominent philanthropists of their generation, directing resources toward biomedical research, education reform, and criminal justice reform. The initiative's structure and approach have influenced how technology billionaires organize their charitable giving.
The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative represents one of the largest philanthropic commitments in history, though its structure as a limited liability company rather than a traditional foundation has drawn both praise and criticism regarding accountability and transparency.


Zuckerberg's story — from a college sophomore writing code in a Harvard dorm room to the leader of one of the world's most valuable companies — has become a defining narrative of the 21st-century technology industry, encapsulating both its promise of innovation and the complex consequences that follow.
Zuckerberg's trajectory — from a college programmer to the head of a company with a market capitalization among the largest in the world — has made him one of the most prominent figures in the history of the technology industry.


== References ==
== References ==
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Latest revision as of 01:43, 24 February 2026

Mark Zuckerberg
BornMark Elliot Zuckerberg
14 5, 1984
BirthplaceWhite Plains, New York, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
OccupationTemplate:Flatlist
TitleChairman and CEO of Meta Platforms
Known forCo-founding Facebook and Meta Platforms
EducationHarvard University (dropped out)
Children3
Website[[about.meta.com about.meta.com] Official site]

Mark Elliot Zuckerberg (born May 14, 1984) is an American businessman, programmer, and internet entrepreneur who co-founded the social networking service Facebook in 2004 and serves as chairman and chief executive officer of its parent company, Meta Platforms. What began as a college project in a Harvard dormitory room grew into one of the largest technology companies in the world, fundamentally reshaping how billions of people communicate, share information, and interact online. Zuckerberg became the world's youngest self-made billionaire in 2008 at age 23.[1] He has remained a controlling shareholder of Meta Platforms through a dual-class share structure, giving him decisive authority over the company's strategic direction. Alongside his wife, Priscilla Chan, he established the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, a philanthropic organization. His career has also been marked by significant legal and political scrutiny, including lawsuits over the creation and ownership of Facebook and ongoing controversies regarding user privacy and the platform's effects on younger users. In February 2026, Zuckerberg testified in a landmark trial examining whether social media companies are fueling a teen mental health crisis.[2]

Early Life

Mark Elliot Zuckerberg was born on May 14, 1984, in White Plains, New York. He grew up in Dobbs Ferry, New York, in a household that encouraged education and intellectual curiosity. His father, Edward Zuckerberg, is a dentist, and his mother, Karen (née Kempner), is a psychiatrist.[3] He has three sisters: Randi, Donna, and Arielle.

Zuckerberg developed an interest in computers at an early age. His father taught him Atari BASIC programming during his childhood, and later hired software developer David Newman to tutor him privately.[3] While still in middle school, Zuckerberg created a messaging program called "ZuckNet," which allowed computers in the family home and his father's dental office to communicate with each other — a rudimentary form of instant messaging that the family used internally before commercial products like AOL Instant Messenger became widely available.[4]

During his years at Ardsley High School and later at Phillips Exeter Academy, Zuckerberg continued to develop software projects. He and a friend, Adam D'Angelo, built a music player called Synapse Media Player that used machine learning to learn users' listening habits. The software attracted interest from technology companies, including AOL and Microsoft, both of which reportedly sought to acquire the program and hire Zuckerberg, though he declined.[3] The project was posted on Slashdot, a technology news site, where it received positive attention.[5] Zuckerberg's early programming activities demonstrated both technical skill and an inclination toward building tools for social interaction and user behavior analysis, themes that would come to define his later work.

Before attending Harvard, Zuckerberg had already explored the idea of building online social tools. According to reporting by ReadWriteWeb, his inspiration for social networking predated his arrival at the university.[6]

Education

Zuckerberg enrolled at Harvard University in 2002, where he studied computer science and psychology.[3] At Harvard, he quickly gained a reputation as a skilled programmer. In his sophomore year, he created a website called Facemash, which allowed students to compare the attractiveness of their classmates using photos pulled from university directories. The site generated controversy and was shut down by the Harvard administration, which raised concerns about privacy violations and unauthorized use of student data.[7]

The Facemash episode presaged both the appeal and the controversy that would surround Zuckerberg's later ventures. In February 2004, while still a sophomore, Zuckerberg launched "TheFacebook" from his Harvard dormitory room.[4] He left Harvard shortly thereafter to focus on growing the company and did not complete his undergraduate degree at that time.

In 2017, Harvard awarded Zuckerberg an honorary degree. He delivered the commencement address at the university's 366th graduation ceremony.[8][9]

Career

Founding of Facebook

On February 4, 2004, Zuckerberg launched "TheFacebook" from his Harvard dormitory. He co-founded the site with his roommates Eduardo Saverin, Andrew McCollum, Dustin Moskovitz, and Chris Hughes.[4] The website was initially limited to Harvard students, requiring a harvard.edu email address to register. It spread rapidly through the campus, and within weeks it had expanded to other Ivy League universities and then to additional colleges and universities across the United States.

The founding of Facebook was not without dispute. Cameron Winklevoss, Tyler Winklevoss, and Divya Narendra, three Harvard students who had been developing a social networking concept called HarvardConnection (later ConnectU), alleged that Zuckerberg had been hired to help build their platform and instead used their ideas to create Facebook. The dispute led to a protracted legal battle. In 2008, a federal judge ruled on the case, effectively ending the initial phase of the litigation.[10] The Winklevoss twins ultimately received a settlement reportedly valued at $65 million, which grew substantially in value. By 2012, when Facebook went public, the Winklevoss twins' stake from the settlement was estimated to be worth roughly $300 million.[11]

During this early period, Zuckerberg was also reported to have accessed the accounts of Harvard Crimson reporters who were investigating him, using login data from Facebook's servers.[12] This incident later contributed to scrutiny over his approach to user data and privacy.

Growth and IPO

After leaving Harvard, Zuckerberg moved Facebook's operations to Palo Alto, California. The company attracted early investment from Peter Thiel and later from Accel Partners, fueling rapid expansion. Facebook's user base grew from a college-only network to a platform open to anyone aged 13 and older. By the mid-2000s, Facebook had become the dominant social networking platform in the United States and was expanding globally.

Zuckerberg's approach to managing the company was shaped by his desire to maintain control over its direction. He instituted a dual-class share structure that gave him majority voting power even as external investors acquired economic stakes in the company. This governance structure has remained a defining feature of the company.

A profile of Zuckerberg and the company published by Rolling Stone in 2006 explored the intense competition within the technology industry for control of social networking and the personal dynamics behind Facebook's rapid rise.[13]

In 2007, Facebook launched the Facebook Platform, allowing third-party developers to build applications that operated within the social network. Reporting by The Wall Street Journal covered the strategic implications of this move, which helped cement Facebook's position as a central hub of online activity.[14]

On May 18, 2012, Facebook held its initial public offering (IPO) on the NASDAQ stock exchange, with a peak market capitalization of over $104 billion — the largest valuation at that time for a newly listed public company. Zuckerberg retained majority control of the company's voting shares through the offering.[1]

Expansion and Rebranding to Meta

Under Zuckerberg's leadership, the company pursued an aggressive acquisition strategy, purchasing Instagram in 2012 and WhatsApp in 2014, among other companies. These acquisitions significantly expanded the company's reach and user base, making it one of the most influential technology conglomerates in the world.

In October 2021, Zuckerberg announced that Facebook, Inc. would be renamed to Meta Platforms, reflecting a strategic pivot toward building the "metaverse" — an interconnected set of virtual and augmented reality experiences. The rebranding came amid intensifying criticism of the company related to content moderation, misinformation, and the internal research documents leaked by former employee Frances Haugen.

Zuckerberg has also directed significant company resources toward artificial intelligence. In January 2026, he stated that AI tools were enabling individual employees at Meta to accomplish work that previously required entire teams, signaling a shift in the company's hiring strategy and approach to workforce development.[15]

Meta's hardware division has developed products including the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, which combine camera functionality with AI-powered features. The glasses drew public attention in February 2026 when members of Zuckerberg's entourage wore them into a courtroom during a trial, prompting a rebuke from the presiding judge over the no-recording policy.[16][17] The incident raised questions about the social norms surrounding wearable recording devices in sensitive environments.[18]

Legal Challenges and Regulatory Scrutiny

Throughout his career, Zuckerberg and Meta have faced extensive legal and regulatory challenges. The early lawsuit by the Winklevoss twins and Divya Narendra was the first of many legal disputes concerning the company.

Privacy and data handling have been recurring points of contention. The company's practices with user data led to scrutiny by government agencies in the United States and abroad. Zuckerberg has appeared before the United States Congress on multiple occasions to testify about Facebook's handling of user data, its role in the spread of misinformation, and its impact on democracy and public discourse.

In February 2026, Zuckerberg took the stand as a witness in a landmark trial examining allegations that social media platforms, including those operated by Meta, are designed in ways that are addictive to children and teenagers. During his testimony, Zuckerberg stated that the company's algorithm was not intentionally designed to be addictive for younger users.[2] The trial, which could result in billions of dollars in potential liability for technology companies, was closely watched by regulators, parents' advocacy groups, and the technology industry.[19]

Philanthropy and Other Ventures

Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, established the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) in December 2015, pledging to donate 99% of their Facebook shares — then valued at approximately $45 billion — over their lifetimes. The CZI is structured as a limited liability company rather than a traditional charitable foundation, allowing it to invest in for-profit companies, make political donations, and lobby for legislation in addition to making charitable grants.

In 2016, Zuckerberg joined the Breakthrough Starshot initiative, a $100 million research program to develop technology for sending small space probes to the Alpha Centauri star system. The project, also backed by physicist Stephen Hawking and investor Yuri Milner, aims to use laser-propelled light sails to reach nearby stars within a human generation.[20]

Personal Life

Zuckerberg married Priscilla Chan on May 19, 2012, in a ceremony held in the backyard of their home in Palo Alto, California. The wedding took place the day after Facebook's IPO. Chan, a physician and philanthropist, is co-founder of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. The couple has three children.[3]

In 2023, Zuckerberg reportedly purchased a large sailing yacht. Video footage of the vessel circulated on social media in early 2026, prompting public discussion about the lifestyles of technology executives.[21]

Zuckerberg maintains properties in multiple locations. In early 2026, reporting indicated he and Chan were considering the purchase of property on Indian Creek Island in Florida, prompting speculation about a potential relocation from California.[22]

Zuckerberg has received an honorary degree from Harvard in 2017, during which he delivered the commencement address at the university's 366th commencement.[23]

Recognition

Zuckerberg has appeared repeatedly on lists of the world's most influential and wealthiest individuals. Forbes has consistently ranked him among the world's richest people, with an estimated net worth of US$220 billion as of December 2025.[1] In 2008, he was identified as the world's youngest self-made billionaire at age 23.[1]

In 2010, Time named Zuckerberg its Person of the Year, citing the impact of Facebook on global communication.

The 2010 film The Social Network, directed by David Fincher and written by Aaron Sorkin, dramatized the founding of Facebook and the legal disputes that followed. The film, which starred Jesse Eisenberg as Zuckerberg, won three Academy Awards and was nominated for several others, including Best Picture. Zuckerberg has stated that the film's portrayal of his motivations was not accurate.[3]

PC Magazine included Zuckerberg in its coverage of notable technology figures during the early growth of Facebook.[24]

Legacy

Mark Zuckerberg's impact on the technology industry, global communication, and the broader cultural landscape is extensive. Facebook, now Meta Platforms, connected billions of users worldwide and helped establish social networking as a fundamental element of internet usage. The platform model Zuckerberg pioneered — a centralized social graph supported by targeted advertising — became the dominant business model for consumer internet companies in the 2010s and 2020s.

His career has also been central to public debates about the power of technology companies, the responsibilities of platform operators, data privacy, and the effects of social media on mental health, particularly among young people. The ongoing 2026 trial in which Zuckerberg testified represents a potential turning point in how governments regulate social media's impact on minors.[2]

Through Meta, Zuckerberg has invested heavily in virtual and augmented reality, artificial intelligence, and other emerging technologies. His decision to rebrand the company as Meta in 2021 signaled a long-term commitment to immersive computing, though the financial returns on those investments remain a subject of ongoing analysis.

The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative represents one of the largest philanthropic commitments in history, though its structure as a limited liability company rather than a traditional foundation has drawn both praise and criticism regarding accountability and transparency.

Zuckerberg's trajectory — from a college programmer to the head of a company with a market capitalization among the largest in the world — has made him one of the most prominent figures in the history of the technology industry.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Mark Zuckerberg".Forbes.https://www.forbes.com/profile/mark-zuckerberg/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Mark Zuckerberg Grilled in Social Media Addiction Trial That Could Cost Platforms Billions".Yahoo News.2026-02-21.https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/mark-zuckerberg-grilled-social-media-200423259.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 VargasJose AntonioJose Antonio"The Face of Facebook".The New Yorker.2010-09-20.https://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/09/20/100920fa_fact_vargas.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "How Facebook Was Founded".Business Insider.https://www.businessinsider.com/how-facebook-was-founded-2010-3#we-can-talk-about-that-after-i-get-all-the-basic-functionality-up-tomorrow-night-1.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  5. ↑ "Synapse Media Player".Slashdot.2003-04-21.http://slashdot.org/articles/03/04/21/110236.shtml.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  6. ↑ "Mark Zuckerberg: Inspiration for Facebook Before Harvard".ReadWriteWeb (archived).https://web.archive.org/web/20120201185222/http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/mark_zuckerberg_inspiration_for_facebook_before_harvard.php.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  7. ↑ "TheFacebook.com's Darker Side".The Stanford Daily (archived).2004-03-10.https://web.archive.org/web/20100614061858/http://www.stanforddaily.com/2004/03/10/thefacebookcoms-darker-side/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  8. ↑ "Harvard Awards 10 Honorary Degrees at 366th Commencement".Harvard Gazette.2017-05.http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2017/05/harvard-awards-10-honorary-degrees-at-366th-commencement/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  9. ↑ "Mark Zuckerberg Finally Got His Harvard Degree".USA Today.2017-05-25.https://www.usatoday.com/story/college/2017/05/25/mark-zuckerberg-finally-got-his-harvard-degree/37432061/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  10. ↑ "Judge Ends Facebook's Feud With ConnectU".The New York Times.2008-06-26.http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/26/judge-ends-facebooks-feud-with-connectu/index.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  11. ↑ "Facebook IPO Could Give Winklevoss Twins $300m Fortune".The Guardian.2012-02-02.https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2012/feb/02/facebook-ipo-winklevoss-300m-fortune.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  12. ↑ "How Mark Zuckerberg Hacked Into the Harvard Crimson".Business Insider.http://www.businessinsider.com/how-mark-zuckerberg-hacked-into-the-harvard-crimson-2010-3.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  13. ↑ "The Battle for Facebook".Rolling Stone (archived).https://web.archive.org/web/20080703220456/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/21129674/the_battle_for_facebook/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  14. ↑ "Facebook Platform".The Wall Street Journal.2007-07.https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB118539991204578084.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  15. ↑ "Zuckerberg Says AI Is Letting One Employee Do the Work of Entire Teams".Business Insider.2026-01.https://www.businessinsider.com/meta-says-ai-letting-one-employee-do-work-of-teams-2026-1.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  16. ↑ "Mark Zuckerberg's entourage threatened with contempt for wearing Meta AI glasses into a no-recording courtroom".Fortune.2026-02-20.https://fortune.com/2026/02/20/mark-zuckerbergs-contempt-of-court-meta-glasses-courtroom-trial-social-media-addiction/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  17. ↑ "Judge Blasts Zuckerberg's Team Over Bonkers Courtroom Antics".The Daily Beast.2026-02-20.https://www.thedailybeast.com/judge-blasts-mark-zuckerbergs-team-over-bonkers-courtroom-antics/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  18. ↑ "Did Meta Just Accidentally Prove Smart Glasses Are a Liability?".Gizmodo.2026-02-23.https://gizmodo.com/did-meta-just-accidentally-prove-smart-glasses-are-a-liability-2000725585.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  19. ↑ "Mark Zuckerberg faces a jury today".NPR.2026-02-18.https://www.npr.org/2026/02/18/g-s1-110537/up-first-newsletter-cbs-anderson-cooper-mark-zuckerberg-iran-nuclear-program-dhs-tricia.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  20. ↑ "Mark Zuckerberg Joins $100 Million Initiative to Send Tiny Space Probes to Explore Alpha Centauri".Newsweek.2016.https://www.newsweek.com/mark-zuckerberg-joins-100-million-initiative-send-tiny-space-probes-explore-447513.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  21. ↑ "Video of Mark Zuckerberg's massive yacht sparks backlash: 'Who needs a boat this big?'".Yahoo Entertainment.2026-02-21.https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/celebrity/articles/video-mark-zuckerbergs-massive-yacht-050000336.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  22. ↑ "Will Mark Zuckerberg be the latest billionaire to leave California for Florida?".New York Post.2026-02-20.https://nypost.com/2026/02/20/real-estate/will-mark-zuckerberg-move-to-florida/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  23. ↑ "Zuckerberg Receives Harvard Honorary Degree".BBC News.2017-06.https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-40053163.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  24. ↑ "Mark Zuckerberg".PC Magazine.https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,1748374,00.asp.Retrieved 2026-02-23.

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