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All About Mark Zuckerberg: Mark Zuckerberg is a name synonymous with the rise of social media. As the co-founder and CEO of Facebook (now known as Meta Platform. Inc), he has revolutionised how people connect, communicate and consume content online. Zuckerberg’s journey from a Harvard graduate to a tech titan has not only transformed the usage of the digital era but has also written his name in history as one of the most influential personalities in the world. Let us know all about Mark Zuckerberg in this blog.
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Who is Mark Zuckerberg?
Mark Zuckerberg’s full name is Mark Elliot Zuckerberg. He is the Co-founder and CEO of Meta Platforms, Inc. (earlier Facebook.Inc.), which comprises WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and other subsidiaries.
| Information | Details |
| Full Name | Mark Elliot Zuckerberg |
| Date of Birth | May 14, 1984 |
| Place of Birth | White Plains, New York, USA |
| Education | Harvard University (dropped out) |
| Famous For | Co-founding Facebook |
| Net Worth | Over $100 billion (as of 2024) |
| Spouse | Priscilla Chan |
| Children | Two daughters |
| Occupation | CEO of Meta Platforms, Inc. (formerly Facebook, Inc.) |
Mark Zuckerberg’s Early Life and Education
Mark Elliot Zuckerberg was born on 14 May 1984, in White Plains, New York. He was fond of technology from a very early age.
- By the age of 12, he had already developed a messaging program called ZuckNet to help his father’s dental office.
- He attended Phillips Exeter Academy, a preparatory school, where he excelled academically and participated in fencing.
- During high school, Zuckerberg took graduate-level computer programming courses, developing his skills before heading to Harvard University in 2002.
- However, he soon dropped out of the University, to launch his company and work on it.
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Founding Facebook
Zuckerberg launched “The Facebook” in 2004 when he was just 19 years of age. He launched it along with his roommates Eduardo Saverin, Dustin Moskovitz and Chris Hughes. Initially, it was designed for Harvard students only, since, they developed it in their dormitory, but it quickly spread to other Ivy League schools and universities across the U.S.
By the end of 2004, Facebook had over 1 million users. What began as a college social networking site quickly grew beyond Harvard, expanding to other universities and later on to the public. The timeline of his journey in founding Facebook is shown in table –
| Year | Facebook Milestones |
| 2004 | Facebook launched at Harvard |
| 2005 | Expanded to other Ivy League schools |
| 2006 | Open to the public, aged 13+ |
| 2012 | Facebook’s IPO raised $16 billion |
| 2021 | Facebook rebranded to Meta Platforms |
Zuckerberg’s Role at Meta Platforms
As CEO of Meta Platforms, Zuckerberg leads one of the world’s largest tech companies. Meta not only manages Facebook but also owns Instagram, WhatsApp, and Oculus VR. Zuckerberg’s vision expanded from social networking to virtual reality and also to the metaverse, a virtual world where people can interact through avatars.
| Company | Acquired in | Amount |
| 2012 | $1 billion | |
| 2014 | $19 billion | |
| Oculus VR | 2014 | $2 billion |
Zuckerberg’s focus on innovation has kept Meta at the forefront of technological advancements, with plans for a more immersive metaverse experience.
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Personal Life and Initiatives
Mark Zuckerberg was married to Priscilla Chan, a pediatrician in 2012. They have two daughters named Maxima and August. They both are known for their philanthropic efforts, Zuckerberg and Chan pledged to donate 99% of their Facebook shares to charitable organisations and causes through the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI).
They launched this initiative in 2015, which addresses major societal challenges, like healthcare, education and sciences. The initiative aims to “advance human potential and promote equality” by investing in both non-profit and for-profit organizations.
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Challenges and Controversies
Despite his successes, Zuckerberg has faced numerous challenges. One of the most prominent was the Cambridge Analytica scandal in 2018, which involved the misuse of data from millions of Facebook users for political purposes. This controversy led to heightened scrutiny of Facebook’s data practices and Zuckerberg testifying before Congress.
| Major Controversies | Year | Details |
| Cambridge Analytica Scandal | 2018 | Data privacy breach involving millions of users |
| Fake News & Misinformation | 2016-2020 | Accusations of spreading misinformation globally |
| Antitrust Investigations | 2019-2022 | Scrutiny over Facebook’s acquisitions and dominance |
Influence and Legacy
Ranked fifth on the Forbes Billionaires list of Jn 2024, with a net worth of $130 billion, he donated nearly $400 million in 2020 in American electrons and owns 12% of the equity from Facebook. He became a billionaire at the age of just 23 and has currently shown interest in mixed martial arts (MMA).
He was also portrayed by actor Jesse Eisenberg in the movie “The Social Network”, released in 2010 and scripted by Aaron Sorkin. The film gave an account of how Facebook started and the journey of Mark Zuckerberg from a student to a tech visionary.
FAQs
Mark Zuckerberg became a millionaire by the age of 22.
Mark Zuckerberg is the chairperson, founder and CEO of Meta.
Mark Zuckerberg is popular as the Co-founder and chief executive officer of Facebook and Meta platforms.
Related Reads
This was all about Mark Zuckerberg in this blog. If you want to know more about other Famous Personalities then visit our General Knowledge page!