Full Name: Mark Elliot Zuckerberg
Date of Birth: May 14, 1984
Place of Birth: White Plains, New York, USA
Nationality: American
Occupation: Businessman, Software Developer
Known For: Co-founding Facebook (now Meta)
Net Worth (as of 2025): Over $100 billion (varies with stock market fluctuations)
Spouse: Priscilla Chan (married in 2012)
Children: 3
Early Life and Education
Mark Zuckerberg was born into a well-educated family. His father, Edward Zuckerberg, is a dentist, and his mother, Karen, is a psychiatrist. Mark showed an early interest in computers and programming. By the age of 12, he had created a messaging program called “ZuckNet” for his family.
He attended Phillips Exeter Academy, a prestigious prep school, and later enrolled at Harvard University in 2002.
Founding Facebook
While at Harvard, Zuckerberg launched a website called “Thefacebook” on February 4, 2004, initially limited to Harvard students. The site allowed users to create profiles and connect with others. It quickly expanded to other universities and then the general public.
In 2004, Zuckerberg dropped out of Harvard and moved to Palo Alto, California, to focus on the growing platform.
Facebook to Meta
• Facebook became one of the largest social networks in the world.
• In 2012, Facebook went public and raised billions in its IPO.
• In 2021, Facebook Inc. was rebranded as Meta Platforms Inc., reflecting Zuckerberg’s vision for the metaverse, a future internet built around virtual and augmented reality.
Other Ventures and Initiatives
• Philanthropy: In 2015, Mark and his wife Priscilla Chan launched the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, pledging to donate 99% of their Facebook shares to charitable causes over their lifetimes.
• Tech Development: Under Zuckerberg’s leadership, Facebook acquired major companies like Instagram (2012), WhatsApp (2014), and Oculus VR (2014).
Personal Life
Zuckerberg is known for his simple lifestyle, often wearing the same style of clothes (gray t-shirt and jeans). He’s also fluent in several programming languages and speaks some Mandarin. He and Priscilla Chan have three daughters.
Legacy and Controversies
Zuckerberg has been both praised and criticized:
• Praised for revolutionizing social media and communication.
• Criticized for Facebook’s handling of user data, misinformation, and privacy issues.