Mark Zuckerberg is the CEO of Facebook, and the question of how many friends he has on the social media site is a popular one. But it’s not a simple answer.
In April 2020, Zuckerberg set himself a challenge to make virtual and real-world connections with 1,000 individuals during the lockdown. He said in a post, “I’m going to start doing some video meet-ups, calls and other things with some of my friends, colleagues and people I find interesting.”
To put it into context, the most followed person on Facebook is Messi, who has over 122 million followers, and on Instagram, it is Selena Gomez at a staggering 195 million followers. Zuckerberg comes in 6th place on Instagram with over 68 million followers, but is far back in 30th on Facebook, with 13 million.
This suggests that Zuckerberg has far fewer followers on Facebook than he does connections, as followers are public, whereas connections are private. Indeed, records show that Zuckerberg has over 10,000 connections, which suggests he knows a lot of people.
These connections may include big names from the tech world such as Bill Gates, the current Microsoft chairman, and other high-profile figures such as Barack Obama, former President of the United States.
One way Zuckerberg has managed to make connections is through his philanthropic efforts. Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan have given billions of dollars away to causes such as education, health care and other causes around the world.
These connections could also include entrepreneurs and investors whom Zuckerberg has worked with in the past. Zuckerberg is a key player on the tech scene and is a sought-after mentor to many entrepreneurs.
Overall, Zuckerberg’s connections is unknown, but with his public profile and philanthropic efforts, the number is likely to be higher than many believe.
Family Friends
Close family friends of Zuckerberg are likely to have been part of his initial group of friends when he created Facebook in 2004 and have remained in his ‘inner circle’ throughout his life. Zuckerberg has a tight-knit group of friends from his childhood, and it is likely that he still communicates with them.
His relationship with his wife Priscilla Chan is likely to be reflected in the friendships he has, as she is very supportive of him and his endeavours. Zuckerberg is also close with his parents, and his sisters, Randi and Donna, both of whom work for his company.
Facebook Friends
As the CEO and co-founder of the largest social media network in the world, it is likely that Zuckerberg is friends with key figures in the tech world and is connected to the many people running companies which rely upon Facebook. It is also likely that some of his closest friends are the people who he has worked alongside to continue to develop, innovate, and manage Facebook.
Given the fact that Zuckerberg is a highly sought-after mentor, it is likely that he is connected with many of the people he has invested in, as well as people he has advised, taught, or helped in some way.
Public Figures
Despite not being the most popular person on social media, Zuckerberg is still a very public figure. As such, he is likely to have been connected with many popular public figures, such as politicians, celebrities, authors, and other influential figures. These could include former US President Barack Obama, late Apple CEO Steve Jobs, and tech billionaire Elon Musk.
Overall, Zuckerberg will have many connections, including family, friends, the tech world, and public figures. While the exact number is unknown, it is likely to be higher than many people realise.
Political Connections
Given his status as a highly influential and powerful figure in the world of business and technology, Zuckerberg is likely to be connected to many of the most prominent members of the US political class. Zuckerberg has been a vocal advocate for immigration reform and has often used his platform to push for governmental change.
Zuckerberg has been known to host political fundraisers at his house, and is likely to be connected to some of the most powerful politicians in the US. This includes US President Joe Biden, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Senator Elizabeth Warren, and former US President Barack Obama.
Business Connections
Given his role as CEO of a major tech company, it is likely that Zuckerberg is connected to some of the most influential business people in the world. This could include tech huge tech billionaires such as Larry Page, Sergey Brin and Jeff Bezos, as well as other influential investors and businesspeople.
Zuckerberg is also likely to be connected to the heads of some of the major companies which rely on Facebook, such as the heads of Sony, Uber and Airbnb. Having connections with influential people in the business world is essential for the continued success of Zuckerberg and Facebook.
Innovative Connections
Zuckerberg is also likely to be connected to some of the most innovative and creative people in the world. This could include the likes of Mark Cuban, Richard Branson and Tony Hsieh, who are renowned for their innovative thinking and their ability to think outside the box.
Zuckerberg’s connections could also include people working on the cutting-edge of technology, such as those developing virtual reality, artificial intelligence and robotics.
Given his influence, it is likely that Zuckerberg is connected to some of the most innovative and creative minds in the world, and he is sure to keep looking to expand his connections in the future.
