Mark Zuckerberg, best known for launching the online social network, Facebook, is now a father of two. Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, welcomed two daughters -Maxima ‘Max’ Chan Zuckerberg and August- over the past 3 years. Zuckerberg and his wife made headlines on December 1, 2015 when they posted a letter to their first daughter on his Facebook page. In the letter they declared they would give away 99% of their Facebook shares, currently worth over $45 billion, to charitable organization hoping to improve the world for their daughter’s generation.
Zuckerberg worked hard to become the successful businessman that he is today. He started programming at a young age and even developed a messaging computer program for his father’s dental office. He then went on to create a music player for fellow high school students. Zuckerberg attended Harvard University and completed his bachelor’s degree in 2006 and that same year, he founded Facebook. Since then, the company has grown to have 2.2 billion monthly active users.
The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, a philanthropic organization that Zuckerberg is the founder of, held a virtual event in celebration of the birth of August. At the event, he discussed his recent shift from a mission of connecting the world, to one focused on fighting illness, genomics, and education. He later spoke about his recent pledge to donate 99% of his Facebook fortune to charity and expressed how excited he was to bring his two daughters along with him on this journey.
Moreover, despite his dedication to the business, Zuckerberg reportedly takes two months of paternity leave each time his children are born. He also allegedly gives employees who are new parents four months of paid parental leave and provides them with $4,000 of ‘baby cash’ to spend on necessities, according to an article published by The Guardian. Many experts agree that it is important for fathers to be actively involved in early parenting, something which Zuckerberg is doing.
As of now, Zuckerberg and Chan have two kids – but only time will tell if they will decide to have more children. With all of the philanthropic efforts that the couple plans to undertake, it is clear that the Zuckerberg family will be working hard to make the world a better place for Max and August to live, now and in the future.
Life As A Parent
Parenting is no easy feat, but for Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan it looks to be bringing immense joy to the couple. According to an article published by US Weekly, Zuckerberg took part in some dad-type activities, like assisting with diaper changes and feeding baby Max while in the hospital in December 2015. Zuckerberg also announced the birth of baby Max in a Facebook post which went viral. He wrote: “Priscilla and I are so happy to welcome our daughter Max into this world!”
Furthermore, Zuckerberg and Chan are dedicated to being present parents in several other ways. In his most recent post, Zuckerberg shared two photos of Max on his first day of pre-school. Not only did the post show the loving way that the couple is taking care of Max, but it also revealed that the couple wants her to be educated and in the best possible environment. His caption revealed his personal thoughts on the experience, “I’m so proud of her. She’s already braver than I ever was”.
Overall, Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan are devoted parents and are doing their best to make sure that their two daughters -Max and August- have a great and comfortable childhood. Not only do they have all the resources that a family could ever need, but it also appears that the couple are committed to making sure that their kids get the best out of life.
Philanthropic Work
In addition to being a devoted parent to his two children, Mark Zuckerberg has been the face of philanthropy in Silicon Valley. Through the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI), he plans to donate 99% of his and his wife’s Facebook shares, currently valued at around $45 billion. The initiative focuses on curing all diseases, building a learning system that helps create equal-opportunity and advancing justice, human capability, and economic opportunity.
Robert Reich, a former Secretary of Labor, believes that this is a step in the right direction towards bridging the inequality gap. In an article published by The New York Times, he states, “Mark and Priscilla Zuckerberg’s decision to devote the vast majority of their wealth to philanthropy is to be applauded, but what’s needed is more tax fairness, more jobs, and more business startups.”
The goals of CZI are hard to achieve, but with the resources that Zuckerberg and Chan have, it should not be too difficult to catalyze growth in the areas they are focusing on. Further, with the involvement of other passionate business people and celebrities, the initiative will have a higher chance of making a difference for the upcoming generation.
Apart from this, Zuckerberg and Chan have also used the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub (CZ Biohub) as a platform for research and cooperation among scientists. Through this organization, those involved hope to help bring together people from a variety of disciplines — from the life sciences to engineering and computer science — in order to accelerate discovery and make meaning advances in health and medicine.
Hobbies Outside Of Work And Parenting
In his free time, Mark Zuckerberg is said to enjoy a variety of hobbies. He is an avid reader and often posts book reviews on his Facebook page. For instance, earlier this year he shared a post about how “The Aviator” by Wendell Phillips inspired him to “dream big and think long-term.” He also reads a wide variety of books and essays on different topics such as global health, technology, and virtual reality.
Apart from reading, Zuckerberg spends his free time showing off his hobby of playing the piano. Since he has been known to compose and post brief compositions on his Facebook page, this is not a surprise to many. He is also known to be an avid climber. In an interview with The Guardian, Zuckerberg said “Climbing calms me down and let’s me think about what I am working on”, and he uses this activity to take time off from his hectic schedule.
The Facebook CEO also enjoys sport activities like running and mountain biking. He often posts pictures of his activities on his page, revealing that he really likes to stay active and make sure he gets enough exercise.
Clearly, Mark Zuckerberg is trying to do it all — world domination in the form of ground-breaking advancements in technology, healthcare, education, and more — and still stay present in his children’s lives while finding time to attend to his own hobbies.
A New Conversation Starter With Max and August
Zuckerberg and his wife recently announced the creation of the Meta Incognita Foundation, an organization focused on giving back to the world in ways that have direct impact on the lives of Max and August. The foundation will go beyond the CZI and CZ Biohub; and will provide support for projects on the Amazon, conservation of water ecosystems, ocean protection and research on sustainable farming.
What the couple is doing is bigger than any donation ever made. This isn’t just about making a charitable contribution. This is about investing in the future, and giving back to the world and to their grandchildren, Max and August. Zuckerberg has admitted he’s in a very privileged position and has a responsibility to use his position of knowledge and power to help the world and to make sure his kids live in a fairer and better world.
In a 2016 Facebook post, Zuckerberg explains, “A few years ago, your mother and I wrote a letter to you about the world we hoped you and your generation would grow up in. This is a part of that vision, and I hope it begins a new conversation with you—about equity, opportunity and our future together…Your mother and I want you to grow up in a world that is better than ours today.”
Leading By Example
Mark Zuckerberg is an iconic figure in the business world, and he and his wife have inspired other philanthropists to give back to society. For example, Elon Musk, the head of Tesla and SpaceX, announced that in 2018 he would donate $50 million towards various educational, research and innovative projects.
Many other business leaders are also now donating to charities and taking extra steps to create better outcomes for the world. Zuckerberg’s philanthropic activities and actions have inspired others to follow his footsteps and become more active in charitable and social efforts.
The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and the Meta Incognita Foundation have become just the beginning for Zuckerberg, indicating he will continue to give and support organizations and foundations that can help make a positive impact in the world and help the upcoming generations.
Prioritizing Family Time
Despite the fact that Zuckerberg is a very busy man, his commitment to his family is clear. As noted, he reportedly spends two months at home after the birth of each of his children and gives his employees four months of paid leave.
As reflected by his recent family vacation to Cambodia, he is committed to making quality time with his family and taking the time to explain to his children the importance of travel.
Additionally, the couple recently threw a party to celebrate Max’s 5th birthday. Photos revealed that the event included a jungle-themed party, complete with face-painting, pony-and-unicorn rides, bubble machines and more.
Proof of Zuckerberg’s commitment to his family also lives on social media. It is no secret that he shares cute and funny pictures of his daughters on his Facebook page. Princess Max and August appear to bring out a softer side of the Zuckerberg everyone may not have previously seen.
An Inspiring Example of Philanthropy
Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan have made it very clear that their main focus and priority is to make the world a better place for their children and other children in the world. The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and Meta Incognita Foundation are there to accomplish just that.
Although the public’s perception of Zuckerberg has significantly improved since he and his wife announced their $45 billion pledge, the couple still face criticism over the “unreasonable expectations” that they have set for themselves. However, with the resources they have, it should not be too difficult to hit their goals and truly make the world a better place.
Through their philanthropic activities and projects, Zuckerberg and Chan have proven that they are devoted parents that prioritize family while also being responsible citizens that use their position to help make the world a better place.
