Early Years
Mark Zuckerberg was born on May 14, 1984, in White Plains, New York, and was raised in the nearby town of Dobbs Ferry. Both of his parents had college degrees—his father, Edward, was a dentist, and his mother, Karen, was a psychiatrist. Zuckerberg had a model childhood—a happy family life and academic success, though a few stories illustrate his growing independence and interest in technology from a young age. At age 12, he reportedly created a messaging system for his father’s dental office, enabling multiple staff members to communicate at once. He attended Ardsley High School for his freshman year, then transferred to Philips Exeter Academy for his sophomore, junior and senior years.
Harvard Dropout
In 2002, Zuckerberg enrolled in Harvard University, majoring in computer science, psychology and linguistics. As a sophomore in April 2004, he launched Thefacebook.com, a social media site originally intended as a social network for Harvard students only. It rapidly expanded to other college campuses and, by the summer of 2005, reached the general public.
In late 2005, Zuckerberg dropped out of Harvard to focus full-time on Facebook. By the following summer, his network reached 25 million people around the world, with half of the users in the United States. In 2006, Facebook was valued at $500 million, according to The New York Times, and Mark had become the face—certainly the young face—of social media. He had created a platform that changed the way people around the world interacted and connected, and set him up for tremendous success.
Age
At the time of writing, Mark Zuckerberg is 36 years old. He celebrated his 32nd birthday in 2016. Since launching Facebook, his age has been in the spotlight. In 2005, when he launched Facebook as a 19-year-old, his young age drew attention and raised eyebrows. Even today, people are surprised at how young he was when he tapped into the power of social media.
Zuckerberg’s Career Trajectory
Given the success of Facebook, the investment world has watched Mark Zuckerberg’s career trajectory with a near-religious fervor. His success has been envied, feared and marveled at for over a decade. He is one of the youngest (now one of the oldest) billionaires in the world. His current net worth is estimated at a whopping $97.6 billion, as of October 2020. Zuckerberg has used some of his wealth to invest in various tech startups, such as Nest and Spotify.
The Influence Of Zuckerberg’s Ideas
Mark Zuckerberg is an influential voice not only within the tech industry, but throughout the world. He speaks passionately about technology and its potential to empower people and create a better world. His ideas, such as the idea of “connecting the world” and the potential of big data, have been widely discussed and debated. He has often spoken out on policy issues, such as immigration and data privacy, and has been a vocal advocate for technology education and online security.
Philanthropy
Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, have used their wealth to create the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, which works to advance education, healthcare and scientific research. They have donated billions of dollars to causes around the world, such as providing internet access and basic computer literacy to developing countries, building schools in Africa and supporting research into the prevention of infectious diseases, among others. Mark also has a personal charitable foundation, and he and his wife have pledged to give away 99% of their Facebook shares to charity during their lifetimes.
Leadership and Management Style
As a leader, Zuckerberg is known for being decisive and for taking risks. He has often spoken about the importance of experimentation in business and of taking calculated risks in order to realize your vision. He notoriously dislikes bureaucracy and formality, often preferring employees to communicate directly and openly with one another. He is also known for fostering a culture that values innovation and creativity over frenetic work rhythms or micromanagement.
Family Life
Due to his success, Mark Zuckerberg has become not only a respected business leader, but also a public figure. He is married to Priscilla Chan, and the couple has two children, Max and August. They split their time between California and Hawaii, and given their wealth, the family enjoys an active lifestyle that includes activities such as sailing and golf.
Digital Presence
Although Mark Zuckerberg is a private person, he is on Facebook everywhere. He has millions of followers on various social media networks. He often posts about his family, travels, work and business ventures. He often shares his thoughts on various topics and is an active user of Facebook Live. His website, Zuckerberg.com, provides information about his business and charitable endeavors, as well as blog posts about his views on technology and philanthropy.
Business Ventures
Not satisfied with running just one company, Mark Zuckerberg has pursued other business ventures outside of Facebook. He has invested in and serves as a board member of multiple tech startups, such as SpaceX and the Oculus Rift virtual reality headset. He also owns several high-profile real estate properties, including a lakefront mansion in Palo Alto.
Awards and Recognition
Mark Zuckerberg has been recognized for both his business achievements and philanthropic efforts. In 2010, Time magazine included him in its list of the 100 Most Influential People. He is an honorary member of the San Francisco Boys and Girls Club and the Harvard Business School Alumni Association, and he was awarded the Heinz Award for Technology, the Economy and Employment in 2009.
Public Image
Given his success and influence, Mark Zuckerberg has become something of a celebrity—albeit one who does not often court the spotlight. His public image has been a source of controversy for some. He has been criticized for not taking more responsibility for Facebook’s role in issues such as data privacy, as well as for his management practices and corporate culture. Nevertheless, his impact on technology and the world in general cannot be denied.
