Social media has becoming an ever-encroaching force in all of our lives, it’s inescapable tentacles creeping into every facet of our existence. What was once a tool to keep track of distant friends and family has turned into many people’s primary news source, a never-ending pool of entertainment, a marketplace for limitless commerce, and a nefarious mine for all of our data and information. It is near impossible to think of social media without thinking of the one that really took it to another level, Facebook. And, there’s no way of thinking of Facebook without thinking of its nerdy founder and CEO: Mark Zuckerburg.
Mark Zuckerberg, the co-founder and CEO of Meta Platforms (formerly Facebook), has become one of the most influential figures in the tech industry. His journey from a Harvard dorm room to leading a global conglomerate encompassing social media, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence is a testament to innovation, strategic acquisitions, and navigating controversies.
Early Life and Education
Born on May 14, 1984, in White Plains, New York, Mark Elliot Zuckerberg was raised in a well-educated family. His father, Edward, was a dentist, and his mother, Karen, was a psychiatrist. Demonstrating an early aptitude for programming, Zuckerberg created a messaging program called “ZuckNet” at the age of 12, which his father used in his dental office.
Zuckerberg attended Phillips Exeter Academy, where he excelled in classical studies and fencing. He later enrolled at Harvard University, majoring in psychology and computer science. It was here that he developed “TheFacebook,” a social networking site initially limited to Harvard students.
The Birth and Rise of Facebook
Launched on February 4, 2004, “TheFacebook” quickly gained popularity among Harvard students and expanded to other Ivy League universities. It was initially conceived as a way for Zuckerberg and his friends to rate the attractiveness of their female classmates but it quickly turned into much more. By 2006, it was accessible to anyone over 13 with a valid email address. The platform introduced features like the News Feed, which became central to user engagement.
In 2012, Facebook went public with one of the largest IPOs in tech history, raising $16 billion. The company’s revenue model, primarily based on targeted advertising, propelled its rapid financial growth.
Strategic Acquisitions: Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads
Zuckerberg’s vision extended beyond Facebook. In 2012, the company acquired Instagram for approximately $1 billion, recognizing the potential of mobile photo sharing. Two years later, Facebook purchased WhatsApp for $19 billion, expanding its reach in global messaging.
In 2023, Meta launched Threads, a text-based social media app designed to compete with Twitter. By 2025, Threads surpassed 350 million monthly active users and began integrating global advertising, although significant revenue is not expected from the platform in 2025 .
Controversies: Election Interference and Censorship Accusations
Facebook has faced scrutiny over its role in political processes. The 2018 Cambridge Analytica scandal revealed that personal data from millions of users was harvested without consent for political advertising. Additionally, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg stated that senior Biden administration officials pressured Facebook to “censor” some COVID-19 content, raising concerns about the platform’s role in moderating information. Zuckerberg then turned around a donated over $1 million dollars to the second inauguration of Donald Trump and adding a number of high-profile Trump supporters like Dana White to their board of directors following his re-election. This had lead to accusations of Zuckerberg bending to the will of whoever is in power in order to manipulate them (and the voters) to supporting causes and policies financially beneficial to Zuckerberg and Meta. These suspicions were furthers by Zuckerberg’s seeming willingness to take down content at the request of dictatorial regimes around the world so that his platforms remain available in those regions.
Transition to Meta and Focus on AI
In 2021, Facebook rebranded as Meta Platforms, signaling a shift towards building the “metaverse” – a virtual reality space where users can interact in a computer-generated environment. Despite significant investments, Meta’s Reality Labs division reported a $4.2 billion loss in the first quarter of 2025, contributing to over $60 billion in metaverse-related losses since 2020.
Recognizing the growing importance of artificial intelligence, Meta announced plans to increase its capital expenditures in 2025 to between $64 billion and $72 billion, aiming to expand its AI capacity.
Philanthropy and Personal Life
Beyond business, Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, have committed to philanthropy through the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI). Founded in 2015, CZI focuses on personalized learning, curing diseases, and reforming the criminal justice system .
The couple met at Harvard and married in 2012. They have two daughters and are known for their relatively private lifestyle, despite Zuckerberg’s public persona. Zuckerberg has also recently gotten into mixed-martial arts (MMA), competing in his first Brazilian Jiu Jitsu competition in 2023. This new MMA obsession came to a head when fellow billionaire Elon Musk challenged him to a cage fight over their various criticisms and disagreements – a match that Zuckerberg quickly accepted. Unfortunately for the human race who would have benefitted from such a spectacle, Musk eventually backed out after several weeks of trash talk and media antics. A disappointment for everyone who was curious to see which of these two narcissistic oligarchs could take a harder punch.
Mark Zuckerberg’s wealth stems from his ability to innovate, adapt, and strategically expand his business ventures. From creating a college networking site to leading a global tech conglomerate, his journey reflects the complexities of modern entrepreneurship, including navigating ethical challenges and embracing technological advancements.
