Mark Zuckerberg: Founder and CEO of Meta

Key takeaways
* Self-taught programmer who launched Facebook from his Harvard dorm in 2004.
* Grew the company—now Meta—into a global tech leader through rapid expansion, a record IPO, and major acquisitions.
* Known for high-profile philanthropy and for controversies over user data and privacy.
* Primary revenue comes from advertising across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

Early life and education

Mark Zuckerberg was born in White Plains, New York, and showed an early interest in computers and programming. He learned BASIC as a child and built an instant-messaging program at age 12. He attended Harvard University but left after his sophomore year to focus on developing the social network that became Facebook.

Founding Facebook and early growth

Facebook began in 2004 as a Harvard project (following earlier campus sites such as FaceMash). Zuckerberg co‑founded the company with classmates and expanded access from college campuses to high schools and, later, the general public. A legal dispute with other Harvard students over a separate project resulted in a multimillion‑dollar settlement.

By mid‑2005 Facebook had attracted venture capital and accelerated its expansion. Offerings from established tech companies were declined as Zuckerberg pushed growth independently.

IPO and major acquisitions

Facebook went public in 2012 in one of the largest technology IPOs, raising roughly $16 billion. The company pursued an aggressive acquisition strategy to broaden its reach and products. Notable purchases include:
* Instagram (2012) — ~$1 billion
WhatsApp (2014) — ~$22 billion (cash and stock)
Oculus VR (2014) — ~$2 billion

These and other acquisitions helped Meta control key consumer platforms for social communication, photo sharing, messaging, and virtual reality.

Business model

Meta’s primary revenue source is advertising. The company sells targeted ad space across its platforms—Facebook, Instagram, and (to a lesser extent) WhatsApp—and offers paid promotion tools for businesses and creators.

Wealth and philanthropy

Zuckerberg’s wealth largely reflects his Meta shareholdings. He and his wife, Priscilla Chan, have been active philanthropists: notable gifts include a large donation to Newark schools and a pledge—through the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative—to devote significant resources to personalized learning, disease research, community building, and related causes.

Controversies and regulation

Data privacy and platform influence have been recurring issues for Meta. In 2018 reports revealed that a political consulting firm had obtained Facebook user data without proper consent; Facebook later disclosed that tens of millions of accounts were affected. The scandal prompted regulatory and public scrutiny and led Zuckerberg to testify before U.S. congressional committees. Meta has since announced steps to restrict data access and improve user controls, while continuing to face criticism over information use and content impacts.

FAQs

What is Mark Zuckerberg’s net worth?
Estimates vary with market conditions; in mid‑2022 his net worth was reported in the tens of billions, tied primarily to Meta shares.

Does Mark Zuckerberg earn $1 a year?
Zuckerberg’s official salary has been reported as $1 annually. His wealth is derived from his ownership stake in the company.

Bottom line

From a dorm‑room project to the global company now called Meta, Zuckerberg has shaped modern social media through rapid scaling, acquisitions, and product expansion. His tenure has combined major business achievements and philanthropic commitments with ongoing controversies over privacy, data handling, and platform responsibility.

Sources: public filings and contemporary news reporting.