Mark Zuckerberg Net Worth (Updated 2024)

What is Mark Zuckerberg’s Net Worth?

Mark Zuckerberg is the co-founder and CEO of Meta (formerly Facebook), one of the world’s largest and most influential technology companies. Zuckerberg’s net worth is estimated to be around $171 billion. 

The vast majority of Zuckerberg’s wealth is derived from his ownership stake in Meta. He owns around 400 million shares of Meta stock, representing approximately 13% of the company’s total shares outstanding.  With Meta’s share price hovering around $230 as of late April 2024, Zuckerberg’s equity in the company alone is worth over $92 billion.

Zuckerberg’s net worth has fluctuated significantly over the years, largely tied to the performance of Meta’s stock. In late 2021, his net worth peaked at around $142 billion as Meta’s stock hit record highs. However, in 2022, his wealth took a major hit, dropping below $40 billion at one point as Meta’s stock price plummeted due to concerns over slowing growth and increased competition. 

Despite this volatility, Zuckerberg has remained one of the wealthiest individuals on the planet. In early 2024, his net worth surged back above $170 billion, propelled by a rebound in Meta’s stock price and the company’s strong financial performance. This recent surge in wealth allowed Zuckerberg to briefly surpass Elon Musk as the world’s third-richest person in April 2024. 

While Zuckerberg’s net worth is staggering, he has pledged to give away 99% of his Facebook shares over his lifetime through the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, the philanthropic organization he co-founded with his wife Priscilla Chan.  The initiative focuses on areas such as education, science, and addressing global challenges.

Here’s the breakdown of Mark Zuckerberg’s net worth:

If you’re curious about how we estimate a celebrity’s net worth, you can check out our methodology here.

Major Wealth Milestones

• Mark became a billionaire on paper for the first time in 2007 when Facebook raised $240 million from Microsoft at a $15 billion valuation. At that point, his stake was worth around $5 billion.
• On the day of Facebook’s IPO in May 2012, Zuckerberg’s stake was valued at $15 billion. 
• Zuckerberg’s net worth topped $100 billion for the first time on August 7, 2020 as Facebook’s stock surged. 
• In late 2021, his net worth peaked at around $137 billion, making him the third-richest person on the planet at the time. 
• On January 1, 2022, his net worth stood at $126 billion, ranking him as the 5th richest globally. 
• However, over 2022, Meta’s stock price dropped 70%, causing Zuckerberg’s net worth to plummet to around $37 billion by late October 2022 – a staggering $100 billion drop from late 2021. 
• In early 2023, Meta’s stock rebounded strongly, allowing Zuckerberg’s net worth to recover and surpass $170 billion by February 2024, setting a new personal wealth record. 
• On April 6, 2024, Zuckerberg’s net worth of $186.9 billion made him the third-richest person in the world, surpassing Elon Musk for the first time since 2020. 

Early Life

Mark Elliot Zuckerberg was born on May 14, 1984 in White Plains, New York. He was raised in the nearby village of Dobbs Ferry. From an early age, Zuckerberg showed a keen interest and aptitude for computers and programming.

At around 12 years old, he created a messaging program called “ZuckNet” that allowed communication within his home via computers. This early coding experience foreshadowed his future success in building communication platforms.

Zuckerberg was an excellent student and was enrolled at Phillips Exeter Academy, an elite preparatory school in New Hampshire. He excelled in classes and won prizes in math, astronomy and physics while also leading the fencing team.

Harvard

Zuckerberg began attending Harvard University in 2002. As a sophomore computer science student, he gained notoriety on campus for building software tools and applications.

In his first year, he built a program called “Coursematch” that allowed students to visualize each other’s class selections. He also created another controversial program called “Facemash” that allowed students to judge the attractiveness of their classmates.

It was in his dorm room at Harvard in 2004 that Zuckerberg, along with roommates Eduardo Saverin, Dustin Moskovitz, Chris Hughes and Andrew McCollum, began working on an online social networking website they initially called “Thefacebook.” The website quickly gained popularity on the Harvard campus.

Despite the initial success, Zuckerberg faced allegations from Cameron Winklevoss, Tyler Winklevoss and Divya Narendra that he had stolen their idea for a social network called HarvardConnection. The dispute was later settled out of court.

In 2005, after Thefacebook had expanded to other universities, Zuckerberg dropped out of Harvard to focus entirely on growing the fledgling company, relocating operations to Palo Alto, California. The rest is history as Facebook grew into a global phenomenon and one of the most valuable tech companies in the world.

Facebook (Meta)

The vast majority of Mark Zuckerberg’s net worth is derived from his ownership stake in Meta Platforms (formerly Facebook). He co-founded Facebook in 2004 while a student at Harvard University.

Since then, Facebook (now Meta) has grown rapidly from a college social network into one of the largest tech companies in the world. Its primary revenue driver is selling digital advertising across Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and other apps.

Facebook held its highly-anticipated initial public offering (IPO) on May 18, 2012. It was one of the biggest tech IPOs in history, with the company going public at a staggering $104 billion valuation.

At the time of the IPO, Zuckerberg’s ownership stake was around 28%, making his shares worth $19 billion on paper when Facebook started trading. However, the IPO was plagued by technical glitches, and Facebook’s stock price declined over 50% in the following months amid doubts about its mobile strategy and ability to monetize users.

Despite the rocky start as a public company, Facebook’s stock rebounded strongly in subsequent years as it found success with mobile advertising. Zuckerberg’s net worth surged as a result, making him one of the world’s richest individuals.

As of June 2024, Zuckerberg owns around 350 million shares of Meta’s Class A and Class B stock, representing around 13% of all outstanding shares. With Meta’s share price hovering around $500 in late June 2024, Zuckerberg’s equity stake in the company is worth a staggering $175 billion.

Salary

Mark Zuckerberg has received an official salary of just $1 per year from Meta (Facebook) since 2013. Prior to that, his salary was higher but still relatively modest for a CEO of a major corporation.

While his salary is nominal, Zuckerberg receives substantial “other compensation” from Meta each year, primarily to cover the costs of his personal security detail and private aircraft usage. In 2023, this other compensation totaled around $24.4 million.

Zuckerberg does not receive any bonus payments or equity awards as part of his compensation package. His real wealth stems from his ownership of hundreds of millions of Meta shares from co-founding the company.

Philanthropy

Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan have pledged to give away 99% of their Facebook (Meta) shares over their lifetimes through the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI). As of mid-2024, Zuckerberg’s net worth is estimated at around $175 billion, with the vast majority derived from his 13% ownership stake in Meta.

The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, founded in 2015, aims to “build a more inclusive, just and healthy future for everyone.” It focuses on areas like science, education, housing affordability, criminal justice reform, and immigration reform. Some key philanthropic efforts and grants include:

• $3 billion pledged in 2016 to help cure, prevent or manage all diseases by the end of the century through the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub.
• $24 million invested in Andela in 2017 to train software developers in Africa.
• Over $4 million in grants in 2022 to support teacher retention and wellness programs.
• Launching the Partnership for the Bay’s Future in 2019 with a $500+ million fund for affordable housing in the San Francisco Bay Area.
• Supporting the Opportunity Insights institute focused on economic opportunity research led by Harvard economists.

CZI has committed over $6.88 billion in grants since its launch, making it one of the largest philanthropic initiatives in recent history funded by tech wealth. 

Legal Issues

Zuckerberg has faced several high-profile lawsuits and legal battles over the years related to Facebook (Meta):

Cambridge Analytica Scandal (2018)

The District of Columbia sued Zuckerberg in 2022 for his alleged role in the Cambridge Analytica data breach scandal, accusing him of directly participating in decision-making that allowed the breach of millions of users’ data. 

ConnectU Lawsuit (2004-2008)

Zuckerberg paid $65 million to settle a lawsuit brought by ConnectU founders, who alleged he stole their idea and code for a social network while at Harvard. 

Paul Ceglia Lawsuit (2010)

An internet entrepreneur claimed he was entitled to 84% of Facebook due to a 2003 contract with Zuckerberg, which was later dismissed as a frivolous claim. 

Human Trafficking Lawsuit (2022)

Zuckerberg and Meta were sued by shareholders for allegedly failing to combat human trafficking and child exploitation on Facebook and Instagram despite being aware of the issues. 

Social Media Addiction Lawsuits (2024)

Zuckerberg is seeking dismissal from two dozen lawsuits accusing Meta of ignoring warnings that Instagram and Facebook are unsafe for children and contributing to mental health issues. 

While Zuckerberg has settled some cases, he has also successfully fended off many lawsuits over the years. His legal battles have put a spotlight on his decision-making as CEO as well as broader debates around social media regulation and accountability. 

Personal Life

Mark Zuckerberg married Priscilla Chan, whom he met at a fraternity party during his sophomore year at Harvard, on May 19, 2012. The couple has three daughters: Maxima (born in 2015), August (born in 2017), and Aurelia (born in 2023).

Despite his demanding role as CEO of Meta, Zuckerberg prioritizes family time. He has been open about taking paternity leave following the births of his daughters.

Zuckerberg is also an avid reader, having launched a personal challenge in 2015 to read a new book every two weeks, which evolved into a virtual book club called “A Year of Books”. In addition, he has a passion for learning new skills, such as mastering Mandarin and developing a personal AI assistant named Jarvis.

Real Estate

Mark Zuckerberg’s real estate portfolio is as impressive as his professional achievements. He owns multiple properties across the United States.

Palo Alto, California

Zuckerberg’s primary residence is in Palo Alto, California, where he owns a 5,617-square-foot home. He purchased this property in 2011 for $7 million. To ensure privacy, he later acquired four surrounding properties for an additional $30 million, which he reportedly planned to tear down and rebuild.

San Francisco, California

In 2013, Zuckerberg expanded his real estate holdings by purchasing a historic home in San Francisco’s Mission District for $10 million. The 5,542-square-foot house, built in 1928, underwent significant renovations, including the addition of a new office, media room, and wine cellar.

Lake Tahoe, California

In 2018, Zuckerberg acquired two adjacent properties on Lake Tahoe’s west shore for a combined $59 million. The estates, known as the Carousel Estate and the Brushwood Estate, span over 10 acres and include multiple residences, private piers, and stunning lake views.

Hawaii

Zuckerberg’s most notable real estate investment is his extensive land holdings on the Hawaiian island of Kauai. In 2014, he purchased a 700-acre property for $100 million, which includes a working organic farm and a secluded beach. In 2017, he acquired an additional 89 acres for $45.3 million, further expanding his Hawaiian estate.

Ashley Roberts

Ashley Roberts is the founder of Real-Time Billionaires List. She founded this platform because she likes to know how much celebrities are actually making. She is always curious why these people can make much more money than the ordinary person.

With a Bachelor’s degree in finance, she is skilled at financial analysis and understands numbers related to wealth. Most of the articles on this site are edited by herself before publishing.