<p><img src="https://static2.businessinsider.com/image/5adf438f19ee865f118b47b3-2400/zuckback.jpg" border="0" alt="Mark Zuckerberg" data-mce-source="David Ramos/Getty Images"></p><p></p><bi-shortcode id="summary-shortcode" data-type="summary-shortcode" class="mceNonEditable" contenteditable="false">Summary List Placement</bi-shortcode><p>Through success and controversy, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has been regarded as one of the most brilliant minds of his generation. </p><p>With a <a href="https://www.forbes.com/profile/mark-zuckerberg/'list=billionaires#a8a349c3e06d">net worth of over $114 billion</a>, the millennial CEO is credited with creating a social network that has more monthly active users than any single country in the world has people, and his majority voting rights give him complete control of the companywhich also means he's often the focal point of any backlash.</p><p>Over the last few years, Facebook has faced scandal after scandal. It's been called out on multiple occasions for the way it handles user data, to the point where many have debated the pros and cons of free networks like Facebook that rely on advertisers for revenue. In 2018, Zuckerberg was summoned to give 10 hours of testimony to Congress as lawmakers sought answers about Facebook's role in various events like the 2016 election and the Cambridge Analytica data-harvesting scandal.</p><p>In the midst of the scandals, Zuckerberg has defended Facebook and reiterated the company's stated mission to connect the world with projects like bringing internet access to areas without less connectivity. Through his charity work, he's poured millions into education efforts and billions into initiatives for curing the world's diseases. </p><p>Zuckerberg launched Facebook when he was just 19 years old. Here's a look at the timeline of Zuckerberg's career, from his humble beginnings in a New York suburb to his role as one of the wealthiest CEOs in the world.</p><p><em>Paige Leskin contributed to an earlier version of this story.</em></p><p><strong>SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tinder-grindr-dating-apps-users-asking-matches-violate-social-distancing-2020-5" >As dating apps try to pivot to virtual events, some users are trying to get people to violate social distancing rules</a></strong></p><h3>While he's now a titan of Silicon Valley, Mark Zuckerberg was raised in the quaint town of Dobbs Ferry, New York. He was born to Edward and Karen Zuckerberg, a dentist and psychiatrist, respectively. He has three siblings: Randi, Donna, and Arielle.</h3><img src="https://static3.businessinsider.com/image/609e806767e41a00186220fd-400-300/while-hes-now-a-titan-of-silicon-valley-mark-zuckerberg-was-raised-in-the-quaint-town-of-dobbs-ferry-new-york-he-was-born-to-edward-and-karen-zuckerberg-a-dentist-and-psychiatrist-respectively-he-has-three-siblings-randi-donna-and-arielle.jpg" alt="" /><p><p><em>Source: <a href="https://nymag.com/news/features/zuckerberg-family-2012-5/index1.html">New York Magazine</a></em></p></p><br/><br/><h3>A precocious child, Mark at age 12 created a messaging program called "Zucknet" using Atari BASIC. He also coded computer games for his friends at a young age.</h3><img src="https://static6.businessinsider.com/image/609e948267e41a001862217d-400-300/a-precocious-child-mark-at-age-12-created-a-messaging-program-called-zucknet-using-atari-basic-he-also-coded-computer-games-for-his-friends-at-a-young-age.jpg" alt="" /><p><p><em>Source: <a href="https://nymag.com/news/features/zuckerberg-family-2012-5/index1.html">New York Magazine</a></em></p></p><br/><br/><h3>While attending high school at the renowned Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire, he built an early music streaming platform, which both AOL and Microsoft showed interest in. Still a teen, he rejected offers for an acquisition or a job.</h3><img src="https://static1.businessinsider.com/image/609e951e67e41a0018622180-400-300/while-attending-high-school-at-the-renowned-phillips-exeter-academy-in-new-hampshire-he-built-an-early-music-streaming-platform-which-both-aol-and-microsoft-showed-interest-in-still-a-teen-he-rejected-offers-for-an-acquisition-or-a-job.jpg" alt="" /><p><p><em>Source: <a href="https://nymag.com/news/features/zuckerberg-family-2012-5/index1.html">New York Magazine</a></em></p><p> </p></p><br/><br/><h3>He wasn't just a computer nerd, though. Zuck loved the classics "The Odyssey" and the like and he became captain of his high school fencing team.</h3><img src="https://static1.businessinsider.com/image/542d1b426bb3f74a5b7c71e6-400-300/he-wasnt-just-a-computer-nerd-though-zuck-loved-the-classics-the-odyssey-and-the-like-and-he-became-captain-of-his-high-school-fencing-team.jpg" alt="" /><p><p><em>Source: <a href="http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2010/09/20/the-face-of-facebook">The New Yorker</a></em></p></p><br/><br/><h3>Soon after Zuckerberg started at Harvard University in 2002, he earned a reputation as a skilled developer. His first hit was "Face mash," a hot-or-not-style app that used the pictures of his classmates that he hacked from the school administration's dormitory ID files.</h3><img src="https://static1.businessinsider.com/image/609e94f6a807be0018d62209-400-300/soon-after-zuckerberg-started-at-harvard-university-in-2002-he-earned-a-reputation-as-a-skilled-developer-his-first-hit-was-face-mash-a-hot-or-not-style-app-that-used-the-pictures-of-his-classmates-that-he-hacked-from-the-school-administrations-dormitory-id-files.jpg" alt="" /><p><p><em>Source: <a href="http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2010/09/20/the-face-of-facebook">The New Yorker</a></em></p></p><br/><br/><h3>Zuckerberg met his now-wife, Priscilla Chan, at Harvard in 2003. Chan told Savannah Guthrie on "Today" that they met at a frat party thrown by Zuckerberg's fraternity, Alpha Epsilon Pi.</h3><img src="https://static5.businessinsider.com/image/609e94b567e41a001862217f-400-300/zuckerberg-met-his-now-wife-priscilla-chan-at-harvard-in-2003-chan-told-savannah-guthrie-on-today-that-they-met-at-a-frat-party-thrown-by-zuckerbergs-fraternity-alpha-epsilon-pi.jpg" alt="" /><p><p><em>Source: <a href="https://www.today.com/news/meet-priscilla-chan-10-things-we-learned-about-mark-zuckerbergs-2D79731310">Today</a></em></p></p><br/><br/><h3>Zuckerberg started "The Facebook" with several friends out of his dorm room, and dropped out of school in 2005, after his sophomore year, to focus on the social network full-time.</h3><img src="https://static3.businessinsider.com/image/609e909ba807be0018d621e3-400-300/zuckerberg-started-the-facebook-with-several-friends-out-of-his-dorm-room-and-dropped-out-of-school-in-2005-after-his-sophomore-year-to-focus-on-the-social-network-full-time.jpg" alt="" /><p><p><em>Source: <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2010/09/20/the-face-of-facebook">The New Yorker</a></em></p></p><br/><br/><h3>Zuckerberg wasn't always the polished statesman he is now. In Facebook's early days, he carried business cards that read, "I'm CEO, B----."</h3><img src="https://static5.businessinsider.com/image/538513c369bedd077408d552-400-300/zuckerberg-wasnt-always-the-polished-statesman-he-is-now-in-facebooks-early-days-he-carried-business-cards-that-read-im-ceo-b-.jpg" alt="" /><p><p><em>Source: <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2011/06/25/im-ceo-bitch/">TechCrunch</a></em></p></p><br/><br/><h3>Zuckerberg's company raised its $12.7 million Series A round of funding while he was barely of legal drinking age. The rest is history.</h3><img src="https://static2.businessinsider.com/image/609e905e67e41a0018622160-400-300/zuckerbergs-company-raised-its-127-million-series-a-round-of-funding-while-he-was-barely-of-legal-drinking-age-the-rest-is-history.jpg" alt="" /><br/><br/><h3>In 2010, Time magazine named Zuckerberg "Person of the Year."</h3><img src="https://static2.businessinsider.com/image/5a63787a00d0efba048b4c01-400-300/in-2010-time-magazine-named-zuckerberg-person-of-the-year.jpg" alt="" /><p><p><em>Source: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130817081156/http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2036683_2037183_2037185,00.html">Time</a></em></p></p><br/><br/><h3>Not many tech CEOs get to see themselves immortalized on the big screen, but the 2010 movie "The Social Network" put a dramatized version of Facebook's founding story in theaters. The film earned eight Academy Award nominations, but Zuckerberg strongly maintains that many of its details are incorrect.</h3><img src="https://static4.businessinsider.com/image/54d2a07b69bedd272acf6dfa-400-300/not-many-tech-ceos-get-to-see-themselves-immortalized-on-the-big-screen-but-the-2010-movie-the-social-network-put-a-dramatized-version-of-facebooks-founding-story-in-theaters-the-film-earned-eight-academy-award-nominations-but-zuckerberg-strongly-maintains-that-many-of-its-details-are-incorrect.jpg" alt="" /><p><p><em>Source: <a href="https://www.vulture.com/2011/01/aaron_sorkin.html">New York Magazine</a></em></p></p><br/><br/><h3>Throughout Facebook's rise to greatness, Zuckerberg also spent his free time studying Chinese. By the fall of 2014, his Mandarin was so good that he managed to hold a 30-minute Q&A in the language.</h3><img src="https://static3.businessinsider.com/image/57855f844321f16b018b7bba-400-300/throughout-facebooks-rise-to-greatness-zuckerberg-also-spent-his-free-time-studying-chinese-by-the-fall-of-2014-his-mandarin-was-so-good-that-he-managed-to-hold-a-30-minute-qa-in-the-language.jpg" alt="" /><p><p><em>Source: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/why-facebook-mark-zuckerberg-studies-chinese-2014-10">Business Insider </a></em></p></p><br/><br/><h3>Zuckerberg took Facebook public on May 18, 2012. The IPO raised $16 billion, making it the biggest tech IPO in history at the time. Zuckerberg became the 29th-richest person on the planet overnight.</h3><img src="https://static5.businessinsider.com/image/528693bc69bedd803aa9576b-400-300/zuckerberg-took-facebook-public-on-may-18-2012-the-ipo-raised-16-billion-making-it-the-biggest-tech-ipo-in-history-at-the-time-zuckerberg-became-the-29th-richest-person-on-the-planet-overnight.jpg" alt="" /><p><p><em>Source: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/the-10-largest-us-internet-ipos-of-all-time-2014-9'op=1">Business Insider</a></em></p></p><br/><br/><h3>The day after Facebook went public, Zuckerberg and Chan got married. The relatively low-key event was actually a surprise wedding: Guests thought they were celebrating a medical school graduation party for Chan.</h3><img src="https://static1.businessinsider.com/image/609e81c8a9b6a40018f1c175-400-300/the-day-after-facebook-went-public-zuckerberg-and-chan-got-married-the-relatively-low-key-event-was-actually-a-surprise-wedding-guests-thought-they-were-celebrating-a-medical-school-graduation-party-for-chan.jpg" alt="" /><p><p><em>Source: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/the-9-years-of-mark-zuckerberg-and-priscilla-chan-a-couple-of-billionaires-2012-5">Business Insider</a>, <a href="http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_20664396">San Jose Mercury News</a></em></p><p> </p></p><br/><br/><h3>Zuckerberg designed Chan's ruby ring himself. Chan walked down the aisle with Beast, the couple's Hungarian Puli, who they adopted in 2011.</h3><img src="https://static6.businessinsider.com/image/609e923767e41a001862216d-400-300/zuckerberg-designed-chans-ruby-ring-himself-chan-walked-down-the-aisle-with-beast-the-couples-hungarian-puli-who-they-adopted-in-2011.jpg" alt="" /><p><p><em>Source: <a href="http://people.com/pets/priscilla-chan-walks-down-the-aisle-with-beast-zuckerberg/">People</a>, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/mark-zuckerberg-ruby-ring-priscilla-chan-wedding-2012-5">Business Insider</a></em></p></p><br/><br/><h3>The two honeymooned in Italy, flying in on a private jet and staying at a five-star hotel, Portrait Suites, where rooms started at 800 euros per night. But they still kept it casual at times when looking for something to eatpaparazzi spotted the couple eating at McDonald's while overseas.</h3><img src="https://static3.businessinsider.com/image/609e92c9a807be0018d621f9-400-300/the-two-honeymooned-in-italy-flying-in-on-a-private-jet-and-staying-at-a-five-star-hotel-portrait-suites-where-rooms-started-at-800-euros-per-night-but-they-still-kept-it-casual-at-times-when-looking-for-something-to-eat--paparazzi-spotted-the-couple-eating-at-mcdonalds-while-overseas.jpg" alt="" /><p><p><em>Source: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/mark-zuckerberg-and-priscilla-chan-honeymoon-in-rome-photos-2012-5">Business Insider</a></em></p></p><br/><br/><h3>In 2015, Zuckerberg and Chan announced the birth of a baby girl named Max. "There is so much joy in our little family," Zuckerberg wrote on Facebook.</h3><img src="https://static1.businessinsider.com/image/609e9393a807be0018d62200-400-300/in-2015-zuckerberg-and-chan-announced-the-birth-of-a-baby-girl-named-max-there-is-so-much-joy-in-our-little-family-zuckerberg-wrote-on-facebook.jpg" alt="" /><p><p><em>Source: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mark-zuckerberg-is-a-dad-has-a-girl-named-max-2015-12">Business Insider</a></em></p></p><br/><br/><h3>They also announced their plan to sell 99% of Zuckerberg's Facebook stock over timeworth about $45 billion at the timeto fund the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. The initiative funnels money toward issues like personalized learning, curing diseases, and connecting people.</h3><img src="https://static2.businessinsider.com/image/609e936f67e41a0018622174-400-300/they-also-announced-their-plan-to-sell-99-of-zuckerbergs-facebook-stock-over-timeworth-about-45-billion-at-the-time--to-fund-the-chan-zuckerberg-initiative-the-initiative-funnels-money-toward-issues-like-personalized-learning-curing-diseases-and-connecting-people.jpg" alt="" /><p><p><em>Source: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/mark-zuckerberg-giving-away-99-of-his-facebook-shares-2015-12">Business Insider</a></em></p></p><br/><br/><h3>Even before announcing this massive new effort, Zuckerberg and Chan had committed $1.6 billion to philanthropic causes, including donations to the Center for Disease Control and the San Francisco General Hospital, which was eventually renamed after Zuckerberg.</h3><img src="https://static6.businessinsider.com/image/55423ee86da811e655bf23c9-400-300/even-before-announcing-this-massive-new-effort-zuckerberg-and-chan-had-committed-16-billion-to-philanthropic-causes-including-donations-to-the-center-for-disease-control-and-the-san-francisco-general-hospital-which-was-eventually-renamed-after-zuckerberg.jpg" alt="" /><p><p><em>Sources: <a href="http://www.theverge.com/2014/2/10/5397606/mark-zuckerberg-2013-most-charitable-philanthropist">The Verge</a>, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/zuckerberg-internet-can-save-kids-lives-2014-7">Business Insider</a></em></p><p> </p></p><br/><br/><h3>In September 2016, Chan and Zuckerberg pledged $3 billion to curing the world's diseases by the end of this century. "Can we help scientists to cure, prevent or manage all diseases within our children's lifetime'" Zuckerberg wrote on Facebook. "I'm optimistic we can."</h3><img src="https://static4.businessinsider.com/image/59288069b74af4f83d8b45f7-400-300/in-september-2016-chan-and-zuckerberg-pledged-3-billion-to-curing-the-worlds-diseases-by-the-end-of-this-century-can-we-help-scientists-to-cure-prevent-or-manage-all-diseases-within-our-childrens-lifetime-zuckerberg-wrote-on-facebook-im-optimistic-we-can.jpg" alt="" /><p><p><em>Sources: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/mark-zuckerberg-and-his-wife-will-invest-3-billion-into-curing-diseases-2016-9">Business Insider</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/zuck/posts/10103121039808001">Facebook</a></em></p></p><br/><br/><h3>In May 2017, Chan and Zuckerberg announced that they had another baby on the way. Their second daughter, August, was born the month she was named after.</h3><img src="https://static1.businessinsider.com/image/609e943c67e41a001862217b-400-300/in-may-2017-chan-and-zuckerberg-announced-that-they-had-another-baby-on-the-way-their-second-daughter-august-was-born-the-month-she-was-named-after.jpg" alt="" /><p><p><em>Source: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/mark-zuckerberg-and-priscilla-chan-are-expecting-another-baby-2017-3">Business Insider</a></em></p></p><br/><br/><h3>In his mid-30s, Zuckerberg is one of a very small group of people who is worth more billions of dollars than years he has lived. Still, he's far from flashy about itthe CEO notoriously wore only a hoodie or a gray t-shirt with jeans for over a decade, although he's switched it up in recent years.</h3><img src="https://static6.businessinsider.com/image/590cb42d52b5d820008b4b0e-400-300/in-his-mid-30s-zuckerberg-is-one-of-a-very-small-group-of-people-who-is-worth-more-billions-of-dollars-than-years-he-has-lived-still-hes-far-from-flashy-about-it--the-ceo-notoriously-wore-only-a-hoodie-or-a-gray-t-shirt-with-jeans-for-over-a-decade-although-hes-switched-it-up-in-recent-years.jpg" alt="" /><p><p style="text-align: left;"><em>Source: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mark-zuckerberg-gray-t-shirt-uniform-update-blue-sweater-f8-2018-2018-5">Business Insider</a></em></p></p><br/><br/><h3>In 2014, when he was the third-richest man in the world, he bought a black Volkswagen GTI with a manual transmission,which cost around $30,000.</h3><img src="https://static5.businessinsider.com/image/607da83b44f4540019207761-400-300/in-2014-when-he-was-the-third-richest-man-in-the-world-he-bought-a-black-volkswagen-gti-with-a-manual-transmissionwhich-cost-around-30000.jpg" alt="" /><p><p><em>Sources: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/mark-zuckerberg-is-worth-20-billion--and-he-drives-this-30000-hatchback-2014-1">Business Insider</a>, <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/katiasavchuk/2014/09/29/americas-10-richest-in-tech-2014-zuckerberg-passes-page-brin-bezos/#3274f1aff599">Forbes</a></em></p></p><br/><br/><h3>However, he did reportedly pay for an Italian Pagani Huayra supercar around the same time. The car starts at a cool $1.3 million.</h3><img src="https://static5.businessinsider.com/image/609e833167e41a0018622114-400-300/however-he-did-reportedly-pay-for-an-italian-pagani-huayra-supercar-around-the-same-time-the-car-starts-at-a-cool-13-million.jpg" alt="" /><p><p><em>Source: <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/autos/s/mark-zuckerberg-allegedly-bought-pagani-huayra-123017329.html'nf=1">Yahoo</a></em></p></p><br/><br/><h3>Zuckerberg also likes to spend his money on privacy: In October 2014, he shelled out around $100 million for 700 acres of secluded land on the Hawaiian island of Kauai. He's since added another 600 acres for $53 million.</h3><img src="https://static4.businessinsider.com/image/609e83b6a9b6a40018f1c183-400-300/zuckerberg-also-likes-to-spend-his-money-on-privacy-in-october-2014-he-shelled-out-around-100-million-for-700-acres-of-secluded-land-on-the-hawaiian-island-of-kauai-hes-since-added-another-600-acres-for-53-million.jpg" alt="" /><p><p><em>Source: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/mark-zuckerberg-drops-lawsuits-that-would-compel-hawaiians-to-sell-their-land-2017-1">Business Insider,</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mark-zuckerberg-bought-more-land-kauai-hawaii-2021-5">Business Insider</a></em></p></p><br/><br/><h3>In Palo Alto, California, Zuckerberg reportedly bought his 5,617-square-foot home for $7 million in 2011, and then spent an additional $45 million on the four houses and land around it for the sake of privacy.</h3><img src="https://static2.businessinsider.com/image/53ee13486bb3f751590dd71b-400-300/in-palo-alto-california-zuckerberg-reportedly-bought-his-5617-square-foot-home-for-7-million-in-2011-and-then-spent-an-additional-45-million-on-the-four-houses-and-land-around-it-for-the-sake-of-privacy.jpg" alt="" /><p><p><em>Sources: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/wealthy-tech-execs-will-go-to-great-lengths-to-protect-their-privacy-2015-5">Business Insider</a>, <a href="http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_24285169/zuckerberg-buys-four-houses-near-his-palo-alto">San Jose Mercury News</a> </em></p><p> </p></p><br/><br/><h3>He also bought a $10 million mansion in San Francisco, and then spent more than $1 million on remodeling and additionslike a $60,000 greenhousethat took a year to build and reportedly disturbed neighbors in the process.</h3><img src="https://static5.businessinsider.com/image/609e866ca807be0018d621ab-400-300/he-also-bought-a-10-million-mansion-in-san-francisco-and-then-spent-more-than-1-million-on-remodeling-and-additions--like-a-60000-greenhouse--that-took-a-year-to-build-and-reportedly-disturbed-neighbors-in-the-process.jpg" alt="" /><p><p><em>Source: <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/matier-ross/article/Mark-Zuckerberg-manse-undergoes-extreme-makeover-4815217.php#photo-5183919">SF Gate</a></em></p></p><br/><br/><h3>Zuckerberg hasn't been afraid to spend Facebook's money either: The company has some major acquisitions under its belt, including $1 billion for Instagram, $19 billion for WhatsApp, and $2 billion for Oculus.</h3><img src="https://static2.businessinsider.com/image/609e8699a807be0018d621ac-400-300/zuckerberg-hasnt-been-afraid-to-spend-facebooks-money-either-the-company-has-some-major-acquisitions-under-its-belt-including-1-billion-for-instagram-19-billion-for-whatsapp-and-2-billion-for-oculus.jpg" alt="" /><p><p><em>Source: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mark-zuckerberg-explains-facebooks-acquisition-strategy-2017-1">Business Insider</a></em></p></p><br/><br/><h3>Today, Facebook's family of apps are used by more than 3 billion people each month. The company makes billions of dollars every quarter by showing users ads.</h3><img src="https://static3.businessinsider.com/image/58ee8fce8af57875038b7ebd-400-300/today-facebooks-family-of-apps-are-used-by-more-than-3-billion-people-each-month-the-company-makes-billions-of-dollars-every-quarter-by-showing-users-ads.jpg" alt="" /><p><p><em>Source: <a href="https://www.google.com/search'q=zuckerbrg+3+billion+users&oq=zuckerbrg+3+billion+users&aqs=chrome..69i57.3333j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8">Venture Beat</a></em></p></p><br/><br/><h3>In May 2017, Zuckerberg returned to Harvard as its youngest commencement speaker ever. During his speech, Zuckerberg touched on a range of topics, including climate change, universal basic income, criminal justice reform, and "modernizing democracy" by allowing people to vote online.He also received an honorary doctorate at the ceremony.</h3><img src="https://static5.businessinsider.com/image/59273d53621e6c0c268b4ab8-400-300/in-may-2017-zuckerberg-returned-to-harvard-as-its-youngest-commencement-speaker-ever-during-his-speech-zuckerberg-touched-on-a-range-of-topics-including-climate-change-universal-basic-income-criminal-justice-reform-and-modernizing-democracy-by-allowing-people-to-vote-onlinehe-also-received-an-honorary-doctorate-at-the-ceremony.jpg" alt="" /><p><p><em>Source: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/watch-video-transcript-mark-zuckerberg-harvard-commencement-speech-2017-5">Business Insider</a></em></p></p><br/><br/><h3>Besides interacting with other tech executives, Zuckerberg frequently meets with high-profile figures and celebrities, including Snoop Dogg, and former President Barack Obama.</h3><img src="https://static2.businessinsider.com/image/609e8812a807be0018d621b6-400-300/besides-interacting-with-other-tech-executives-zuckerberg-frequently-meets-with-high-profile-figures-and-celebrities-including-snoop-dogg-and-former-president-barack-obama.jpg" alt="" /><p><p><em>Source: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php'fbid=803217174181&set=a.612287952871.2204760.4&type=3&theater">Facebook</a></em></p></p><br/><br/><h3>Shortly after the 2016 presidential election, Zuckerberg's troubles began, when people blamed Facebook for spreading misinformation that led to Donald Trump's win. The CEO brushed off the claims: "Personally, I think the idea that fake news on Facebook ... influenced the election in any way is a pretty crazy idea."</h3><img src="https://static3.businessinsider.com/image/5ade32f319ee8618008b46b5-400-300/shortly-after-the-2016-presidential-election-zuckerbergs-troubles-began-when-people-blamed-facebook-for-spreading-misinformation-that-led-to-donald-trumps-win-the-ceo-brushed-off-the-claims-personally-i-think-the-idea-that-fake-news-on-facebook--influenced-the-election-in-any-way-is-a-pretty-crazy-idea.jpg" alt="" /><p><p><em>Source: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/mark-zuckerberg-facebook-donald-trump-2016-11">Business Insider</a></em></p></p><br/><br/><h3>About a year later, the first evidence of Facebook's role emerged. The company revealed that Russian parties spent around $100,000 on roughly 3,000 ads, and that 126 million Americans likely saw Russia-funded posts intended to sway them.</h3><img src="https://static2.businessinsider.com/image/5ade37ae19ee8654008b46b9-400-300/about-a-year-later-the-first-evidence-of-facebooks-role-emerged-the-company-revealed-that-russian-parties-spent-around-100000-on-roughly-3000-ads-and-that-126-million-americans-likely-saw-russia-funded-posts-intended-to-sway-them.jpg" alt="" /><p><p><em>Sources: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/facebook-will-fact-check-label-fake-news-in-news-feed-2016-12">Business Insider</a>, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/facebook-126-million-americans-saw-russia-posts-2017-10">Reuters</a></em></p></p><br/><br/><h3>Zuckerberg has always been passionate about political issues, but he kicked up his rhetoric significantly around the time that Donald Trump was elected President of the United States. However, he still worked behind the scenes to communicate with Trump, including attending private dinners at the White House.</h3><img src="https://static4.businessinsider.com/image/5ebd54f857853267e53582b6-400-300/zuckerberg-has-always-been-passionate-about-political-issues-but-he-kicked-up-his-rhetoric-significantly-around-the-time-that-donald-trump-was-elected-president-of-the-united-states-however-he-still-worked-behind-the-scenes-to-communicate-with-trump-including-attending-private-dinners-at-the-white-house.jpg" alt="" /><p><p><em>Source: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/facebook-mark-zuckerberg-secret-dinner-with-trump-details-2019-12">Business Insider</a></em></p></p><br/><br/><h3>In 2017, Zuckerberg announced that his personal challenge for the year an annual tradition of his since 2009 was to visit every US state. The stops he made sparked speculation that he had plans to run for president one day, but he denied the rumors.</h3><img src="https://static5.businessinsider.com/image/59287d0379474cbd1b8b48b3-400-300/in-2017-zuckerberg-announced-that-his-personal-challenge-for-the-year-an-annual-tradition-of-his-since-2009-was-to-visit-every-us-state-the-stops-he-made-sparked-speculation-that-he-had-plans-to-run-for-president-one-day-but-he-denied-the-rumors.jpg" alt="" /><p><p><em>Source: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mark-zuckerbergs-2017-us-state-tour-highlights-and-map">Business Insider</a></em></p></p><br/><br/><h3>In March 2018, it was revealed data analytics company Cambridge Analytica harvested data from over 50 million Facebook users' profiles a number Facebook later said was closer to 87 millionand used it to target voters during the 2016 election after being hired by the Trump campaign.</h3><img src="https://static1.businessinsider.com/image/609e88fca807be0018d621bd-400-300/in-march-2018-it-was-revealed-data-analytics-company-cambridge-analytica-harvested-data-from-over-50-million-facebook-users-profiles-a-number-facebook-later-said-was-closer-to-87-million--and-used-it-to-target-voters-during-the-2016-election-after-being-hired-by-the-trump-campaign.jpg" alt="" /><p><p><em>Source: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/deletefacebook-facebook-cambridge-analytica-fiasco-twitter-2018-3">Business Insider</a></em></p></p><br/><br/><h3>Zuckerberg was called on to appear in front of lawmakers in two testimonies that lasted five hours each. Zuckerberg left with a laundry list of requests for answers and action items.</h3><img src="https://static1.businessinsider.com/image/5ade494d19ee8621008b4707-400-300/zuckerberg-was-called-on-to-appear-in-front-of-lawmakers-in-two-testimonies-that-lasted-five-hours-each-zuckerberg-left-with-a-laundry-list-of-requests-for-answers-and-action-items.jpg" alt="" /><p><p><em>Source: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/mark-zuckerberg-testifies-to-congress-day-2-watch-live-2018-4">Business Insider</a></em></p></p><br/><br/><h3>Ahead of the testimonies, Facebook reportedly hired a team of experts to coach Zuckerberg on how to answer Congress' questions and how to be charming. The team was led by a special adviser to President George W. Bush, Reginald J. Brown.</h3><img src="https://static4.businessinsider.com/image/5ade4f3219ee8650008b46cb-400-300/ahead-of-the-testimonies-facebook-reportedly-hired-a-team-of-experts-to-coach-zuckerberg-on-how-to-answer-congress-questions-and-how-to-be-charming-the-team-was-led-by-a-special-adviser-to-president-george-w-bush-reginald-j-brown.jpg" alt="" /><p><p><em>Source: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/08/technology/zuckerberg-gets-a-crash-course-in-charm-will-congress-care.html">The New York Times</a></em></p></p><br/><br/><h3>Facebook's stock tumbled in the months following the congressional hearings and the Cambridge Analytica scandal. At its lowest, its stock was down 18% from what it had been before the story broke.</h3><img src="https://static1.businessinsider.com/image/5ade4f0619ee864f008b46fd-400-300/facebooks-stock-tumbled-in-the-months-following-the-congressional-hearings-and-the-cambridge-analytica-scandal-at-its-lowest-its-stock-was-down-18-from-what-it-had-been-before-the-story-broke.jpg" alt="" /><p><p><em>Source: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/phil-libin-on-mark-zuckerberg-congress-hearing-2018-4">Business Insider</a></em></p></p><br/><br/><h3>Facebook also faced accusations in 2018 that its moderation efforts weren't adequate in stopping the proliferation of hate speech and disinformation on its network. Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp were cited as contributing to political violence and deliberate misinformation in Myanmar, India, Germany, the Philippines, Brazil, and more.</h3><img src="https://static3.businessinsider.com/image/5c588f761631a34d20575fc2-400-300/facebook-also-faced-accusations-in-2018-that-its-moderation-efforts-werent-adequate-in-stopping-the-proliferation-of-hate-speech-and-disinformation-on-its-network-facebook-instagram-and-whatsapp-were-cited-as-contributing-to-political-violence-and-deliberate-misinformation-in-myanmar-india-germany-the-philippines-brazil-and-more.jpg" alt="" /><p><p><em>Sources: <a href="https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/myanmar-facebook-hate/">Reuters</a>, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/facebook-detects-information-campaigns-russia-iran-2018-8">Business Insider</a>, <a href="https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/daveyalba/facebook-philippines-dutertes-drug-war'utm_campaign=The%20Interface&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Revue%20newsletter">Buzzfeed News</a></em></p></p><br/><br/><h3>In September 2018, Instagram cofounders Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger abruptly announced they were leaving Facebook. It was later reported they had left amid "growing tensions" with Zuckerberg, and that the pair was fighting with Facebook leadership over Instagram's "autonomy."</h3><img src="https://static2.businessinsider.com/image/609e89f6a807be0018d621c0-400-300/in-september-2018-instagram-cofounders-kevin-systrom-and-mike-krieger-abruptly-announced-they-were-leaving-facebook-it-was-later-reported-they-had-left-amid-growing-tensions-with-zuckerberg-and-that-the-pair-was-fighting-with-facebook-leadership-over-instagrams-autonomy.jpg" alt="" /><p><p><em>Sources: <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-09-25/instagram-founders-depart-facebook-after-clashes-with-zuckerberg">Bloomberg</a>, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/instagram-cofounders-kevin-systrom-mike-krieger-leave-facebook-2018-9">Business Insider</a></em></p></p><br/><br/><h3>The departure of Instagram's cofounders was quickly followed with scathing remarks from WhatsApp cofounder Brian Acton, who detailed disagreements with Facebook executives over user privacy. Both WhatsApp cofounders had left the company earlier that year.</h3><img src="https://static1.businessinsider.com/image/5ae86a7919ee8621008b46d3-400-300/the-departure-of-instagrams-cofounders-was-quickly-followed-with-scathing-remarks-from-whatsapp-cofounder-brian-acton-who-detailed-disagreements-with-facebook-executives-over-user-privacy-both-whatsapp-cofounders-had-left-the-company-earlier-that-year.jpg" alt="" /><p><p><em>Source: <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/parmyolson/2018/09/26/exclusive-whatsapp-cofounder-brian-acton-gives-the-inside-story-on-deletefacebook-and-why-he-left-850-million-behind/#7834194f3f20">Forbes</a>, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/whatsapp-founder-plans-to-leave-after-broad-clashes-with-parent-facebook/2018/04/30/49448dd2-4ca9-11e8-84a0-458a1aa9ac0a_story.html'utm_term=.07c9ea3155bb">Washington Post</a></em></p></p><br/><br/><h3>To add to an already scandal-riddled year, Facebook announced in September 2018 it had been hacked. Around 30 million users had their personal information compromised, making it the worst hack in Facebook's 15-year history.</h3><img src="https://static1.businessinsider.com/image/5f85c42e91aa9e001880b448-400-300/to-add-to-an-already-scandal-riddled-year-facebook-announced-in-september-2018-it-had-been-hacked-around-30-million-users-had-their-personal-information-compromised-making-it-the-worst-hack-in-facebooks-15-year-history.jpg" alt="" /><p><p><em>Source: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/facebook-30-million-users-affected-hack-fbi-asked-not-to-reveal-source-2018-10">Business Insider</a></em></p></p><br/><br/><h3>In 2019 and 2020, Facebook spent around $23 million on personal security for Zuckerberg and his family. In 2018, his security costs had nearly doubled in the wake of the Cambridge Analytica scandal.</h3><img src="https://static5.businessinsider.com/image/5cacbaf909b6030a4f39e4d4-400-300/in-2019-and-2020-facebook-spent-around-23-million-on-personal-security-for-zuckerberg-and-his-family-in-2018-his-security-costs-had-nearly-doubled-in-the-wake-of-the-cambridge-analytica-scandal.jpg" alt="" /><p><p><em>Source: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/facebook-spends-23-million-security-for-mark-zuckerberg-2019-2020-4">Business Insider,</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/facebook-spent-25-million-security-mark-zuckerberg-salary-pandemic-elections-2021-4">Business Insider</a></em></p></p><br/><br/><h3>In October 2019, Zuckerberg was once again called on to testify in front of Congressthis time, about Facebook's plans for its Libra digital currency. Congressional members also grilled him on the company's content moderation practices and its lack of diversity.</h3><img src="https://static6.businessinsider.com/image/5ebd56bde3c3fb71bb1cd3c0-400-300/in-october-2019-zuckerberg-was-once-again-called-on-to-testify-in-front-of-congress--this-time-about-facebooks-plans-for-its-libra-digital-currency-congressional-members-also-grilled-him-on-the-companys-content-moderation-practices-and-its-lack-of-diversity.jpg" alt="" /><p><p><em>Source: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/facebook-ceo-mark-zuckerberg-testifies-congress-libra-cryptocurrency-2019-10">Business Insider</a></em></p></p><br/><br/><h3>Despite backlash, Zuckerberg has staunchly defended Facebook's positions on freedom of speech, describing the platform's role as a place where users can share a diversity of perspectives and viewpoints.</h3><img src="https://static1.businessinsider.com/image/5ebd5a375785326b2c789dca-400-300/despite-backlash-zuckerberg-has-staunchly-defended-facebooks-positions-on-freedom-of-speech-describing-the-platforms-role-as-a-place-where-users-can-share-a-diversity-of-perspectives-and-viewpoints.jpg" alt="" /><p><p><em>Source: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/facebook-mark-zuckerberg-wants-to-make-a-plan-for-facebooks-future-2019-10">Business Insider</a></em></p></p><br/><br/><h3>For 2020, Zuckerberg set a goal for the decade. "My goal for the next decade isn't to be liked but to be understood," Zuckerberg said." After the criticism it faced in dealing with political misinformation in 2016, the company geared up for a "tough year" with the 2020 presidential election.</h3><img src="https://static1.businessinsider.com/image/5ebd568be3c3fb71b91e9632-400-300/for-2020-zuckerberg-set-a-goal-for-the-decade-my-goal-for-the-next-decade-isnt-to-be-liked-but-to-be-understood-zuckerberg-said-after-the-criticism-it-faced-in-dealing-with-political-misinformation-in-2016-the-company-geared-up-for-a-tough-year-with-the-2020-presidential-election.jpg" alt="" /><p><p><em>Source: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/facebook-ceo-mark-zuckerberg-2020-very-tough-year-2019-10">Business Insider</a></em></p></p><br/><br/><h3>Zuckerberg testified before Congress yet again in 2020alongside Tim Cook, Jeff Bezos, and Sundar Pichaiover matters of antitrust. Facebook was later hit with two antitrust suits that seek to break up the company.</h3><img src="https://static1.businessinsider.com/image/609e8be3a807be0018d621c5-400-300/zuckerberg-testified-before-congress-yet-again-in-2020--alongside-tim-cook-jeff-bezos-and-sundar-pichai--over-matters-of-antitrust-facebook-was-later-hit-with-two-antitrust-suits-that-seek-to-break-up-the-company.jpg" alt="" /><p><p><em>Source: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-ftc-facebook-antitrust-lawsuit-is-important-2020-12">Business Insider</a></em></p></p><br/><br/><h3>Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, Zuckerberg has attempted to quash misinformation about the virus and vaccines on Facebook, hosted regular town halls with virus experts, and, through the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, contributed millions to finding COVID-19 treatments.</h3><img src="https://static6.businessinsider.com/image/609e8d71a807be0018d621d0-400-300/throughout-the-coronavirus-pandemic-zuckerberg-has-attempted-to-quash-misinformation-about-the-virus-and-vaccines-on-facebook-hosted-regular-town-halls-with-virus-experts-and-through-the-chan-zuckerberg-initiative-contributed-millions-to-finding-covid-19-treatments.jpg" alt="" /><p><p><em>Source: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/facebook-remove-false-claims-about-covid-vaccines-autism-who-2021-2">Business Insider</a>, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-mark-zuckerberg-public-service-interviews-2020-4">Business Insider,</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bill-gates-mark-zuckerberg-find-covid-19-treatment-coronavirus-pandemic-2020-3">Business Insider</a></em></p></p><br/><br/><h3>Early on in 2021, following the violent insurrection at the US Capitol, Zuckerberg announced that Facebook was suspending President Donald Trump indefinitely after he used the platform to "condone rather than condemn the actions of his supporters." The company's Oversight Board later upheld Trump's ban indefinitely.</h3><img src="https://static1.businessinsider.com/image/609e8ecc67e41a0018622152-400-300/early-on-in-2021-following-the-violent-insurrection-at-the-us-capitol-zuckerberg-announced-that-facebook-was-suspending-president-donald-trump-indefinitely-after-he-used-the-platform-to-condone-rather-than-condemn-the-actions-of-his-supporters-the-companys-oversight-board-later-upheld-trumps-ban-indefinitely.jpg" alt="" /><p><p><em>Source: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/facebook-has-blocked-president-trump-indefinitely-2021-1">Business Insider</a>, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/facebook-donald-trump-oversight-board-ban-account-capitol-siege-2021-4">Business Insider</a></em></p></p><br/><br/><h3>Last month, Facebook experienced yet another major data breach. This time, 533 million Facebook users' phone numbers and personal data were leaked online.</h3><img src="https://static5.businessinsider.com/image/609e8f2267e41a0018622155-400-300/last-month-facebook-experienced-yet-another-major-data-breach-this-time-533-million-facebook-users-phone-numbers-and-personal-data-were-leaked-online.jpg" alt="" /><p><p><em>Source: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/stolen-data-of-533-million-facebook-users-leaked-online-2021-4">Business Insider</a></em></p></p><br/><br/><h3>Still, Zuckerberg's wealth has skyrocketed over the course of the last year. His personal net worth reached over $100 million for the first time last summer, and these days, he's worth $114 billion, making him the fifth-richest person in the world.</h3><img src="https://static3.businessinsider.com/image/609e95d9a807be0018d62210-400-300/still-zuckerbergs-wealth-has-skyrocketed-over-the-course-of-the-last-year-his-personal-net-worth-reached-over-100-million-for-the-first-time-last-summer-and-these-days-hes-worth-114-billion-making-him-the-fifth-richest-person-in-the-world.jpg" alt="" /><p><p><em>Source: <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/billionaires/profiles/mark-e-zuckerberg/'sref=BWbpWjRm">Bloomberg</a></em></p><hr /><p> </p></p><br/><br/>
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