Mark Zuckerberg is the co-founder and CEO of Meta (formerly Facebook). He started Facebook in 2004 while studying at Harvard University. It quickly became one of the biggest social media platforms in the world.

Early Life of Mark Zuckerberg

Mark Zuckerberg was born on May 14, 1984, in White Plains, New York, USA. He grew up in a smart and educated family in Dobbs Ferry, New York

Family: His father, Edward Zuckerberg, was a dentist, and his mother, Karen Zuckerberg, was a psychiatrist. He has three sisters: Randi, Donna, and Arielle.
Interest in Computers: From a young age, Zuckerberg loved computers and programming. His father taught him basic coding, and he later created a messaging program called “ZuckNet” for his family’s dental office.
Education: He attended Ardsley High School and later transferred to Phillips Exeter
Academy, a prestigious private school. He was excellent at science and math and won prizes in coding and classical languages.

Career of Mark Zuckerberg in the IT Industry

Mark Zuckerberg’s career began with his love for computers and coding. He became well-known for creating Facebook, which changed how people connect and share online.

1. Creating Facebook (2004)

While studying at Harvard University, Zuckerberg launched Facebook with his friends on February 4, 2004.
It started as a college networking site but quickly grew beyond Harvard to other universities and then the whole world.
In 2005, Facebook got $12.7 million in funding, helping it expand further.

2. Growing Facebook into a Global Giant

In 2006, Facebook opened to the public, allowing anyone to join.
Over the years, it added features like the News Feed, the Like button, and Marketplace.
In 2012, Facebook went public (IPO) and raised $16 billion, making it one of the biggest tech companies.

3. Expanding with Acquisitions

Zuckerberg expanded Facebook by buying popular apps:

Instagram (2012) – Bought for $1 billion
WhatsApp (2014) – Bought for $19 billion
Oculus (2014) – Invested in virtual reality (VR)

4. Rebranding to Meta (2021)

In 2021, Facebook changed its name to Meta Platforms to focus on the Metaverse, a virtual reality world.
Meta now works on AI, virtual reality (VR), and augmented reality (AR) with products like Quest VR headsets.

Legal trouble for Mark Zuckerberg

Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook (now Meta) have had many legal problems over the years, mostly about privacy, data security, and unfair competition.

Lawsuits Over Facebook’s Creation (2004-2008)

When Zuckerberg created Facebook in 2004, his Harvard classmates, Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss and Divya Narendra, claimed he stole their idea.
They had been working on a similar site called ConnectU and accused Zuckerberg of copying their concept.

Cambridge Analytica Scandal (2018)

The data was allegedly used to influence the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
Facebook was fined $5 billion by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for privacy violations.

U.S. Government and Antitrust Lawsuits (2020- Present)

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and several U.S. states sued Facebook for monopolistic behavior.
The lawsuits aim to break up Meta, forcing it to sell some of its businesses.

Data Privacy Fines in Europe (2022-2023)

In 2023, Meta was fined $1.3 billion by the European Union for violating data privacy laws by transferring user data to the U.S.
The company has also faced multiple fines for failing to protect user data.

Personal Life of Mark Zuckerberg

Family & Marriage

Mark Zuckerberg is married to Priscilla Chan, a pediatrician and philanthropist.
They met at Harvard University in 2003 and got married on May 19, 2012.

Lifestyle & Hobbies

He enjoys coding, reading, and running.
He speaks Mandarin Chinese, which he learned to communicate better with Priscilla’s family.

Philanthropy & Charity Work

In 2015, he and Priscilla founded the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) to focus on education, health, and science.
They have pledged to donate 99% of their Facebook shares (worth billions) to charity over their lifetime.

Religion & Beliefs

He was raised Jewish but later described himself as an atheist.
In recent years, he has spoken more about faith and spirituality, saying he now believes religion is important.

Personal Challenges & Criticism

Despite this, he remains focused on growing Meta and developing new technologies like AI and the Metaverse.
Zuckerberg has faced criticism over Facebook’s role in privacy issues, misinformation, and mental health concerns.

Legacy of Mark Zuckerberg

Mark Zuckerberg will be remembered for his big ideas and for changing how people connect online. He created new ways for people to share, talk, and stay in touch, but he also faced problems and responsibilities along the way.