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Mark Zuckerberg: The Founder of Facebook

Mark Zuckerberg is one of the most influential technology entrepreneurs of the 21st century. As the co-founder and CEO of Facebook, he has fundamentally changed communication around the world.

Full Name Mark Elliot Zuckerberg
Age 38 years old
Birthday May 14, 1984
Born White Plains, New York
Net Worth $125 billion
Social Media Facebook
Instagram

Mark Zuckerberg is a business magnate, entrepreneur and philanthropist; co-founder of Facebook and Meta Platforms.

Early Life and Education

Mark Zuckerberg was born on May 14, 1984 in White Plains, New York. He grew up in a suburb of New York City. His parents are Edward, a dentist, and Karen, a psychiatrist. Mark has three sisters – Randi, Donna, and Arielle.

From an early age, Mark showed an interest in computers, programming and communication. When he was 12, he used Atari BASIC to create a messaging program he named "ZuckNet." His father used the program in his dental office to communicate with reception.

In high school at Phillips Exeter Academy, Zuckerberg excelled in classics. In 2002, he enrolled at Harvard University where he studied computer science.

The Creation of Facebook

While at Harvard in 2003, Zuckerberg created a site called Facemash that allowed students to compare two classmates and vote on who was more attractive.

The following year, Zuckerberg began developing a social networking site with Harvard roommates Dustin Moskovitz, Chris Hughes and Eduardo Saverin. This site would become Facebook.

Facebook launched from Zuckerberg‘s dorm room in February 2004. It quickly spread to other college campuses.

In 2005, Zuckerberg took a leave of absence from Harvard and moved Facebook‘s base to Palo Alto, California. He later dropped out to devote himself full-time to Facebook.

Major Milestones

  • 2004 – Facebook launches at Harvard
  • 2006 – Opens registration to everyone, not just college students
  • 2008 – Reaches 100 million users
  • 2012 – Facebook completes its IPO
  • 2014 – Acquires WhatsApp and Oculus VR
  • 2021 – Facebook changes name to Meta

Today, Facebook has over 2.9 billion monthly active users around the world. Zuckerberg‘s personal net worth is estimated at $125 billion.

At only 38 years old, Mark Zuckerberg‘s innovative thinking and ruthless execution have cemented him as one of the most influential technology icons of the digital age. He will continue shaping the way billions communicate and interact for decades to come.