History of Mark Zuckerberg in Timeline

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Mark Zuckerberg

Mark Zuckerberg is an American businessman best known as the co-founder, chairman, CEO, and controlling shareholder of Meta Platforms (formerly ). He launched Facebook in 2004, revolutionizing social networking and connecting billions globally. Zuckerberg has led Meta through significant acquisitions like Instagram and WhatsApp, expanding its reach and influence. He is also known for his philanthropic endeavors through the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, focusing on health, education, and scientific research. Despite facing scrutiny regarding data privacy and the impact of social media, Zuckerberg remains a prominent figure in the technology industry.

1934: Communications Act Established

In 1934, the Communications Act was established. In 2020, it was used to issue subpoenas to tech CEOs including Zuckerberg.

May 14, 1984: Mark Zuckerberg Born

On May 14, 1984, Mark Elliot Zuckerberg was born. He is an American businessman and co-founder of (now Meta Platforms).

Others born on this day/year

1984: Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution Published

In 1984, Steven Levy wrote the book Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution, which was used to describe Zuckerberg as a hacker in 2010.

Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution - 25th Anniversary Edition
Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution - 25th Anniversary Edition

2002: Zuckerberg Enrolls at Harvard

In 2002, Mark Zuckerberg began classes at Harvard, already having a reputation as a programming prodigy. He studied psychology and computer science.

2002: Graduation from Phillips Exeter Academy

In 2002, Mark Zuckerberg graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy.

2002: Zuckerberg Registers to Vote

In 2002, Mark Zuckerberg registered to vote in Westchester County, New York.

April 28, 2003: Contract Signed with Paul Ceglia

On April 28, 2003, Paul Ceglia claimed that he and Zuckerberg signed a contract in which an initial fee of $1,000 entitled Ceglia to 50% of the website's revenue, as well as an additional 1% interest in the business per day after January 1, 2004, until website completion.

2003: Meeting Priscilla Chan

In 2003, Zuckerberg met Priscilla Chan at a frat party.

January 1, 2004: Domain Name thefacebook.com Registered

On January 1, 2004, Zuckerberg registered the domain name thefacebook.com.

January 2004: Zuckerberg Begins Writing Code for Facebook

In January 2004, Mark Zuckerberg began writing code for what would become .

February 4, 2004: Thefacebook Launched

On February 4, 2004, Mark Zuckerberg launched "Thefacebook" (originally located at thefacebook.com) in partnership with his roommates.

February 2004: Launch of i2hub

A month after Zuckerberg launched , in February 2004, Wayne Chang launched i2hub, another campus-only service, focusing on peer-to-peer file sharing.

February 2004: Facebook Launched at Harvard

In February 2004, Mark Zuckerberg, along with his roommates Eduardo Saverin, Andrew McCollum, Dustin Moskovitz, and Chris Hughes, launched at Harvard College.

August 2004: Launch of Wirehog

In August 2004, Mark Zuckerberg, Andrew McCollum, Adam D'Angelo, and Sean Parker launched Wirehog, a competing peer-to-peer file sharing service.

2004: Winklevoss Lawsuit Filed

In 2004, Harvard students Cameron Winklevoss, Tyler Winklevoss, and Divya Narendra accused Mark Zuckerberg of intentionally making them believe he would help them build a social network called HarvardConnection.com (later called ConnectU). They filed a lawsuit.

2004: Zuckerberg Moves to Palo Alto

In 2004, Zuckerberg dropped out of Harvard and moved to Palo Alto, California with Moskovitz and other co-founders. They met Peter Thiel who invested in the company and established their first office.

2005: Eduardo Saverin Sues Zuckerberg

In 2005, co-founder Eduardo Saverin sued Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook, alleging that Zuckerberg illegally spent Saverin's money on personal expenses. The lawsuit was settled out of court; Saverin's co-founder title was affirmed, and Saverin agreed to stop talking to the press.

March 28, 2007: Winklevoss Lawsuit Dismissed

On March 28, 2007, the lawsuit filed by Cameron Winklevoss, Tyler Winklevoss, and Divya Narendra against Mark Zuckerberg was dismissed on a technicality.

November 2007: Confidential Documents Posted Online

In November 2007, confidential court documents, including Zuckerberg's Social Security number and home address, were posted on the website of 02138 magazine.

2007: Launch of Facebook Platform Applications

In 2007, Platform applications was launched.

2007: Named Top Innovator by MIT Technology Review

In 2007, Mark Zuckerberg was added to MIT Technology Review's TR35 list as one of the top 35 innovators in the world under the age of 35.

2007: Zuckerberg Interview on Open Information Flow

In a 2007 interview, Mark Zuckerberg explained his reasoning for not selling to major corporations, stating that creating an open information flow for people was more important than the amount of money.

June 25, 2008: Settlement in Winklevoss Lawsuit

On June 25, 2008, the case with the Winklevoss brothers settled, and agreed to transfer over 1.2 million common shares and pay $20 million in cash.

November 2008: Zuckerberg Casts His First Ballot

In November 2008, Mark Zuckerberg cast his first ballot, after registering to vote in 2002.

2008: Zuckerberg Becomes Youngest Self-Made Billionaire

In 2008, Mark Zuckerberg became the world's youngest self-made billionaire at the age of 23.

2008: Most Influential Person

Time named Zuckerberg one of the most influential people in the world in 2008.

April 2009: Zuckerberg Seeks Financial Advice

In April 2009, Mark Zuckerberg sought the advice of former Netscape CFO Peter Currie regarding financing strategies for .

2009: Ranked on Vanity Fair 100 List

In 2009, Mark Zuckerberg ranked number 23 on the Vanity Fair 100 list.

May 19, 2010: Facebook Temporarily Blocked in Pakistan

On May 19, 2010, 's website was temporarily blocked in Pakistan until Facebook removed a "Draw Muhammad" contest from its website.

June 2010: Criminal Investigation Launched Against Zuckerberg

In June 2010, Pakistani Deputy Attorney General Muhammad Azhar Sidiqque launched a criminal investigation into Zuckerberg and co-founders Dustin Moskovitz and Chris Hughes after a "Draw Muhammad" contest was hosted on Facebook. Sidiqque requested that Interpol arrest Zuckerberg and the others for blasphemy.

June 2010: Paul Ceglia Files Lawsuit Against Zuckerberg

In June 2010, Paul Ceglia filed suit against Zuckerberg, claiming 84 percent ownership of and seeking monetary damages. Facebook dismissed the lawsuit as frivolous.

July 21, 2010: Facebook Reaches 500 Million Users

On July 21, 2010, Mark Zuckerberg reported that had reached the 500-million-user mark.

September 2010: Chan moves into Zuckerberg's house

In September 2010, Priscilla Chan moved into Zuckerberg's rented house in Palo Alto, California.

September 2010: Donation to Newark Public Schools

In September 2010, Zuckerberg donated $100 million to Newark Public Schools. Critics noted the timing was close to the release of The Social Network, which painted a negative portrait of Zuckerberg.

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September 2010: Zuckerberg's pledge to Newark Public Schools

In September 2010, Zuckerberg pledged US$100 million to Newark Public Schools with the support of Governor Chris Christie.

October 1, 2010: The Social Network Movie Released

On October 1, 2010, The Social Network, a movie based on Zuckerberg and the founding years of , was released, starring Jesse Eisenberg as Zuckerberg.

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October 3, 2010: Zuckerberg Voiced Himself on The Simpsons

On October 3, 2010, Zuckerberg voiced himself on an episode of The Simpsons titled "Loan-a Lisa".

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October 9, 2010: Saturday Night Live Lampooned Zuckerberg and Facebook

On October 9, 2010, Saturday Night Live lampooned Zuckerberg and . Andy Samberg portrayed Zuckerberg. Zuckerberg was reported to have been amused.

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October 30, 2010: Colbert Awards Medal of Fear to Zuckerberg

On October 30, 2010, Stephen Colbert awarded a "Medal of Fear" to Zuckerberg at the Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear, "because he values his privacy much more than he values yours".

2010: The Social Network Film Release

In 2010, "The Social Network", a film depicting Zuckerberg's early career, legal troubles, and initial success with , was released and won multiple Academy Awards.

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2010: Zuckerberg as a Hacker

In 2010, Steven Levy, who wrote the 1984 book Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution, wrote that Zuckerberg "clearly thinks of himself as a hacker". Zuckerberg said that "it's OK to break things" "to make them better".

2010: Named Most Influential Person by Vanity Fair

In 2010, Vanity Fair magazine named Mark Zuckerberg number 1 on its list of the Top 100 "most influential people of the Information Age".

2010: Time Person of the Year

In 2010, Zuckerberg was named the Time Person of the Year, coinciding with reaching over half a billion users.

2010: Zuckerberg Signs The Giving Pledge

In 2010, Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, and investor Warren Buffett signed The Giving Pledge, committing to donate at least half of their wealth to charity.

January 2011: Zuckerberg Appears on Saturday Night Live

In January 2011, Zuckerberg made a surprise guest appearance on Saturday Night Live, which was hosted by Jesse Eisenberg. It was the first time they had met.

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January 16, 2011: Golden Globe Award for Best Picture

On January 16, 2011, The Social Network won the Golden Globe Award for Best Picture. Producer Scott Rudin thanked and Zuckerberg for allowing them to use his life and work as a metaphor.

2011: The Facebook Effect Publication

In 2011, David Kirkpatrick, former technology editor at Fortune magazine and author of The Effect: The Inside Story of the Company That Is Connecting the World, stated that "the film is only 40% true" and that the "overall impression is false".

2011: Facebook First Participated in San Francisco Pride Celebration

In 2011, first participated in the San Francisco Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Celebration.

2011: Zuckerberg Receives Advice From Steve Jobs

In a 2011 interview with PBS shortly after the death of Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg said that Jobs had advised him on how to create a management team at that was "focused on building as high quality and good things as you are".

2011: Most Influential Person

Time named Zuckerberg one of the most influential people in the world in 2011.

May 2012: Facebook Goes Public

In May 2012, Mark Zuckerberg took public with majority shares.

May 19, 2012: Marriage to Priscilla Chan

On May 19, 2012, Zuckerberg married Priscilla Chan in the grounds of his mansion, also celebrating her medical school graduation.

October 1, 2012: Zuckerberg Meets with Russian Prime Minister

On October 1, 2012, Mark Zuckerberg met with then-Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev in Moscow to stimulate social media innovation in Russia and to boost 's position in the Russian market.

October 26, 2012: Paul Ceglia Arrested for Fraud

On October 26, 2012, federal authorities arrested Paul Ceglia, charging him with mail and wire fraud and of "tampering with, destroying and fabricating evidence in a scheme to defraud the founder of billions of dollars".

December 2012: Zuckerberg and Chan Pledge Majority of Wealth to Charity

In December 2012, Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan said they would give the majority of their wealth to "advancing human potential and promoting equality" in the spirit of The Giving Pledge.

December 2012: Donation to Silicon Valley Community Foundation

In December 2012, Zuckerberg donated 18 million shares to the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, which supports education.

2012: Zuckerberg Voted in the General Elections

In 2012, Mark Zuckerberg voted in the general elections.

February 2013: Fundraising Event for Chris Christie

In February 2013, Zuckerberg hosted a fundraising event for then-New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, with a focus on education reform.

April 6, 2013: Facebook Home Promotional Campaign

On April 6, 2013, 's head of consumer marketing, Rebecca Van Dyck, said that 85 million American Facebook users were exposed to the first day of the Home promotional campaign.

April 11, 2013: Launch of FWD.us Lobbying Group

On April 11, 2013, Zuckerberg initiated the FWD.us lobbying group, aimed at immigration reform and improving education but also criticized for supporting oil and gas development.

June 2013: Participation in San Francisco Pride Celebration

In June 2013, Zuckerberg and employees participated in the San Francisco Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Celebration.

June 20, 2013: Engagement with Facebook users on FWD.us Video

On June 20, 2013, Zuckerberg engaged with users, commenting on the FWD.us organization's goals regarding immigration.

August 19, 2013: Zuckerberg's Facebook Profile Hacked

On August 19, 2013, The Washington Post reported that Mark Zuckerberg's profile was hacked by an unemployed web developer.

September 2013: Zuckerberg's comment on PRISM scandal

In September 2013, Zuckerberg commented on the PRISM scandal at the TechCrunch Disrupt conference, stating that the U.S. government "blew it".

September 2013: Expanding Internet Coverage to Developing Countries

In September 2013, at the TechCrunch conference, Zuckerberg raised the goal of expanding Internet coverage into developing countries.

December 2013: Donation of Facebook Shares to Silicon Valley Community Foundation

In December 2013, Zuckerberg announced a donation of 18 million shares to the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, totaling $990 million in value. This was the largest charitable gift on public record for that year.

2013: Internet.org Project

At the 2013 TechCrunch Disrupt conference, Mark Zuckerberg stated that he was working towards registering the 5 billion people who were not connected to the Internet as of the conference on , which is intertwined with the aim of the Internet.org project.

2013: Appearance in Terms and Conditions May Apply

In 2013, Mark Zuckerberg appeared in the climax of the documentary film Terms and Conditions May Apply.

2013: Launch of Internet.org

In 2013, Mark Zuckerberg launched Internet.org, an initiative to provide Internet access to the five billion people without it at the time of the launch.

March 2014: Keynote Speaker at Mobile World Congress

In March 2014, Mark Zuckerberg was the keynote speaker at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, Spain, focusing on the future of mobile technology.

October 2014: Donation to Combat Ebola Virus Disease

In October 2014, Zuckerberg and his wife donated $25 million to combat the Ebola virus disease, specifically the West African Ebola virus epidemic.

October 23, 2014: Q&A Session at Tsinghua University

On October 23, 2014, Mark Zuckerberg participated in a Q&A session at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China, conversing in Mandarin Chinese.

December 8, 2014: Zuckerberg Hosts Chinese Politician

On December 8, 2014, Mark Zuckerberg, along with other American technology figures, hosted visiting Chinese politician Lu Wei at 's headquarters.

December 11, 2014: Zuckerberg Hosts Live Q&A Session

On December 11, 2014, Mark Zuckerberg fielded questions during a live Q&A session at 's headquarters in Menlo Park, addressing concerns about Facebook being a waste of time.

2014: Construction of Support Yacht Wingman

In 2014, Zuckerberg had the support yacht Wingman built by Damen Yachting.

2014: Zuckerberg Purchases Land in Kauaʻi

In 2014, Zuckerberg purchased 700 acres of land on the Hawaiian island of Kauaʻi.

February 2015: Endowment to San Francisco General Hospital

In February 2015, the couple endowed the foundation of the San Francisco General Hospital with $75 million, which was the biggest individual donation to a U.S. public hospital. The hospital was renamed as The Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center.

July 2015: Announcement of Pregnancy

In July 2015, Zuckerberg announced that he and Priscilla Chan were expecting a baby girl and disclosed previous miscarriages.

November 2015: Paris Attacks

The November 2015 Paris attacks prompted Zuckerberg to make a statement of support for Muslims on December 9, 2015.

December 1, 2015: Pledge to Transfer Facebook Shares to Chan Zuckerberg Initiative

On December 1, 2015, Zuckerberg and his wife pledged to transfer 99% of their shares, then valued at $45 billion, to the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI).

December 9, 2015: Zuckerberg's statement in support of Muslims

On December 9, 2015, Zuckerberg posted a statement on his wall expressing support for Muslims in response to the aftermath of the November 2015 Paris attacks and the 2015 San Bernardino attack.

December 2015: Birth of First Daughter

In December 2015, Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan's first daughter was born.

Others born on this day/year

2015: Shooting at Mother Emanuel

In 2015 a shooting took place at Mother Emanuel.

February 2016: Internet.org Shut Down in India

In February 2016, Internet.org was shut down in India due to opposition related to net neutrality.

February 24, 2016: Internal Memo on "Black Lives Matter"

On February 24, 2016, Zuckerberg sent a company-wide memo rebuking employees who overwrote "Black Lives Matter" phrases on company walls, calling the practice "malicious".

June 2016: Named a Top Business Visionary

In June 2016, Business Insider named Mark Zuckerberg one of the "Top 10 Business Visionaries Creating Value for the World" due to his and his wife's pledge to give away 99% of their wealth.

December 2016: Ranked Tenth on Forbes List

In December 2016, Zuckerberg was ranked tenth on the Forbes list of the World's Most Powerful People.

2016: Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Creation and Facebook's Support for Local Journalism

In 2016, CZI provided $600 million to establish the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, a research center designed to encourage collaboration among scientists. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Zuckerberg also announced $25 million in grants to support local journalism and $75 million in advertisement purchases in local newspapers via , Inc.

2016: Belief in religion

In 2016, Mark Zuckerberg stated that, after questioning religion, he now believes it is very important.

2016: Co-founds Breakthrough Starshot

In 2016, Zuckerberg co-founded the solar sail spacecraft development project Breakthrough Starshot with Yuri Milner and Stephen Hawking.

January 2017: Criticism of Trump's Executive Order

In January 2017, Zuckerberg criticized Donald Trump's executive order limiting immigration and refugees.

January 2017: Zuckerberg Files Lawsuits Against Native Hawaiians

In January 2017, Zuckerberg filed eight lawsuits against hundreds of native Hawaiians to claim small tracts of land that they owned within his acreage. He later dropped the lawsuits.

May 25, 2017: Receives Honorary Degree from Harvard

On May 25, 2017, Mark Zuckerberg received an honorary degree from Harvard after giving a commencement speech at the university's 366th commencement day.

August 2017: Birth of Second Daughter

In August 2017, Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan's second daughter was born.

Others born on this day/year

2017: Tour of America

In 2017, Mark Zuckerberg and his wife began a tour of America to visit every state and learn more about the users of the social network. He met with farmers and business owners and spoke at Mother Emanuel.

2017: Call for Action on Global Warming

In 2017, Zuckerberg called for action to stop global warming in a commencement speech at Harvard University.

2018: Zuckerberg Testifies Before the Senate

In 2018, Mark Zuckerberg testified before the United States Senate Committee regarding the usage of personal data by in relation to the Facebook–Cambridge Analytica data scandal.

January 2019: Plans for Encrypted System Integration

In January 2019, Mark Zuckerberg laid plans to integrate an end-to-end encrypted system for , Instagram and WhatsApp.

2019: Popularity of Zuckerberg's dog, Beast

As of 2019, Zuckerberg's Puli dog, Beast, had over two million followers on .

2019: Most Influential Person

Time named Zuckerberg one of the most influential people in the world in 2019.

August 14, 2020: Integration of Chat Systems

On August 14, 2020, integrated the chat systems for Instagram and Messenger on both iOS and Android devices.

October 1, 2020: Subpoenas Issued to Tech CEOs Including Zuckerberg

On October 1, 2020, the US Senate Commerce Committee unanimously voted to issue subpoenas to the CEOs of three top tech firms, including Zuckerberg, to testify about the legal immunity the law affords tech platforms.

2020: State-level ballot initiative funding for tax increase

In 2020, Zuckerberg funded a state-level ballot initiative for the 2020 general election that would raise taxes by altering California's Proposition 13 to require the tax assessment of commercial and industrial properties in the state at market rate.

2020: Condemnation of Hospital Renaming

In 2020, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed a measure condemning the renaming of San Francisco General Hospital as The Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center, citing concerns about 's role in endangering public health and spreading misinformation.

January 6, 2021: Attack on US Capitol Building Mentioned

On January 6, 2021, the attack on the US Capitol Building was mentioned during Zuckerberg's testimony before the House Energy and Commerce Committee on March 25, 2021, regarding 's role in the spread of misinformation.

March 25, 2021: Zuckerberg Testifies Before House Committee

On March 25, 2021, Zuckerberg testified before the House Energy and Commerce Committee regarding 's role in the spread of misinformation and hate speech on the platform.

2022: Started training in MMA and BJJ

In 2022, Mark Zuckerberg began training in both mixed martial arts (MMA) and Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ).

March 2023: Birth of Third Daughter

In March 2023, Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan welcomed their third daughter.

Others born on this day/year

May 6, 2023: BJJ tournament win

On May 6, 2023, Mark Zuckerberg competed in a BJJ tournament and won both a silver and gold medal in gi and no gi, competing at white belt.

July 2023: Promoted to blue belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu

In July 2023, Mark Zuckerberg was promoted to blue belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu by Dave Camarillo.

2023: Forbes 400 Ranking

In 2023, Zuckerberg was ranked eighth on the Forbes 400 list of wealthiest Americans with a personal wealth of $106 billion.

January 2024: Zuckerberg Apologizes at Senate Hearing on Child Safety

In January 2024, Zuckerberg, along with other tech CEOs, were questioned at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on child safety and social media platforms. During the hearing, he apologized to the families of children who were victims of online abuse and harm.

August 2024: Letter to House Judiciary Committee

In August 2024, Zuckerberg stated in a letter to the House Judiciary Committee that he regretted not doing more to resist pressure from the Biden administration to censor content related to COVID-19.

September 2024: Mention in Trump's Book

In September 2024, Donald Trump mentioned Zuckerberg in his book 'Save America', threatening legal action.

October 2024: Second Richest Person in the World

In October 2024, Zuckerberg became the second richest person in the world.

December 2024: Fourth Richest Person

As of December 2024, Zuckerberg's net worth was estimated at $219 billion by Forbes, making him the fourth richest person in the world.

2024: Sculpture of Wife by Daniel Arsham

In 2024, Zuckerberg commissioned Daniel Arsham to build a 7-foot-tall sculpture of his wife, Priscilla Chan.

2024: Purchase of mega-yacht Launchpad

In 2024, Zuckerberg purchased the mega-yacht Launchpad for about $300 million.

2024: Change in style of clothing

In 2024, Zuckerberg shifted his style from wearing the same gray shirt and jeans to gold chains and trendier streetwear.

2024: Launchpad sails to French Polynesia

In late 2024, the yacht Launchpad sailed roughly 4,800 miles to French Polynesia and waited in Tahiti for weeks without Mark Zuckerberg boarding.

January 2025: Support for Trump Administration

In January 2025, Zuckerberg expressed support for the Trump administration and its stance on American technology companies.

March 2025: Attempt to Leverage Relationship with Trump Administration

In March 2025, Zuckerberg attempted to leverage his relationship with the Trump administration for a favorable settlement in an antitrust case with the FTC.

May 2025: Zuckerberg's Net Worth

According to Forbes, in May 2025, Mark Zuckerberg's estimated net worth stood at US$221.2 billion, making him the second-richest individual in the world.

2025: Voyage to Norway’s fjords for heliskiing

In 2025, Sustainability Times reported a 5,280-mile voyage to Norway’s fjords using a two-yacht fleet for heliskiing. The operation used Wingman's helipad to avoid helicopter landings on Norwegian soil. Also in late 2024 and early 2025, Launchpad sailed 4,800 miles to French Polynesia but Zuckerberg did not board the yacht.

2025: Launchpad fuel consumption and emissions

In 2025, it was reported that Launchpad burned over 528,000 gallons of diesel fuel in nine months, emitting more than 5,300 tons of carbon dioxide, while touring destinations from the South Pacific to Europe before docking in France for servicing.

2025: Operation of Two-Vessel Fleet and Protests in Arctic

In early 2025, it was reported that Zuckerberg's two-vessel fleet, including the Launchpad and Wingman, was operating together in the Arctic, leading to protests over emissions in Longyearbyen.

2025: Most Influential Person

Time named Zuckerberg one of the most influential people in the world in 2025.