History of Mark Zuckerberg in Timeline
Mark Zuckerberg is an American businessman best known as the co-founder, chairman, CEO, and controlling shareholder of Meta Platforms (formerly Facebook). He launched Facebook, a social media platform that achieved widespread global adoption. Zuckerberg's career has included lawsuits concerning the origins and ownership of Facebook. He has also faced criticism related to user data privacy and the platform's impact on society. Despite controversy, Zuckerberg remains a prominent figure in the technology industry.
May 14, 1984: Mark Zuckerberg Born
On May 14, 1984, Mark Elliot Zuckerberg was born. He would later co-found Facebook and Meta Platforms and become a prominent businessman.
1984: Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution
In 1984, Steven Levy wrote the book "Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution."
2002: Voter Registration
In 2002, Mark Zuckerberg registered to vote in Westchester County, New York.
2002: Begins Classes at Harvard
In 2002, Zuckerberg began classes at Harvard University, already known as a programming prodigy.
2002: Graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy
In 2002, Zuckerberg graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy, where a photo directory called "The Facebook" inspired the social network.
April 28, 2003: Contract signed with Paul Ceglia
On April 28, 2003, Paul Ceglia claimed he signed a contract with Mark Zuckerberg entitling him to a large ownership stake in Facebook.
2003: Met Priscilla Chan
In 2003, Mark Zuckerberg met Priscilla Chan at a frat party during his sophomore year at Harvard, marking the beginning of their relationship.
January 1, 2004: Domain name registration and Ceglia's claim
On January 1, 2004, Zuckerberg registered the domain name thefacebook.com. Paul Ceglia claimed that 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.
January 2004: Starts Writing Code for Facebook
In January 2004, Zuckerberg began writing the code for what would become Facebook.
February 4, 2004: Thefacebook Launched
On February 4, 2004, Zuckerberg, in partnership with roommates, launched "Thefacebook" at thefacebook.com.
February 2004: i2hub Launched
A month after Zuckerberg launched Facebook in February 2004, i2hub, another campus-only service, was launched.
August 2004: Wirehog Launched
In August 2004, Zuckerberg, Andrew McCollum, Adam D'Angelo, and Sean Parker launched Wirehog, a competing peer-to-peer file sharing service.
2004: HarvardConnection Lawsuit
In 2004, Cameron Winklevoss, Tyler Winklevoss, and Divya Narendra sued Zuckerberg, accusing him of stealing their idea for HarvardConnection.com.
2004: Moves to Palo Alto and Meets Peter Thiel
In 2004, Zuckerberg moved to Palo Alto, California, met Peter Thiel, who invested in Facebook, and got their first office.
2005: Lawsuit Filed by Saverin
In 2005, Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin filed a lawsuit against Zuckerberg and Facebook, alleging that Zuckerberg illegally spent Saverin's money on personal expenses.
March 28, 2007: HarvardConnection Lawsuit Dismissed
On March 28, 2007, the lawsuit by the Winklevoss twins was dismissed on a technicality.
November 2007: Confidential Documents Posted Online
In November 2007, confidential court documents, including Zuckerberg's Social Security number, were posted on the website of 02138.
2007: Facebook Platform Applications Launched
In 2007, Facebook Platform applications were launched.
2007: Belief in Open Information Flow
In 2007, Zuckerberg explained his desire to "create an open information flow for people" instead of selling Facebook to media conglomerates, also stated that "young people are just smarter".
2007: Top 35 Innovators
In 2007, 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.
June 25, 2008: Settlement with ConnectU
On June 25, 2008, Facebook settled the lawsuit with ConnectU, agreeing to transfer shares and pay $20 million in cash.
November 2008: First Ballot Cast
In November 2008, Mark Zuckerberg cast his first ballot in a general election. Despite registering to vote in 2002, this was his first time voting.
2008: Most Influential Person by Time
In 2008, Time named Mark Zuckerberg one of the most influential people in the world.
2008: Becomes Youngest Self-Made Billionaire
In 2008, Zuckerberg became the world's youngest self-made billionaire at age 23.
April 2009: Seeks Advice on Financing Strategies
In April 2009, Zuckerberg sought advice from former Netscape CFO Peter Currie regarding financing strategies for Facebook.
2009: Vanity Fair 100 List Ranking
In 2009, Zuckerberg ranked number 23 on the Vanity Fair 100 list.
June 2010: Criminal investigation launched and Facebook contest controversy
In June 2010, Pakistani Deputy Attorney General Muhammad Azhar Sidiqque initiated a criminal investigation into Mark Zuckerberg and others due to a controversial "Draw Muhammad" contest on Facebook, also in June 2010.
June 2010: Lawsuit filed by Paul Ceglia
In June 2010, Paul Ceglia sued Zuckerberg, claiming 84% ownership of Facebook and seeking monetary damages.
July 21, 2010: Facebook Reaches 500 Million Users
On July 21, 2010, Zuckerberg announced that Facebook had reached 500 million users.
September 2010: $100 million donation to Newark Public Schools
In September 2010, Mark Zuckerberg donated $100 million to Newark Public Schools through his Startup:Education foundation.
September 2010: Pledged to Newark Public Schools
In September 2010, Mark Zuckerberg pledged US$100 million to Newark Public Schools, with support from Governor Chris Christie.
September 2010: Chan Moved to Palo Alto
In September 2010, Priscilla Chan moved into Mark Zuckerberg's rented house in Palo Alto, California, while she was a medical student.
October 1, 2010: Release of 'The Social Network'
On October 1, 2010, the movie "The Social Network," based on Zuckerberg and the founding of Facebook, was released, starring Jesse Eisenberg as Zuckerberg.
October 3, 2010: Voice acting on 'The Simpsons'
On October 3, 2010, Mark Zuckerberg voiced himself on an episode of The Simpsons titled "Loan-a Lisa".
October 9, 2010: Saturday Night Live lampoons Zuckerberg
On October 9, 2010, Saturday Night Live lampooned Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook. Andy Samberg portrayed Zuckerberg.
October 30, 2010: Awarded Medal of Fear
On October 30, 2010, Stephen Colbert awarded Mark Zuckerberg a "Medal of Fear" at the Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear.
2010: The Social Network Release
In 2010, "The Social Network", a film depicting Zuckerberg's early career and the rise of Facebook, was released and won multiple Academy Awards.
2010: Signed The Giving Pledge
In 2010, Mark Zuckerberg signed The Giving Pledge, committing to donate at least half of his wealth to charity.
2010: Time Person of the Year
In 2010, Mark Zuckerberg was named the Time Person of the Year, the same year when Facebook reached over half a billion users.
2010: Zuckerberg as a Hacker
In 2010, Steven Levy wrote that Zuckerberg "clearly thinks of himself as a hacker". Zuckerberg stated that "it's OK to break things" "to make them better".
2010: Most Influential People
Vanity Fair magazine named Zuckerberg number 1 on its 2010 list of the Top 100 "most influential people of the Information Age".
January 2011: Guest appearance on Saturday Night Live
In January 2011, Mark Zuckerberg made a surprise guest appearance on Saturday Night Live, which was hosted by Jesse Eisenberg. They both said it was the first time they had met.
January 16, 2011: Golden Globe Award acceptance
On January 16, 2011, at the Golden Globe Awards, producer Scott Rudin thanked Facebook and Zuckerberg for allowing them to use his life as a metaphor in "The Social Network".
2011: Facebook's First Pride Participation
In 2011, Facebook participated for the first time in the annual San Francisco Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Celebration with 70 employees.
2011: Most Influential Person by Time
In 2011, Time named Mark Zuckerberg one of the most influential people in the world.
2011: Steve Jobs' Advice
In 2011, Zuckerberg said Steve Jobs had advised him on creating a management team focused on building high-quality products.
May 2012: Facebook Goes Public
In May 2012, Zuckerberg took Facebook public, retaining majority shares.
May 19, 2012: Married Priscilla Chan
On May 19, 2012, Mark Zuckerberg married Priscilla Chan in the grounds of his mansion, coinciding with her medical school graduation.
October 26, 2012: Paul Ceglia arrested for fraud
On October 26, 2012, federal authorities arrested Paul Ceglia, charging him with mail and wire fraud related to his claims against Zuckerberg and Facebook.
December 2012: Pledge to donate majority of wealth
In December 2012, Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan pledged to donate the majority of their wealth to "advancing human potential and promoting equality".
December 2012: Donated Shares to Silicon Valley Community Foundation
In December 2012, Mark Zuckerberg donated 18 million shares to the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, supporting education and other grant-making areas.
2012: Voted in General Election
In 2012, Mark Zuckerberg voted in a general election, adding to his voting record since 2008.
February 2013: Hosted First Fundraising Event
In February 2013, Mark Zuckerberg hosted his first-ever fundraising event for New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, focusing on education reform.
April 6, 2013: Home Promotional Campaign
On April 6, 2013, 85 million American Facebook users were exposed to the first day of the Home promotional campaign.
April 11, 2013: Launched FWD.us Lobbying Group
On April 11, 2013, Mark Zuckerberg launched FWD.us, a lobbying group focused on immigration reform, education improvement, and technological breakthroughs, but it faced criticism for supporting oil and gas development initiatives.
June 2013: Participated in San Francisco Pride Celebration
In June 2013, Mark Zuckerberg joined Facebook employees in the annual San Francisco Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Celebration, which followed the Supreme Court ruling against DOMA.
June 20, 2013: Engaged with Users on FWD.us Video
On June 20, 2013, Mark Zuckerberg actively engaged with Facebook users on his profile after the online publication of a FWD.us video, addressing concerns about the organization's goals.
August 19, 2013: Facebook Profile Hacked
On August 19, 2013, it was reported that Zuckerberg's Facebook profile was hacked by an unemployed web developer.
September 2013: Internet Coverage Expansion
In September 2013, Zuckerberg raised his goal at the TechCrunch conference to work towards expanding Internet coverage into developing countries.
September 2013: Commented on PRISM Scandal
In September 2013, at the TechCrunch Disrupt conference, Mark Zuckerberg stated that the U.S. government "blew it" regarding the PRISM scandal, criticizing its protection of citizens' freedoms and the economy.
2013: Appearance in documentary film
In 2013, Mark Zuckerberg appeared in the climax of the documentary film "Terms and Conditions May Apply".
2013: Internet.org Launched
In 2013, Zuckerberg launched Internet.org to provide Internet access to five billion unconnected people.
October 2014: $25 million donation to combat Ebola
In October 2014, Mark Zuckerberg and his wife donated $25 million to combat the Ebola virus disease.
October 23, 2014: Q&A Session at Tsinghua University
On October 23, 2014, Zuckerberg participated in a Q&A session at Tsinghua University in Beijing, conversing in Mandarin Chinese.
December 8, 2014: Hosts Lu Wei at Facebook HQ
On December 8, 2014, Zuckerberg hosted Chinese politician Lu Wei, at Facebook's headquarters.
December 11, 2014: Live Q&A Session
On December 11, 2014, Zuckerberg participated in a live Q&A session at Facebook's headquarters, discussing Facebook's value and community engagement.
2014: Land purchase in Kauaʻi
In 2014, Mark Zuckerberg purchased 700 acres of land on the Hawaiian island of Kauaʻi.
February 2015: Donation to San Francisco General Hospital
In February 2015, the couple endowed the foundation of the San Francisco General Hospital with $75 million.
July 2015: Announced Pregnancy
In July 2015, Mark Zuckerberg revealed that he and Priscilla Chan were expecting a baby girl, also sharing their past experiences with miscarriages.
November 2015: Aftermath of Paris Attacks
In the aftermath of the November 2015 Paris attacks, Mark Zuckerberg later posted a statement on Facebook expressing support for Muslims.
December 1, 2015: Pledge to transfer Facebook shares to CZI
On December 1, 2015, Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan pledged to transfer 99% of their Facebook shares, valued at $45 billion, to the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI).
December 9, 2015: Expressed Support for Muslims
On December 9, 2015, Mark Zuckerberg posted a statement on Facebook expressing support for Muslims in response to the Paris attacks and the San Bernardino attack, emphasizing their welcome on the platform.
December 2015: Birth of First Daughter
In December 2015, Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan welcomed their first daughter.
2015: Mother Emanuel Shooting
In 2015, there was a shooting at Mother Emanuel, later in 2017 Zuckerberg visited this place.
February 24, 2016: Rebuked "All Lives Matter" Overwriting
On February 24, 2016, Mark Zuckerberg sent a company-wide memo rebuking employees who overwrote "Black Lives Matter" with "All Lives Matter" on company walls, considering it disrespectful and malicious.
June 2016: Top Business Visionaries
In June 2016, Zuckerberg was named one of the "Top 10 Business Visionaries Creating Value for the World" by Business Insider due to his philanthropic pledges.
December 2016: Ranked on Forbes List
In December 2016, Mark Zuckerberg was ranked tenth on the Forbes list of the World's Most Powerful People.
2016: Creation of Chan Zuckerberg Biohub
In 2016, CZI gave $600 million to create the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, a collaborative research space in San Francisco's Mission Bay district.
2016: Belief in Religion
In 2016, Mark Zuckerberg stated that he believes religion is very important, after a period of questioning.
2016: Breakthrough Starshot Co-founder
In 2016, Zuckerberg co-founded the Breakthrough Starshot project with Yuri Milner and Stephen Hawking.
January 2017: Criticized Trump's Immigration Order
In January 2017, Mark Zuckerberg criticized Donald Trump's executive order limiting immigration and refugees from certain countries.
January 2017: Lawsuits against native Hawaiians
In January 2017, Zuckerberg filed lawsuits against native Hawaiians to claim small tracts of land within his Kauaʻi acreage, later dropping them due to criticisms and a lack of understanding of Hawaiian land ownership law.
May 25, 2017: Honorary Degree from Harvard
On May 25, 2017, Zuckerberg received an honorary degree from Harvard after giving the commencement speech.
August 2017: Birth of Second Daughter
In August 2017, Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan welcomed their second daughter.
2017: Nationwide Tour
In 2017, Mark Zuckerberg and his wife began a nationwide tour to visit every state and learn more about Facebook users.
2017: Called for Action on Global Warming
In 2017, Mark Zuckerberg called for action to stop global warming in a commencement speech at Harvard University.
2018: Testimony before the Senate Committee
In 2018, Mark Zuckerberg testified before the United States Senate Committee regarding Facebook's handling of personal data in the Cambridge Analytica data scandal.
2019: Most Influential Person by Time
In 2019, Time named Mark Zuckerberg one of the most influential people in the world.
October 1, 2020: Senate Committee subpoenas Zuckerberg
On October 1, 2020, the US Senate Commerce Committee unanimously voted to issue subpoenas to CEOs of tech firms, including Zuckerberg, to testify about legal immunity under Section 230 of the Communications Act.
2020: Funded California Ballot Initiative
In 2020, Mark Zuckerberg funded a state-level ballot initiative that aimed to raise taxes by altering California's Proposition 13.
2020: Condemnation of hospital renaming
In 2020, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors condemned the renaming of a public hospital after Zuckerberg, citing concerns about misinformation and privacy violations on Facebook.
March 25, 2021: Testimony before House Committee
On March 25, 2021, Zuckerberg testified before the House Energy and Commerce Committee about Facebook's role in spreading misinformation and hate speech, and its handling of user data.
2022: Started MMA and BJJ Training
In 2022, Mark Zuckerberg took up training in both mixed martial arts (MMA) and Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ).
March 2023: Welcomed Third Daughter
In March 2023, Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, welcomed their third daughter and announced the news across his social media pages.
May 6, 2023: Won Medals in BJJ Tournament
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 BJJ
In July 2023, Mark Zuckerberg was promoted to blue belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu by Dave Camarillo.
2023: Ranked on Forbes 400
In 2023, Mark Zuckerberg was ranked eighth on the Forbes 400 list of wealthiest Americans with a personal wealth of $106 billion.
January 2024: Senate Hearing on Child Safety
In January 2024, Mark Zuckerberg testified at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on child safety and social media platforms, where he apologized to families of children harmed by online abuse.
August 2024: Expressed Regret Over COVID-19 Censorship
In August 2024, Mark 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: Mentioned in Trump's Book
In September 2024, Donald Trump mentioned Mark Zuckerberg's visits to the White House in his book 'Save America', warning against illegal activities related to the 2024 election.
October 2024: Second Richest Person in the World
In October 2024, Mark Zuckerberg became the second richest person in the world.
December 2024: Fourth Richest Person in the World
As of December 2024, Mark Zuckerberg's net worth was estimated at $219 billion by Forbes, making him the fourth richest person in the world.
2024: Commissioned Sculpture of Wife
In 2024, Mark Zuckerberg commissioned Daniel Arsham to build a 7-foot-tall sculpture of his wife, Priscilla Chan, which was unveiled.
2024: Style Change and "MAGA Rebrand"
In 2024, Mark Zuckerberg shifted his style, adopting gold chains and trendier streetwear, which was described as a "MAGA rebrand" by Vanity Fair, paralleling Meta's efforts to appease the Trump administration.
February 2025: Second Richest Man
According to Forbes, as of February 2025, Zuckerberg's net worth of US$254.1 billion made him the second richest individual in the world.
