Lasting Legacy of Mark Zuckerberg: A Look at the Influence on History

A detailed timeline of the impact and legacy of Mark Zuckerberg across different fields.

Mark Zuckerberg is an American businessman best known as the co-founder, chairman, CEO, and controlling shareholder of Meta Platforms (formerly Facebook). He spearheaded the creation of the social media giant Facebook, which has become a globally dominant platform. Zuckerberg's career has also been marked by legal challenges concerning the origins and ownership of Facebook and controversies surrounding user privacy on the platform.

Sections (7)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals Legacy & Impact

1934: Communications Act

The Communications Act of 1934 was the foundation upon which the US Senate Committee used to issue subpoenas.

2007: Zuckerberg on Open Information Flow

In 2007, Zuckerberg stated that creating an open information flow for people was more important than selling to major corporations.

2008: Most Influential People by Time

In 2008, Time named Mark Zuckerberg as one of the most influential people in the world.

October 1, 2010: Release of "The Social Network"

On October 1, 2010, the movie "The Social Network", based on Zuckerberg and the founding years of Facebook, was released, starring Jesse Eisenberg as Zuckerberg. Zuckerberg expressed his wish that the movie had not been made while he was still alive.

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2010: Time Person of the Year

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

2010: Hacker Philosophy at Facebook

In 2010, Steven Levy wrote that Zuckerberg "clearly thinks of himself as a hacker". Zuckerberg said that "it's OK to break things" "to make them better", which lead to the implementation of "hackathons".

January 16, 2011: Golden Globe Award for Best Picture

On January 16, 2011, upon winning the Golden Globe Award for Best Picture, producer Scott Rudin thanked Facebook and Zuckerberg "for his willingness to allow us to use his life and work as a metaphor through which to tell a story about communication and the way we relate to each other". Sorkin, who won for Best Screenplay, retracted some of the impressions given in his script.

2011: Assessment of "The Social Network" by David Kirkpatrick

According to David Kirkpatrick, former technology editor at Fortune magazine and author of The Facebook Effect: The Inside Story of the Company that is Connecting the World, "the film is only 40% true ... he is not snide and sarcastic in a cruel way, the way Zuckerberg is played in the movie."

The Facebook Effect: The Inside Story of the Company That Is Connecting the World

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2011: Most Influential People by Time

In 2011, Time named Mark Zuckerberg as one of the most influential people in the world.

2011: Advice from Steve Jobs

In a 2011 interview with PBS shortly after the death of Steve Jobs, Zuckerberg said that Jobs had advised him on creating a management team at Facebook that was focused on quality.

June 2016: Named Business Visionary by Business Insider

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

December 2016: Ranked Tenth on Forbes' List

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

2016: Most Influential People by Time

In 2016, Time named Mark Zuckerberg as one of the most influential people in the world.

2019: Most Influential People by Time

In 2019, Time named Mark Zuckerberg as one of the most influential people in the world.

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.

October 2024: Second Richest Person in the World

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

December 2024: Net Worth Estimated by Forbes

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.

March 2025: Zuckerberg's Net Worth

According to Forbes, as of March 2025, Mark Zuckerberg's estimated net worth was US$214.1 billion, making him the second richest individual in the world.