10 mind-blowing facts about Mark Zuckerberg that will leave you stunned

Mark Zuckerberg, the co-founder and CEO of Facebook (now Meta), has become one of the most influential figures in modern history.

While most people know the tech billionaire primarily as the creator of Facebook and the driving force behind Meta, his life is filled with surprising quirks and bold choices.

Here are 10 fascinating facts that will leave you stunned and offer a deeper glimpse into the man behind one of the most powerful companies in the world.

1. Started coding at 12

Zuckerberg was a child prodigy in programming. At age 12, he created ZuckNet, a messaging system that allowed his father to communicate with family members at home from his dental office.

This early creation became the seed that foreshadowed Facebook’s success in connecting people across the globe.

2. Turned down a $1 billion offer for Facebook

In 2006, when Facebook was still in its early stages, Yahoo! offered to buy the platform for $1 billion. Many thought, Zuckerberg would accept, but he stunned the business world by refusing.

His vision for Facebook went far beyond a quick payday, and history proved him right.

3. Dropped out of Harvard to chase his dream

Zuckerberg studied computer science and psychology at Harvard, where he created early projects like CourseMatch and the controversial Facemash.

The latter, which compared students’ photos, sparked outrage and got shut down by the university. But these experiments paved the way for Facebook.

He eventually dropped out in 2004 to pursue the platform full-time.

4. Fluent in Mandarin

Zuckerberg surprised many when he gave a 30-minute Q&A session in Mandarin at Tsinghua University in Beijing.

His motivation was to connect with his wife, Priscilla Chan’s family, and to expand Meta’s presence in Asia.

5. Zuckerberg is colourblind

One of Facebook’s most recognisable features, its blue colour scheme, exists because Zuckerberg is red-green colorblind.

Blue is the colour he can see most clearly, so he chose it for the platform’s design.

6. Zuckerberg eats meat only if he kills the animal himself

In 2011, Zuckerberg took on a personal challenge to only eat meat from animals he killed himself. From goats to chickens, he embraced the process as a way to connect more deeply with the food he consumed.

7. Became the youngest self-made billionaire at 23

In 2008, Zuckerberg became the world’s youngest self-made billionaire, at just 23 years old. While his peers were finishing college or struggling with first jobs, Zuckerberg had already built a global company and joined the billionaire club.

8. Wears the same Grey T-shirt every day

Zuckerberg is famous for his wardrobe choice: a plain gray T-shirt, jeans, and sneakers. But it’s not about fashion.

He also believes in reducing “decision fatigue,” the mental exhaustion caused by making too many small decisions.

9. Meta spends $24 million a year on his security

Being the face of one of the world’s most controversial companies comes with risks. In 2023, Meta spent more than $24 million on Zuckerberg’s security, covering bodyguards, bulletproof glass, and even secret tunnels in his home.

10. Zuckerberg drives cheap cars despite being a billionaire

Unlike many billionaires who spend on exotic sports cars, Zuckerberg opts for practicality. He’s been spotted driving modest vehicles like the Volkswagen Golf GTI, Acura TSX, and Honda Fit.