If you’re wondering who owns Facebook, the answer is Mark Zuckerberg.
Along with co-founders Eduardo Saverin, Dustin Moskovitz, and Chris Hughes, Zuckerberg launched the social media platform in 2004.
Since then, Facebook has grown to become one of the world’s largest and most influential companies, with over 2.8 billion monthly active users.
However, Zuckerberg’s ownership of Facebook has not been without controversy.
In the early days of the company, several lawsuits were filed against Zuckerberg and his co-founders over issues of website creation and ownership, as well as user privacy concerns.
Despite these challenges, Zuckerberg has remained at the helm of Facebook, guiding the company through numerous changes and challenges over the years.
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The Founders of Facebook
When Facebook was first created, it was the brainchild of a group of students at Harvard University.
The primary founder of Facebook was Mark Zuckerberg, who is now a well-known business magnate and philanthropist.
However, he did not create Facebook alone.
Here’s a brief rundown of the other founders who helped create the social media giant:
- Eduardo Saverin: Saverin was one of Zuckerberg’s roommates at Harvard and provided the initial funding for Facebook. He later sued Zuckerberg over his reduced stake in the company, but the two have since settled their differences.
- Dustin Moskovitz: Another of Zuckerberg’s roommates, Moskovitz helped write the code for the early version of Facebook and was the company’s first chief technology officer.
- Chris Hughes: Hughes was a roommate of Zuckerberg and Saverin and helped with the early development of Facebook. He later left the company to work on Barack Obama’s presidential campaign.
- Andrew McCollum: McCollum was a friend of Zuckerberg’s from Harvard who helped design the first Facebook logo and was the company’s first head of marketing.
Together, these four individuals helped create the early version of Facebook and set it on the path to becoming the social media giant it is today.
While Zuckerberg is the most well-known of the founders, it’s important to remember that he did not create Facebook alone.
Facebook’s Evolution
You probably know that Facebook is one of the most popular social networking sites in the world, but do you know how it got its start?
It all began in 2004 when Mark Zuckerberg, along with some fellow Harvard students, launched a website called “thefacebook”.
The site was initially only available to Harvard students, but it quickly expanded to other universities and eventually to the general public.
Over the years, Facebook has undergone many changes and has evolved into much more than just a social networking site.
In 2010, a biographical drama film called “The Social Network” was released, which detailed the founding of Facebook and the legal battles that followed.
The movie helped to popularize the site even further and cemented its place in pop culture.
In addition to the main Facebook platform, the company has also introduced other products, such as Facebook Messenger, which allows users to communicate with each other in real-time.
Facebook has also acquired other companies, such as Instagram and WhatsApp, which have become immensely popular in their own right.
As Facebook has grown, it has faced its fair share of controversies and criticism.
The site has been accused of spreading fake news, invading users’ privacy, and contributing to the spread of hate speech and misinformation.
Despite these challenges, Facebook remains one of the most widely used social media platforms in the world, with billions of users logging on every day.
Who Owns Facebook?
If you’re curious about who owns Facebook, this section will break down the main shareholders of the company.
Mark Zuckerberg is the founder and CEO of Facebook, and he holds the most significant stake in the company.
As of 2023, Zuckerberg owns about 14% of Facebook’s Class A shares and about 60% of its Class B shares.
These shares give him voting power over the company’s decisions, which is why he is considered the controlling shareholder.
Institutional Investors
Aside from Zuckerberg, there are several institutional investors who own a significant portion of Facebook’s shares.
The Vanguard Group and Fidelity Management are the two largest institutional investors in Facebook, with each holding over 4% of the company’s shares.
Other institutional investors include BlackRock, State Street, and T. Rowe Price.
These institutional investors often own shares on behalf of mutual funds or other investment vehicles.
For example, the Vanguard Group owns a large portion of Facebook’s shares through its Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund.
Facebook’s Corporate Structure
If you’re wondering about Facebook’s corporate structure, it’s important to know that the company has undergone some changes in recent years.
Facebook, Inc. is now known as Meta Platforms, Inc. and is the parent company of several other entities, including Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and WhatsApp.
Meta Platforms, Inc. is a multinational technology conglomerate that is headquartered in Menlo Park, California.
The company is one of the world’s most valuable and is among the ten largest publicly traded companies.
As of the fourth quarter of 2021, Meta Platforms, Inc. plans to report on two operating segments: the Family of Apps and Reality Labs.
This change in reporting does not affect the company’s corporate structure, but it does give investors a better understanding of how the company is performing.
It’s also worth noting that the company’s corporate structure is not changing.
Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and WhatsApp will continue to operate as separate entities under the Meta Platforms, Inc. umbrella.
Facebook’s Subsidiaries
Facebook owns several popular social media platforms and tech companies.
Here are some of its most notable subsidiaries:
Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms in the world, with more than 2 billion active users.
Facebook acquired Instagram in 2012 for $1 billion.
Instagram allows users to share photos and videos, follow other users, and discover new content through hashtags and explore pages.
WhatsApp is a popular messaging app that allows users to send text messages, voice messages, and make voice and video calls.
Facebook acquired WhatsApp in 2014 for $19 billion.
WhatsApp is known for its end-to-end encryption, which ensures that messages are secure and private.
Oculus
Oculus is a virtual reality company that produces VR headsets and software.
Facebook acquired Oculus in 2014 for $2 billion.
Oculus is known for its flagship product, the Oculus Rift, which allows users to experience virtual reality in a highly immersive way.
Reality Labs
Facebook Reality Labs is a research division of Facebook that focuses on developing virtual and augmented reality technologies.
The division is responsible for developing products such as the Oculus Quest and the Portal smart display.
Facebook’s Financial Status
Revenue
Facebook’s revenue has been consistently increasing over the years.
In 2022, the company reported a revenue of $129.04 billion. This is a substantial increase from its revenue of $70.7 billion in 2019.
The company’s main source of revenue is through advertising, which accounted for 98.5% of its revenue in 2021.
Net Worth
As of 2022, Facebook’s net worth is estimated to be around $1 trillion.
This makes it one of the most valuable companies in the world.
The company’s net worth has been steadily increasing since its IPO in 2012, which valued the company at $104 billion.
Market Capitalization
Facebook’s market capitalization is currently around $1.1 trillion.
This is based on the company’s current stock price and the number of outstanding shares.
Facebook’s market capitalization has been on the rise since its IPO, and it is now one of the most valuable companies in the world.
Facebook’s financial success has made it a popular investment choice for many investment managers and investment management firms.
It is also a member of the S&P 500 index, which is a stock market index that measures the performance of 500 large companies listed on stock exchanges in the United States.
Facebook’s financial success has also allowed the company to make significant investments in other areas.
For example, the company’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, and his wife, Priscilla Chan, have established the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, which is focused on advancing human potential and promoting equality.
Overall, Facebook’s financial status is strong, and the company is well-positioned to continue its growth in the future.
Facebook’s User Base
With over 4.5 billion users worldwide, Meta is one of the most popular social networks in the world.
As of October 2022, Facebook, now known as Meta Platforms, owns and operates three of the top four social networking platforms by monthly active users (MAU).
Facebook’s user base continues to grow, with over 2.8 billion monthly active users as of July 2023.
That’s more than one-third of the world’s population!
Facebook’s user base is diverse, with users from all over the world and from all walks of life.
The platform is particularly popular among young adults and teenagers, with over 70% of US teenagers using Facebook.
In addition, Facebook has a large user base in emerging markets, such as India and Brazil.
One reason for Facebook’s popularity is its ease of use.
The platform is designed to be user-friendly, with a simple interface that allows users to easily connect with friends and family.
Facebook’s algorithm also ensures that users are shown content that is relevant to their interests, which keeps them engaged and coming back for more.
Facebook’s Future Vision
As one of the largest tech companies in the world, Facebook is always looking for ways to innovate and expand its offerings.
In recent years, the company has been focusing on several key areas that it believes will shape the future of technology.
One of the most exciting areas of development for Facebook is in the realm of virtual and augmented reality.
The company’s Oculus VR division has been working on cutting-edge VR technology for years, and Facebook has made significant investments in AR as well.
With the metaverse as its ultimate goal, Facebook hopes to create a fully immersive digital world where users can interact with each other and with digital objects in real-time.
In addition to VR and AR, Facebook is also investing heavily in gaming.
The company has created a dedicated gaming platform, Facebook Gaming, and has been working on developing new games and gaming technologies.
With the rise of esports and the increasing popularity of gaming as a form of entertainment, Facebook sees gaming as a key area of growth in the coming years.
Artificial intelligence is another area of focus for Facebook.
The company has been working on developing AI technologies that can help improve its products and services, from image recognition to natural language processing.
With AI, Facebook hopes to create more personalized and engaging experiences for its users.
Finally, Facebook’s engineering team is constantly working on improving the company’s infrastructure and developing new technologies.
From data centers to networking technologies, Facebook is always looking for ways to improve the speed and reliability of its services.
Facebook’s Reputation and Controversies
When it comes to social media platforms, Facebook is one of the most popular and widely used.
However, the company has faced numerous controversies over the years, which have affected its reputation and user trust.
In this section, we’ll take a closer look at some of these controversies and how they have impacted Facebook’s reputation.
One of the most significant controversies that Facebook has faced is related to user privacy.
In 2018, it was revealed that the political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica had obtained data on millions of Facebook users without their consent.
This led to a public outcry and increased scrutiny of Facebook’s data privacy practices.
As a result, Facebook faced a $5 billion fine from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for its role in the scandal.
Another controversy that Facebook faced early on was the creation of Facemash, a website that allowed users to compare the attractiveness of female Harvard students.
The site was shut down after just a few days, but it led to Mark Zuckerberg being accused of sexism and misogyny.
In addition to these controversies, Facebook has also faced criticism for its lack of transparency.
For example, the company has been accused of not doing enough to prevent the spread of fake news and misinformation on its platform.
Facebook has also been criticized for its handling of user data and for not being transparent about how it uses that data.
More recently, Facebook has faced competition from other social media platforms, such as Snapchat.
In response, Facebook has introduced new features, such as Stories, which allow users to share temporary photos and videos.
However, some critics have accused Facebook of copying Snapchat’s features without giving credit.
Despite these controversies, Facebook remains one of the most popular social media platforms in the world.
However, the company will need to continue to address these issues if it wants to maintain the trust of its users and avoid further damage to its reputation.
Key Takeaways
If you’re curious about who owns Facebook, here are some key takeaways to keep in mind:
- Facebook is owned by Meta Inc., a holding company that was formerly known as Facebook Inc.
- The founder of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, holds the largest chunk of the company’s shares and is the CEO of Meta Inc.
- Zuckerberg co-founded Facebook in 2004 with his friends Dustin Moskovitz, Eduardo Saverin, and Chris Hughes while they were students at Harvard University.
- Zuckerberg has sold billions of dollars worth of Facebook shares over the years, but he still owns a significant portion of the company and is one of the wealthiest people on earth.
- Facebook also owns other popular social media apps like Instagram and WhatsApp.
It’s worth noting that there have been some controversies surrounding Facebook and its ownership over the years.
For example, some people have raised concerns about the amount of power that Zuckerberg wields as both the CEO and the largest shareholder of the company.
Additionally, there have been debates about how Facebook handles user data and privacy.
Despite these concerns, Facebook remains one of the most popular social media platforms in the world, with billions of active users.
Whether you’re a casual user or a business owner looking to advertise on the platform, it’s important to understand who owns Facebook and how it operates.
