By Faith Barbara N Ruhinda & Dr. Kivumbi Earnest Benjamin, L.H.D (Hon.) at 1158 EAT on Friday 15 May 2026

Mark Zuckerberg co-founded Facebook in 2004 while a student at Harvard University. The platform, now known as Meta Platforms, has grown into the world’s largest social network, serving billions of users globally.

The company also owns Instagram and WhatsApp, both of which it acquired and significantly expanded. Zuckerberg, who remains Meta’s chief executive, took the company public in 2012 and retains an estimated 13% stake, keeping him among the world’s wealthiest individuals, with his net worth closely tied to the company’s share price.

In recent years, Meta has increasingly shifted its focus toward artificial intelligence and immersive technologies, including virtual reality and smart hardware, as it seeks to expand beyond traditional social networking.

In October, Zuckerberg attended the Wall Street Journal’s Innovator of the Year Awards, where his wife Priscilla Chan received a top honour for her philanthropic work focused on advancing disease research and prevention. During the event, singer Billie Eilish sparked discussion after asking the audience: “If you’re a billionaire, why are you a billionaire?”

In February, Zuckerberg and Chan were also seen in the front row at a Prada show in Milan, amid reports of collaboration between Meta and Prada on high-end smart glasses.

The company also continues to face global regulatory scrutiny over issues including data privacy, competition, and content moderation, as governments intensify oversight of large technology platforms.

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