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The fabulous life of Mark Zuckerberg

Edward and Karen Zuckerberg, a dentist and a psychiatrist respectively, raised four children: Randi, Donna, Arielle, and, of course, Mark, in Dobbs Ferry, New York. A precocious child, Mark created a messaging program called "Zucknet" using Atari BASIC at age 12. As a kid he also coded computer games for his friends.

The fabulous life of Mark Zuckerberg

While attending high school at the renowned Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire, he built an early music streaming platform, which both AOL and Microsoft showed interest in. Still a teen, he rejected offers for an acquisition or a job.

While attending high school at the renowned Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire, he built an early music streaming platform, which both AOL and Microsoft showed interest in. Still a teen, he rejected offers for an acquisition or a job.

Source: Bio.

He wasn't just a computer nerd though. Zuck loved the classics — "The Odyssey" and the like — and he became captain of his high school fencing team.

He wasn

Soon after Zuckerberg started at Harvard University in 2002, he earned a reputation as a skilled developer. He started "The Facebook" with several friends out of his dorm room and dropped out of school after his sophomore year to focus on it full-time.

Soon after Zuckerberg started at Harvard University in 2002, he earned a reputation as a skilled developer. He started "The Facebook" with several friends out of his dorm room and dropped out of school after his sophomore year to focus on it full-time.

Source: Bio.

Before dropping out, Zuckerberg met his now-wife, Priscilla Chan. Chan told "Today's" Savannah Guthrie that they met at a frat party. "On our first date, he told me that he'd rather go on a date with me than finish his take-home midterm," she said.

Before dropping out, Zuckerberg met his now-wife, Priscilla Chan. Chan told "Today

Source: Today

The company raised its Series A — $12.7 million — when Zuckerberg was barely legal drinking age. The rest is history. In 2010 he was named Time Magazine's "Person of the Year."

The company raised its Series A — $12.7 million — when Zuckerberg was barely legal drinking age. The rest is history. In 2010 he was named Time Magazine

Source: Bio.

Not many tech CEOs get to see themselves immortalized on the big screen, but in 2010, "The Social Network" put a dramatized version of Facebook's founding story in theaters. It earned eight Academy Award nominations but Zuckerberg strongly maintains that many of its details are incorrect.

Not many tech CEOs get to see themselves immortalized on the big screen, but in 2010, "The Social Network" put a dramatized version of Facebook

Source: Bio.

Aaron Sorkin directed "The Social Network." Zuck may have hated the movie, but Sorkin's hit TV show "The West Wing," is one of his favorites.

Aaron Sorkin directed "The Social Network." Zuck may have hated the movie, but Sorkin

Zuckerberg took the company public on May 18, 2012. The IPO raised $16 billion, making it the biggest tech IPO in history until Alibaba won the spot late last year.

Zuckerberg took the company public on May 18, 2012. The IPO raised $16 billion, making it the biggest tech IPO in history until Alibaba won the spot late last year.

Chan and Zuckerberg continued to date throughout Facebook's rise to greatness and the lovebirds finally got married the day after the company went public. The relatively low-key event was actually a "surprise" wedding: Guests thought they were celebrating a med school graduation party for Chan. They tied the knot at their Palo Alto home.

Chan and Zuckerberg continued to date throughout Facebook

Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong performed and Mark designed Priscilla's ruby ring himself.

Green Day

The two honeymooned in Italy, flying in on a private jet and staying at a five-star hotel, Portrait Suites, where rooms start at €800 per night. But paparazzi also spotted the couple eating in McDonald's while overseas.

The two honeymooned in Italy, flying in on a private jet and staying at a five-star hotel, Portrait Suites, where rooms start at €800 per night. But paparazzi also spotted the couple eating in McDonald

The couple tends to set aside two weeks every December to travel, sometimes visiting Chan's family in China.

The couple tends to set aside two weeks every December to travel, sometimes visiting Chan

Zuckerberg studies Chinese, and his Mandarin was so good by fall 2014 that he managed to hold a 30-minute Q&A in the language.

Zuckerberg studies Chinese, and his Mandarin was so good by fall 2014 that he managed to hold a 30-minute Q&A in the language.

They have an adorable Hungarian sheepdog named Beast who looks like a tail-wagging mop and even has his own Facebook page.

They have an adorable Hungarian sheepdog named Beast who looks like a tail-wagging mop and even has his own Facebook page.

(Check out Zuck's Instagram and Beast's Facebook page for more ridiculous pictures.)

Occasionally selling Facebook stock keeps Zuckerberg so rich he doesn't need a salary: The CEO makes $1 a year. He did, however, require $610,454 in 2014 for catered, privately chartered jets for himself and his guests.

Occasionally selling Facebook stock keeps Zuckerberg so rich he doesn

Source: SEC

And he's far from flashy with his wealth. "He’s the poorest rich person I’ve ever seen in my life," Tyler Winklevoss once said of Zuckerberg in an interview.

And he

The CEO notoriously dons either a hoodie or a gray t-shirt. No designer suits here.

The CEO notoriously dons either a hoodie or a gray t-shirt. No designer suits here.

Instead of a Tesla or a Ferrari, Mark Zuckerberg drives a black Volkswagen GTI with a manual transmission, which costs around $30,415.

Instead of a Tesla or a Ferrari, Mark Zuckerberg drives a black Volkswagen GTI with a manual transmission, which costs around $30,415.

Zuckerberg would rather spend his money on privacy.

Zuckerberg would rather spend his money on privacy.

In October 2014, he shelled out $100 million for 750 acres of secluded land on Hawaiian island Kauai. He's using the land to build a private getaway.

In October 2014, he shelled out $100 million for 750 acres of secluded land on Hawaiian island Kauai. He

In Palo Alto, Zuckerberg spent more than $45 million buying his 5,000-square-foot home and then all the other land and buildings around it.

In Palo Alto, Zuckerberg spent more than $45 million buying his 5,000-square-foot home and then all the other land and buildings around it.

He also bought a $10 million mansion in San Francisco, and then proceeded to spend more than $1 million on remodeling and additions (like a $60,000 greenhouse).

He also bought a $10 million mansion in San Francisco, and then proceeded to spend more than $1 million on remodeling and additions (like a $60,000 greenhouse).

Source: SF Gate

During the renovation, he allegedly hired people to sit in cars parked near the house at night to save parking spaces for the construction workers.

During the renovation, he allegedly hired people to sit in cars parked near the house at night to save parking spaces for the construction workers.

Besides privacy, Zuckerberg spends his money on trying to make the world a better place. He donated $992 million to the Silicon Valley Community Foundation in 2013 and $75 million to San Francisco General Hospital in 2014.

Besides privacy, Zuckerberg spends his money on trying to make the world a better place. He donated $992 million to the Silicon Valley Community Foundation in 2013 and $75 million to San Francisco General Hospital in 2014.

Zuck's been much looser with Facebook's money than his own, though: The company has some major acquisitions under its belt, including $1 billion for Instagram, $19 billion for WhatsApp, and $2 billion for Oculus.

Zuck

But even Zuckerberg can't always get what he wants: He tried to buy Snapchat for $3 billion in 2013, but CEO Evan Spiegel turned him down.

But even Zuckerberg can

Besides other tech celebrities, Zuck frequently meets with other important people like Brazil's president, Dilma Rousseff...

Besides other tech celebrities, Zuck frequently meets with other important people like Brazil

Source: Facebook

... Snoop Dogg ...

... Snoop Dogg ...

... And President Obama. This is a visit back in February 2011.

... And President Obama. This is a visit back in February 2011.

Source: Facebook

In Singapore, artist Zhu Jia dedicated an exhibition to him called "The Face of Facebook."

In Singapore, artist Zhu Jia dedicated an exhibition to him called "The Face of Facebook."

Source: Reuters

Slightly less glamorous: Earlier this year an New York graffiti artist debuted a Zuckerberg portrait made of feces.

Slightly less glamorous: Earlier this year an New York graffiti artist debuted a Zuckerberg portrait made of feces.

At 31, Zuckerberg is one of a very small, elite group who has more billions of dollars than he has years on earth.

At 31, Zuckerberg is one of a very small, elite group who has more billions of dollars than he has years on earth.

But despite his billions, Zuck seems incredibly down-to-earth. He holds regular "Townhall" style Q&A sessions where he chats with regular people from all over the world. Here's a shot from one that took place in May:

But despite his billions, Zuck seems incredibly down-to-earth. He holds regular "Townhall" style Q&A sessions where he chats with regular people from all over the world. Here

Now check out some other rising social media celebs...

Now check out some other rising social media celebs...

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