The controversial boss of Meta is the happy father of three daughters, the fruit of his union with Priscilla Chan.
His words created a shock wave. Mark Zuckerberg was, on Friday January 10, the guest of the famous podcaster and former American MMA star Joe Rogan. Over the course of these three hours of interview, the “big boss” of Meta said he felt “that a large part of our society has become […] castrated in some way, or emasculated. “There is something good in masculinity, and a culture that values aggressiveness has merit,” he added, recalling at the same time having been “surrounded by women all [sa] life”, he who only had sisters and daughters.
As a reminder, Mark Zuckerberg has been in perfect love with Priscilla Chan since they met at Harvard in 2003. After almost ten years of relationship, the couple said “yes” on May 19, 2012, one day after the IPO from Facebook. That day, 100 guests were present… who had not come for a wedding. Everyone thinks they’re celebrating Priscilla’s graduation until they discover her in a long white dress, veil hanging from her low bun, in the garden of the couple’s house in Palo Alto.
Once married, the couple wants to start a family. But it quickly leads to disillusionment. Miscarriages are increasing, three in total. In 2015, the co-founder of Facebook spoke about this ordeal and the taboo surrounding it: “We feel full of hope when we learn that we are going to have a child. We begin to imagine who he will become and to dream of the future. We start making plans, then they fly away. (…) Most people don’t talk about miscarriages because they fear their problems will put them in danger. It’s like there’s this idea that we’re defective or that something caused this. So we end up fending for ourselves.”
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Maxima, the eldest who gives hope
In the middle of summer 2015, Mark Zuckerberg had some good news. In a Facebook post (of course), he reveals that Priscilla Chan is expecting their first child and will be taking two months of paternity leave immediately as soon as he’s here. A little girl was born on December 1, 2015: Maxima, a feminine variant of the Latin first name “Maximus” (“the greatest”). When he was born, his parents wrote him an endless letter on Facebook (again and again), which began with “Dear Max” and which attempted to tell him that they would do everything to build him a better world.
In addition to formalizing the birth of their daughter, the Chan-Zuckerbergs launched the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI), a private foundation whose objective is, among other things, to eradicate all diseases by the end of the century. To do this, they announce that they will gradually transfer 99% of the shares they hold in Facebook to their foundation. The gesture is spectacular.
August, the youngest
On March 9, 2017, Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan announced that their family would soon be growing. At the same time, they talk about their past difficulties in conceiving. “We didn’t know what to expect or if we would be able to have another child,” confesses the business leader on Facebook. “When Priscilla and I found out she was pregnant again, we initially hoped the child would be healthy.” Before adding: “My other hope was that it would be a girl.”
A few months later, just before the birth of their second child, Mark Zuckerberg spoke to the magazine People and talks about how fatherhood has changed him. “Having Max really changed the way I see things,” he confides. “Max”’s little sister was born shortly after, in August 2017. Her name is August in reference to the Roman emperor Augustus Caesar, whom Zuckerberg once described as one of the most “fascinating” figures in history, notes the media Today . With complete simplicity.
As usual, Mark Zuckerberg wastes no time in speaking. On Facebook, he wrote: “Your mother and I are so excited to see who you will become. (…) August, we love you so much and we can’t wait to live this adventure with you. We wish you a life full of joy, love and the same hope that you give us.”
Aurelia, the youngest
And then, because “never two without three”, Mark Zuckerberg announced in September 2022 that a third child is on the way. Once again, it’s a girl. The billionaire shares his happiness on Facebook: “I am happy to announce that Max and August will have a little sister next year!”
In February 2023, Mark Zuckerberg gives a glimpse into his wife’s pregnancy on her 38th birthday. In the said photo, revealed on Instagram, we see him kissing Priscilla Chan’s cheek while holding her round belly. “Happy birthday to my favorite person! (Or, as August likes to call him, the main character of our family),” he jokes.
The following month, “Zuck” confirmed the birth of his third and last daughter named Aurelia. A first name which this time pays homage to the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius. Just that. “Welcome to the world, Aurelia Chan Zuckerberg! You are a true blessing,” proclaims Mark Zuckerberg on social networks.
Raised in complete discretion
Screenshot Instagram / @zuck
Wandering between their different villas (Palo Alto, San Francisco, Lake Tahoe and Hawaii), Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan occasionally give a brief glimpse of their family life. We saw the five of them reunited, happier than ever, at Mark’s 40th birthday, in May 2024. For the occasion, “Cilla” had also recreated her husband’s favorite pizzeria when he was still than an average Harvard student. We also smiled at Mark’s manicure session at Maxima, or when the American started making Lego flamingos with August.
Apart from these few rare photos, Mark Zuckerberg and his wife seek as much as possible to keep the lives of their three daughters private. So little is known about the Zuckerberg girls. Except that Maxima and August have been learning to code with their father since the age of three, that “Max”‘s first word is none other than… “dog”, that August wants to be Taylor Swift when she grows up. And that Aurelia loves the stories told by her father.
Despite all the energy he deploys to offer his daughters a “better world”, Mark Zuckerberg recently seems to be making a 180° turn, quick to align himself with the policies of the future President of the United States, Donald Trump. An opportunistic change in strategy which could well, in the long term, impact the future of Maxima, August and Aurelia.
