Shock year for tech billionaires |
Zuckerberg loses half his fortune in 9 months
For most tech billionaires, 2022 was a year of huge losses — even if they remain billionaires and continue to be super-rich.
But even in such a difficult year, Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg’s fortune stands out: his fortune has halved and is down a whopping $71 billion this year! The largest recorded loss in the US business media’s current super-rich ranking „Bloomberg“.
At $55.9 billion, Zuckerberg’s estimated net worth ranks “only” 20th among the world’s billionaires, its lowest level since 2014.
Less than two years ago, the 38-year-old was worth $106 billion (107.3 billion euros) – and belonged to an elite group of billionaires in which only Amazon ex-boss Jeff Bezos and Microsoft founder Bill Gates survived had larger fortunes. His fortune peaked at $142 billion in September 2021.
But then everything changed for Zuckerberg: Facebook became Meta, steadily increasing profit became a continuous loss. Because: Meta has a hard time gaining a foothold.
In February 2022, the Meta boss was hit particularly hard: When the company mightn’t report growth in monthly Facebook users, its share price collapsed and Zuckerberg was 31 billion poorer in an instant – one of the biggest fortune losses of one day at all.
Other tech billionaires also suffered heavy losses:
︎ Amazon founder Jeff Bezos made 47 billion dollars (47.6 billion euros) misery this year. As a result, Bezos slipped from 2nd to 3rd place in the super-rich ranking.
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos (58)
By the way: Bezos was overtaken by the Indian Gautam Adani (estimated fortune: 150 billion dollars; 151.8 billion euros). Adani is head of the Adani Group – the largest port operator in India.
Gautam Adani (60)
︎ Microsoft founder Bill Gates made a loss of 27 billion dollars (27.3 billion euros), ranked fifth in the ranking (111 billion dollars; 112.3 billion euros).
Microsoft founder Bill Gates (66)
︎ Tesla boss Elon Musk has lost $2.8 billion (2.83 billion euros) in the past nine months and is still at the top of the rich list with $268 billion (271.1 billion euros).
Tesla-Chef Elon Musk (51)
Zuckerberg is very lucky elsewhere
Even if he made a huge loss, at least his family will comfort him now. Because the Zuckerbergs reported on Wednesday via Facebook post that they are expecting new offspring.
He already has daughters August (5) and Maxima (6) with his wife Priscilla Chan (37). Now even a third lady is supposed to come along!
“Lots of love,” Zuckerberg wrote. “Excited to announce that Max and August are expecting a new baby sister next year!”
So Zuckerberg has lost half his fortune in nine months, but his family will increase by a fifth in nine months. Congratulations …
