Mark Zuckerberg's Prank Led Him To His Wife

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has said that one of the most defining moments of his time at Harvard was not the founding of Facebook, but the prank website that nearly got him expelled and the chance encounter it produced. Speaking at Harvard's 2017 commencement ceremony, Zuckerberg told graduates, "Without Facemash I wouldn't have met Priscilla, and she's the most important person in my life." In 2003, Zuckerberg created Facemash, a website that pulled photos from Harvard's student directories and allowed users to compare classmates' attractiveness. The site spread rapidly across campus and landed him in serious trouble with Harvard's administration. "Everyone thought I was going to get kicked out," Zuckerberg recalled. "My parents came to help me pack. My friends threw me a going-away party." It was at that party that he met Priscilla Chan. "We met in line for the bathroom in the Pfoho Belltower," Zuckerberg said. "And in what must be one of the all-time romantic lines, I said: 'I'm going to get kicked out in three days, so we need to go on a date quickly.'" Chan said yes. Zuckerberg was never expelled, and dropped out the following year to build Facebook, which grew into Meta, one of the largest technology companies in the world. He and Chan married in 2012 and have three daughters together. The couple has also founded the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, a philanthropic organization that has committed billions toward advancing science, improving education, and helping researchers work on major diseases. Zuckerberg has more recently spoken about the potential for artificial intelligence to accelerate medical breakthroughs, including the effort to better understand, prevent, and treat disease. The story is a reminder that transformative careers and lifelong relationships can trace back to the most unexpected moments in this case, a controversial college prank and a pickup line in a bathroom line. Images: Shutterstock - [Frederic Legrand - COMEO](https://www.shutterstock.com/g/FLD "Frederic Legrand - COMEO"), [Featureflash Photo Agency](https://www.shutterstock.com/g/featureflash "Featureflash Photo Agency"), [Kathy Hutchins](https://www.shutterstock.com/g/HelgaEsteb "Kathy Hutchins") #MarkZuckerberg #Facebook #Meta 🌐 Find more market-moving insights at https://www.benzinga.com — your one-stop destination for the latest financial news, data, and expert analysis to stay ahead of the markets. 🖥️ Want the same tools the pros use—without the $10K Bloomberg terminal? Benzinga Edge gives you real-time portfolio alerts, weekly stock picks, and pro-grade research in one command center. 👉 https://bit.ly/4unSKiB ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 📲 Follow us on socials @benzinga 🔔 Subscribe To The Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Benzinga ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ⚠️ Disclaimer: Investing in financial markets carries risk, and there are no guaranteed returns. All information is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as financial advice. Always do your own research and speak with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. Only invest what you can afford to lose. Past performance does not guarantee future outcomes.