"Mark Zuckerberg, Meta CEO and Co-founder, Achieves Peak Net Worth, Reaching All-Time High"

 "Mark Zuckerberg, Meta CEO and Co-founder, Achieves Peak Net Worth, Reaching All-Time High"

Meta CEO and co-founder Mark Zuckerberg is currently experiencing the pinnacle of his wealth, having surpassed Bill Gates to secure the fourth position among the world's richest individuals. This significant rise is attributed to a remarkable 22 percent surge in Meta's stock price, contributing to an astounding $28 billion increase in Zuckerberg's net worth.

As of now, Zuckerberg's wealth stands at an impressive $165 billion, outstripping Bill Gates' $124 billion. According to Forbes, the only individuals wealthier than Zuckerberg are Bernard Arnault, Elon Musk, and Jeff Bezos.

Furthermore, Zuckerberg is set to receive approximately $174 million in cash when Meta issues its inaugural dividend payment in March. This windfall is a result of his ownership of around 350 million Class A and B shares, both eligible for the dividend. If Meta maintains its current 50-cent quarterly dividend, Zuckerberg stands to accumulate over $690 million annually, as reported by CNBC.

In addition to his financial success, Zuckerberg made headlines recently by joining the growing chorus of criticism against Apple's proposed App Store policies, aimed at compliance with the European Union's Digital Markets Act (DMA). During the company's earnings conference call on February 1, Zuckerberg expressed dissatisfaction with Apple's rules, deeming them "onerous" and at odds with the intended purpose of the EU regulation. He went on to express skepticism that any developer, including Meta, would seriously consider adopting these rules, stating, "I don't think that the Apple thing is going to have any difference for us... I think it's just going to be very difficult for anyone, including ourselves, to really seriously entertain what they're doing there."