Why does Mark Zuckerberg look... like that? (2024)

Mark Zuckerberg looks different. His hair is longer and less restrained. His clothes hang from his frame with an enviable ease, and a rotating repertoire of link chains adorn his neck. For years, Zuckerberg applied the same daily diet of dark wash jeans, gray fitted tees, dad sneakers, and a close, cropped haircut à la his idol Augustus Caesar.

Now, it looks like he has taken a sartorial chill pill.

Online, reactions have been positive enough that Zuckerberg has begun to engage in the discourse. He's asked fashion insider and Instagram's director of fashion partnerships Eva Chen to weigh in on his chain (too long, she said — she was right). A meme of Zuckerberg, edited with facial hair, has also made the rounds.

Before this sudden switch up, Zuckerberg was known for the no-nonsense wardrobe popular with tech execs who hope to be perceived as too busy (or too serious) to care about what they wear. Steve Jobs, famously, wore a uniform of a black Issey Miyake turtleneck and Levi's 501 classic fit jeans. When asked about his choice to wear gray t-shirts in 2014, Zuckerberg spun it into a commentary on the importance of his work: "I feel like I’m not doing my job if I spend any of my energy on things that are silly or frivolous about my life" he said, "and that way, I can dedicate all my energy to building the best products and services and helping us reach our goal and achieve our mission.”

Why does Mark Zuckerberg look... like that? (1)

Zuckerberg in uniform in 2017.Credit: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images

In 2024, it would seem that frivolity is no longer a concern. In February, Zuckerberg let his hair grow out into natural curls and replaced his fitted tees with relaxed, structured cuts in new colors (white! black! blue!). He visited Japan in a shearling jacket and, for the wedding of the son of Indian billionaire and business partner Mukesh Ambani, wore matching Alexander McQueen and Rahul Mishra ensembles with his wife Priscilla Chan. In March, he implied that the shearling had become his signature look when he exchanged it for the leather jacket of billionaire Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang in a photo op he captioned "jersey swap."

Earlier this month, the chain arrived — multiple chains, actually, worn on different days. The accessory's first major appearance was in videos posted to X which documented the couple's attendance at a UFC fight in meticulously crafted looks: Zuckerberg in his chain and structured tee, Chan in a gold Chanel necklace, cropped fur coat, combat boots, and black top with a plunging neckline.

It was a far cry from the Zuckerberg we used to know and, for that matter, the Chan of the past. A coworker of mine had equated her personal style to the inventory of J. Crew. Now, Business Insider praised her for pulling off "mob chic," a reference to the trending "mob wife" aesthetic (though most mafia dons' better halves would probably pass on combat boots). "When did Priscilla become hot?" asked one X user in a tweet liked 44,000 times.

It was clear that the Zuckerbergs had hired a stylist, and it was money well spent.

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Shortly after the fight, Zuckerberg took to Instagram Reels to announce updates to Meta AI. He addressed his followers while sporting a chain and his longer hair, introducing the look to a new audience. Memes abounded but the most popular was a screenshot of the video that had been altered to look like Zuckerberg had also grown facial hair. People liked it.

Instagram gossip account The Shade Room reposted the edited photo to its more than 29 million followers, adding Sexyy Red's song "Get it Sexyy" to the post for effect. "Who did this?" Zuckerberg commented from his account. Gwyneth Paltrow commented, too, noting how much he resembled her ex, Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, a compliment of the highest degree to any middle-aged white man.

Since then, comments on Zuckerberg's Instagram posts have demanded that he grow out his beard. When he isn't wearing a chain, the people call for that, too.

In his interaction with Instagram's Eva Chen on April 23rd, he addressed the accessory outright, classifying it as a personal project of sorts."I'm actually in the process of designing a long-term chain," he told her, "and what I'm going for is I'm working with a designer to engrave the prayer that I sing to my girls every night when I put them to bed on the end of the chain."

This sartorial shift has run parallel to a lifestyle change that has seen Zuckerberg engaging with masculinity in new ways. In 2022, he began sharing videos of him sparring with UFC greats and attending fights. In 2023, he competed in a jiu-jitsu tournament and tore his ACL. In January, he shared on Instagram that he was raising cattle with the goal of "[creating] some of the highest quality beef in the world" and posted a video of Chan "catching" him playing what appears to be Call of Duty with friends in couple's home bunker.

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In July 2023, twin successes were likened by The Atlantic and Wall Street Journal to a renaissance of sorts for Zuckerberg: the launch of Meta-owned X alternative Threads and Zuckerberg's challenge to take on Elon Musk in a physical fight.

The past two weeks feel like another turning point, perhaps the opening of a new era. Throughout the 2010s, Zuckerberg's uniform turned him into a sort of extraterrestrial caricature of a human, drained of personality and color. Now, thanks to a few styling changes, he is approaching relatability. And while there's certainly no crime in being stylish, there's something nefarious about a billionaire aspiring to popular approval. Mark Zuckerberg, the fourth richest person in the world, does not need more attention. In fact, with a net worth of $177 billion, he doesn't need anything. So why does he seem to care so much?

Perhaps because relatability can evolve into respectability, a public sentiment that has been in low supply for Zuckerberg in recent years (a 2022 NBC News poll found that just 8 percent of respondents held a "positive" view of him). The Social Network's fictional depiction of Zuckerberg as an awkward, jealous Harvard nerd belies a kernel of truth: that Zuckerberg has always just wanted to be liked and admired. It was, after all, the reason he created Facebook to begin with.

The problem with Zuckerberg's current bid for respectability is that he does not, at present, deserve it. The 39-year-old is a white guy rapidly accumulating billions as the gaping maw of the wealth gap groans ever wider.

And with the American Presidential elections just seven months away, Zuckerberg's new look could conveniently serve as a distraction from the scrutiny Meta may face over its handling of foreign interference and misinformation.

Zuckerberg holds too much power and has too much money to be innocently wooing the public with an aesthetic glow-up. Forgive me for not complimenting his jacket.

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Why does Mark Zuckerberg look... like that? (2024)

FAQs

Does Mark Zuckerberg wear the same clothes every day? ›

The brainiac saves his mind for more pressing decisions by wearing the same outfit every day, he's said.

Is Mark Zuckerberg a vegetarian? ›

Zuckerberg has previously caused a stir around meat eating. In 2011, he said he had “basically become a vegetarian” after claiming to only eat animals he has killed himself.

How much does Mark Zuckerberg's T-shirt cost? ›

They are $400 t-shirts and those sweatshirts are Brunello as well and are around $3,000." "Mark Zuckerberg wears custom made Brunello Cucinelli tees in marl grey. I believe they run long for him, thus needing a hem. He chooses to order in bulk for an estimated cost per unit that varies from $300-$400.

What is the identity of Mark Zuckerberg? ›

Mark Zuckerberg (born May 14, 1984, White Plains, New York, U.S.) is an American computer programmer who was cofounder and CEO (2004– ) of Facebook, a social networking website. After attending Phillips Exeter Academy, Zuckerberg enrolled at Harvard University in 2002.

How many hours a day does Mark Zuckerberg work? ›

A day in the life of Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who works up to 60 hours a week and has a squad of 12 employees to help him with social media. Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg eliminates nonessential choices from his life and sets ambitious personal goals to help him balance his work and home life.

Why do billionaires dress so casually? ›

It turns out — there is a psychological reason why rich people dress like this. A study conducted by specific people who dress inconspicuously is perceived to be more competent than those who dress conspicuously. In other words, if you want people to think you are successful, dressing down is the way to go.

What religion was Mark Zuckerberg? ›

Mark Elliot Zuckerberg was born on May 14, 1984, in White Plains, New York to psychiatrist Karen (née Kempner) and dentist Edward Zuckerberg. He and his three sisters (Arielle, Randi, and Donna) were raised in a Reform Jewish household in Dobbs Ferry, New York.

What religion does Mark Zuckerberg have? ›

"I was raised Jewish and then I went through a period where I questioned things, but now I believe religion is very important." The pivot occurs the same year Mark Zuckerberg met with the Pope.

Is Elon Musk a vegan? ›

Musk used to be an herbivore, but he switched up his eating habits circa 2013. “I tried being a vegetarian but I don't really think we're designed to be vegetarians,” he told The Guardian. “Some of my best friends are vegetarians, even vegans, which is tricky when you're trying to go out for dinner.”

What jeans does Mark Zuckerberg wear? ›

Generally, Mark Zuckerberg prefers brands like Brunello Cuccinelli. Zuckerberg has never disclosed what brand of exact denim brand he prefers, but any pair of slim-fitting black or blue denim jeans will do. Mark Zuckerberg has never shifted his most popular choice Grey T-shirt and Blue Denim Jeans.

What brand hoodie does Zuckerberg wear? ›

According to a person close to the CEO and his wardrobe (a correction of this nature demanded additional Investigative Journalism), Zuckerberg still wears some Loro Piana (such as its hoodies) — but these days he prefers somewhat more affordable menswear brands, including Buck Mason, Todd Snyder, and John Elliott for ...

What clothes does Bill Gates wear? ›

Bill Gates

He goes for simple, straightforward looks like shirts, jumpers and chinos paired with a Casio watch.

Did Zuckerberg graduate from Harvard? ›

Mark Zuckerberg did not graduate from Harvard. He attended the university as an undergraduate but dropped out. Mr. Zuckerberg received an honorary doctorate from Harvard in 2017.

What 16 personalities is Mark Zuckerberg? ›

16-Personality Types (based on types by Jung, Myers, & Briggs) As an ISTJ, Mark tends to be reserved, orderly, and practical. Mark is likely self-sufficient, hardworking to meet obligations, and prefers to be alone or in small groups of close friends.

How many kids does Mark Zuckerberg have? ›

However, beyond tech and programming, Mark is a family man, who with his spouse, Priscilla Chan, has three daughters, Maxima, August, and Aurelia. Priscilla and Mark's love story is quite remarkable because it shows the two sides to Mark – an entrepreneur and a family man with three beautiful daughters.

What brand of clothing does Mark Zuckerberg wear? ›

According to a person close to the CEO and his wardrobe (a correction of this nature demanded additional Investigative Journalism), Zuckerberg still wears some Loro Piana (such as its hoodies) — but these days he prefers somewhat more affordable menswear brands, including Buck Mason, Todd Snyder, and John Elliott for ...

Which billionaire wears same clothes? ›

Mark Zuckerberg's desire for simplicity in his clothing choice enables him to free up cognitive space for what he considers are more important matters. Do you think gender plays a role?

Why does Mark Zuckerberg always wear the same shirt? ›

Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg is well known for always wearing the same clothes to work: a gray t-shirt, a hoodie and jeans. As he said back in 2014: “I really want to clear my life to make it so that I have to make as few decisions as possible about anything except how to best serve this community.”

Why does Mark Zuckerberg wear casual clothes? ›

A few years ago, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg was in the headlines because he told the interviewer that he has a closet of the same T-shirts. He explained that dressing the same way every day allows him to save his mental capacity for making more significant decisions at work [1].

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