Mark Zuckerberg’s journey in faith is almost as interesting as his story in tech. Raised in a Jewish home, he once identified as an atheist but has since explained that he is “no longer an atheist” and believes “religion is very important”. After becoming a father he said he had “become more religious” and spoke about the comfort of having faith in things greater than himself. Even his holiday posts highlight a blend of traditions, in 2016 he publicly wished people “Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah”, acknowledging both Christian and Jewish celebrations.
Quick Profile: Mark Zuckerberg
| Full Name | Mark Elliot Zuckerberg |
| Date of Birth | May 14, 1984 |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Technology entrepreneur, CEO of Meta |
| Known for | Co-founding Facebook (Meta) |
| Religion | Raised Jewish |
| Net worth | $218 billion |
What religion is Mark Zuckerberg?
Zuckerberg has roots in Judaism but does not neatly fit any single religious label. He “grew up in a Jewish household and became a bar mitzvah at 13”, but in his twenties he distanced himself from formal faith. In a widely reported social-media post he wrote, “No. I was raised Jewish and then I went through a period where I questioned things, but now I believe religion is very important”.
More recently, at a 2020 tech conference he said he had “become more religious” due to the challenges of running Facebook and the birth of his daughters. Despite these comments, Zuckerberg has never formally embraced a new faith; publicly he emphasizes values and spirituality rather than denominational practice. In summary, he identifies culturally with his Jewish heritage but also says he values faith in a broad sense.
Early Life
Mark Zuckerberg was born on May 14, 1984, in White Plains, New York, to parents Edward (a dentist) and Karen (a psychiatrist). He was raised in nearby Dobbs Ferry, NY, where he showed an early aptitude for computers. His parents nurtured this talent, by middle school he had built a program called “ZuckNet” to help his father’s dental office communicate.
Zuckerberg attended Phillips Exeter Academy, an elite prep school where he excelled academically. In 2002 he enrolled at Harvard University studying computer science and psychology, but soon turned his attention to social networking. In 2004 he and his classmates launched “TheFacebook” at Harvard. The site quickly expanded beyond campus, leading Zuckerberg to drop out of Harvard to focus on his startup. Within a few years Facebook became a global phenomenon (amassing over 3 billion users by 2021) and Zuckerberg became a billionaire at a young age. These early successes in tech set the stage for his later career as CEO of Meta, the parent company of Facebook and other platforms.
Career and Meta
As an entrepreneur, Zuckerberg co-founded Facebook in 2004 and has led it through several major phases. He guided Facebook’s growth from a college project to one of the world’s largest social networks, including key acquisitions (Instagram, WhatsApp, Oculus VR) and feature rollouts. Under his leadership, Facebook’s user base surpassed three billion people, and the company’s stock debut in 2012 made him one of the youngest self-made billionaires.
In October 2021, Zuckerberg announced that Facebook’s parent company would be renamed Meta, signaling a new focus on virtual reality and the “metaverse.” Today Meta Platforms encompasses Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and its Reality Labs division, with Zuckerberg as its CEO. He continues to direct Meta’s strategy in social media, virtual reality and artificial intelligence, even as the company faces regulatory and public-relations challenges worldwide.
Personal Life
Zuckerberg married pediatrician Priscilla Chan in May 2012. The couple met at Harvard and have three daughters, Maxima (born 2015), August (born 2017), and Aurelia (born 2023). Chan was raised in a Buddhist family, although in 2022 she reportedly converted to Judaism (as Zuckerberg noted in an Instagram post in 2023). The Zuckerbergs divide their time between California and New York, often mentioning family in public posts. They are both known for philanthropy and share a commitment to education and science, but they keep their children’s lives relatively private.
In terms of religion, Chan’s Buddhist background and his own Jewish heritage suggest their household embraces multiple traditions, although neither makes religion a dominant public issue. Zuckerberg has said that raising his children has deepened his perspective on life, including his sense of wonder and gratitude, but he rarely discusses religious practices explicitly.
Philanthropy
Outside of Facebook, Zuckerberg and Chan are among the world’s most generous philanthropists. In December 2015, on the birth of their first daughter, they announced the creation of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) and pledged to give 99% of their Facebook shares to charity. The CZI’s mission spans education, scientific research and health; for example, its Biohub project supports disease research. Forbes reports that by 2022 the couple was donating hundreds of millions per year (over $900 million in 2021). In late 2025, they announced a new focus, applying artificial intelligence to biology through the Biohub platform, aiming to cure diseases faster.
The Zuckerbergs have also contributed to Jewish causes. In 2021 they gave $1.3 million to eleven Jewish organizations, reflecting a connection to Zuckerberg’s cultural roots as well as Chan’s later conversion.
Beliefs and Public Image
Zuckerberg’s faith and beliefs remain a private part of his public persona. He “only rarely talks about his faith”, so any comments or images he shares tend to draw attention. For example, a false rumor circulated in 2024 claiming he had banned people from posting the Lord’s Prayer on Facebook; fact-checkers clarified this was untrue. In reality, Zuckerberg has emphasized values like freedom of expression and giving people a voice over any particular doctrine. Occasionally he does share glimpses of personal tradition, in recent years he posted photos of his daughter using a family heirloom kiddush cup and images of homemade challah bread and hamantaschen, signaling an appreciation for Jewish culture.
