Zuckerberg’s Social Media Empire

Mar 14, 2025 8 min read

Thierry

“The biggest risk is not taking any risk… In a rapidly changing world, the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not to take any risks.”

– Mark Zuckerberg, Founder of Facebook and CEO of Meta Platforms

arvy’s teaser: Mark Zuckerberg built a social media empire that connects billions, defying critics and taking bold risks. From Facebook to the Metaverse, Meta Platforms is shaping the future of digital interaction. One thing is clear – this story is far from over.

Harvard, 2004.

At just 19, a super nerd named Mark Zuckerberg launched TheFacebook from his dorm room. What started as a college networking site exploded into a global social media giant, connecting billions. From reviving old friendships to fueling social movements, Zuckerberg changed the way the world interacts. Fast forward to today, his company has become the seventh-largest publicly traded business, boasting a staggering $1.6 trillion market cap.

Along the way, Facebook didn’t just grow – it acquired around 90 companies to cement its dominance (chart 1). The most well-known are Instagram, WhatsApp and Oculus.

In October 2021, the company rebranded to reflect its broader vision.

It’s known as Meta Platforms.

Chart 1: The social media empire of Meta Platforms

Source: Quartr

Mark Zuckerberg – The Genius Behind Meta Platforms

Companies led by their founders often make for exceptional investments.

Why?

Because founders have skin in the game – a personal stake in the company that drives them to fight harder. They possess a rare mix of talent, discipline, and adaptability, steering through uncertainty and challenges with relentless determination. They bring that fire in the eyes – the unshakable passion that fuels the journey.

The same holds true for Mark Zuckerberg. He still owns 13% of Meta and has evolved from a brilliant young tech nerd into a global CEO, navigating crises, controversies, and dangerous enemies along the way.

Crises?

An inevitable part of building a fast-growing, complex business that impacts billions of people daily. If you want a glimpse into his early days – how Facebook went from an idea to its first million users – I highly recommend watching The Social Network (chart 2, it is on Netflix😉).

Enemies?

When you create a company that holds vast amounts of customer data and wields immense influence over information, opposition is unavoidable. A more recent insight into Zuckerberg’s way of thinking and the stumbling blocks he has encountered can be found in his three-hour conversation with Joe Rogan. A podcast that plays out like a high-stakes thriller (see again chart 2).

Whether it’s the movie or the podcast, both reveal how Zuck mastered the ruthless game of entrepreneurship. They showcase his opportunistic thinking, his ability to pivot when needed, and his willingness to take massive risks in an ever-changing world.

A key ingredient in building something that truly lasts.

Chart 2: Movie “The Social Network” & Zuck’s visit to the Joe Rogan Podcast, January 2025

Source: arvy, Joe Rogan Podcast, Youtube, IMDb

World Dominance

In 2009, just five years after it was founded, Meta had already exceeded the 100 million active users mark worldwide.

Today, that number has skyrocketed to 3.35 billion daily active users – meaning 70% of the world’s internet users (excluding China, where Meta’s platforms are banned) engage with one of its core products – Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, or Messenger – every single day (chart 3).

That’s world dominance!

Zuckerberg took bold, pioneering risks to get here. It all started with small yet transformative features – like the Facebook News Feed in 2006 and the iconic like button in 2009 (wow, I’m feeling old! 😊).

Then came the game-changing acquisitions:

Instagram (2012) – Zuck shelled out $1 billion for an app with 30 million users and zero revenue. Everyone thought he’d lost his mind. Today? Instagram has been estimated to be worth more than $100 billion if it was a standalone company.
WhatsApp (2014) – another bold bet that cemented Meta’s hold on global communication.

Fun fact: One of the biggest myths about Facebook? “No one uses it anymore.” While it’s true that younger users are shifting away, the overall numbers tell a different story – a stable user base. And as users migrate from Facebook to Instagram, they still remain within Meta’s ecosystem.

This entire ecosystem falls under what Meta calls its “Family of Apps.” And as the name suggests, Meta has perfected an asset-light business model – meaning it can add millions of users at minimal additional cost while generating enormous profits.

Warren Buffett would call this a classic moat:

Network effects – the more people use it, the more valuable it becomes.
Brand strength – everyone knows the “Family of Apps” and wants to be part of it.

This is reflected in Meta’s high profitability metrics such as gross margins at 81.67% and net income margins at 37.9%. For every $10 in revenue, Meta earns a net profit of $3.79. Last year, Meta made a net profit of $62 billion.

And with billions in cash flowing in, one thing is clear.

Zuck isn’t slowing down anytime soon.

Chart 3: Meta’s road to world domination

Source: Quartr

Virtual and Augmented Reality – The Metaverse Future?

Alongside ongoing projects like Facebook Marketplace – which quickly outpaced competitors like eBay – and new WhatsApp initiatives such as WhatsApp Pay, which could evolve into a full-fledged super app, there’s one major development that’s harder to grasp.

The reason Facebook changed its name to Meta Platforms.

The Metaverse.

By now, most tech enthusiasts are familiar with Meta’s bold vision: a virtual universe designed to seamlessly merge physical and digital realities in ways we’ve never seen before.

But what’s all the fuss about?

When Meta rebranded in 2021, it wasn’t just a name change – it was a signal of its ambition to lead the next era of digital interaction. The goal? To create immersive, interconnected virtual experiences.

At the center of it all is the Meta Quest (formerly Oculus Quest), positioned as one of the first mainstream gateways into the Metaverse – offering users an immersive experience that goes far beyond traditional gaming.

Example?

Doctor (Virtual Reality): A doctor uses Meta Quest VR to simulate complex surgeries in a virtual operating room, honing their skills in a risk-free, realistic environment.
Football Fan (Augmented Reality): A football fan uses Meta Quest AR to overlay live stats, player information, and virtual scoreboards onto their real-world view during a game.

It all sounds futuristic, right?

But so did Instagram when it first launched. So did “Stories” when they were introduced. Zuckerberg and his team have a track record of pioneering digital revolutions, taking huge but calculated risks in a rapidly evolving world.

As Meta navigates the challenges of this new digital frontier, one thing is clear – this story is far from over.

Maybe, it’s only just the beginning.

Chart 4: Meta Platforms since IPO, 2012