Are you interested in learning who some of the biggest players are when investing on Facebook? With over 2.6 billion active users, the massive social network is a powerful platform for businesses and investors since its growth potential is practically limitless.
In this blog post, we'll look at the top shareholders of Facebook (also known as meta-shareholders) and discuss why they believe so strongly in the company's future. We'll also list their notable investments outside of this popular tech giant to give readers an idea of these moguls' success. So read on to find out who these titans of industry are!
What are Meta Platforms (META)
Meta Platforms are privately-owned companies that own significant stakes in several public companies. By doing this, the META can leverage its investments in multiple companies, creating greater value and gaining more exposure to industry trends than individual investors would receive on their own.
Top 6 Individual Insider Shareholders
1. Mark Zuckerberg
Founder and CEO of Facebook and its largest individual shareholder with a 17.6% stake in the company. As of November 2020, Zuckerberg's net worth is estimated at 108.7 billion dollars, making him one of the wealthiest people.
With his leadership and vision, Zuckerberg has been instrumental in transforming Facebook into a global giant with immense reach and influence. He has also made several notable investments outside of Facebook, such as Instagram, WhatsApp, and Oculus VR.
Dustin Moskovitz
Co-founder of Facebook and former roommate of Mark Zuckerberg, who holds an 8% stake in the company. Moskovitz left the tech giant in 2008 but remains its second-largest individual shareholder behind Zuckerberg. He also co-founded Asana, an online project management tool, and has invested in technology companies such as Path, General Assembly, and Zenefits.
Moskovitz is a philanthropist, having pledged in 2016 to donate $20 million to the Open Philanthropy Project. He also co-founded Good Ventures and The Giving Pledge initiative alongside his wife Cari Tuna, which helps increase funding for charitable causes. With an estimated net worth of around $15 billion, Moskovitz remains a major player in the technology industry.
3. Peter Thiel
Co-founder of PayPal and an early investor in Facebook who currently holds a 5.5% stake in the company. Thiel's net worth is estimated at 6 billion dollars, making him one of the wealthiest people in Silicon Valley. He also has invested heavily outside of Facebook with notable investments, including Palantir Technologies, Asana, Linkedin, and AirBnB.
4. Jim Breyer
Venture capitalist and early investor in Facebook who holds a 0.4% stake in the company. Breyer is also an advisor to several prominent technology companies, such as Spotify, Circle Internet Financial, and RockYou. He has also made investments outside of Facebook, including investments in Zynga, Articulon Ventures, and InMobi.
5. Marc Andreessen
Co-founder of Netscape Communications and inventor of Mosaic web browser, currently holding a 0.2% stake in Facebook. Andreessen is also one of Silicon Valley's most active venture capitalists, with notable investments in Skype, Groupon, Ning, Twitter, Foursquare, and many more. He has also invested in non-tech companies like Lyft, Warby Parker, and Dragonfly Therapeutics.
6. Eduardo Saverin
Co-founder of Facebook, who currently holds a 0.2% stake in the company. After leaving FB, Saverin has branched out and invested in many tech companies such as Jumio, Qwiki, and E la Carte. He is also a notable philanthropist who supports various causes in his native Brazil.
These six individuals are some of the largest shareholders in Facebook, collectively owning around 32% of the company's stock. They have also made impressive investments outside of Facebook, suggesting immense faith in the future of this tech giant. Their success with their other investments is a testament to their ability to identify potential winners even before they become household names. With their combined expertise and experience, it's no surprise that these five moguls strongly believe in Facebook’s future.
Top 5 Institutional Shareholders
1. Vanguard Group: 15.2%
One of the largest asset managers in the world, with a 15.2% stake in Facebook. As of November 2020, Vanguard Group has assets under management totaling over 6 trillion dollars, making them one of the most influential investors in the world. Their portfolio includes many well-known companies such as Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, and Alphabet.
2. Fidelity Investments: 10%
Boston-based investment firm widely recognized for its mutual funds and other financial services products. Fidelity currently holds a 10% stake in Facebook and shares in businesses across various industries, including technology, healthcare, finance, consumer goods, and more.
3. State Street Corporation: 5.1%
Global financial services company based in Boston is one of the world's largest asset managers, with over 2.9 trillion dollars in assets under management as of November 2020. State Street has a 5.1% stake in Facebook and shares in many other companies, such as Alphabet, Microsoft, Amazon, and JPMorgan Chase.
4. BlackRock Inc.: 4.8%
One of the world’s largest asset managers with a 4.8% stake in Facebook and over 7 trillion dollars in assets under management as of November 2020. BlackRock owns shares in many other companies, including Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, and Alphabet.
5. T Rowe Price Group Inc.: 4%
Global asset management firm holds a 4% stake in Facebook and has assets under management totaling over 1.2 trillion dollars as of November 2020. T Rowe Price also owns shares in many other businesses, such as Microsoft, Alphabet, Johnson & Johnson, and Berkshire Hathaway.
As these top five institutional investors demonstrate, there is plenty of big money behind Facebook's success. With their collective expertise and experience in investing across multiple industries, they will likely remain supportive of the tech giant for years to come. As such, the sky's the limit for the growth potential of Facebook in uncertain times and beyond. Combining these top five individuals and institutional shareholders proves this tech giant is here to stay!
FAQs
Q1: Who are the top shareholders of Facebook?
A1: The top shareholders of Facebook, also known as meta-shareholders, include CEO Mark Zuckerberg, with a 15% stake in the company, and Co-Founder Dustin Moskovitz, with 7.6%. Other notable investors include mutual fund giant Vanguard Group (5.48%), Hedge Fund Blackrock (3.85%), and Capital Research Global Investors (2.63%).
Q2: Why do these investors believe so strongly in the future of Facebook?
A2: These top shareholders believe that Facebook has incredible growth potential due to its massive 2.6 billion user base and powerful platform for businesses and investors. Additionally, they have faith in the leadership of CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his team, who have continued to innovate and adapt the platform to the changing needs of users.
Q3: What other investments have these Facebook investors made?
A3: These moguls have invested money in various projects outside their investments in Facebook. For instance, Vanguard Group has invested in a range of industries, including financial services, healthcare, technology, and energy; Blackrock has spread its portfolio across multiple asset classes such as stocks, bonds, and commodities, while Capital Research Global Investors primarily focuses on global equities and fixed-income strategies.
Conclusion
The top shareholders of Facebook are some of the most successful investors in the world. They have put their faith in the future of Mark Zuckerberg’s tech giant while making various other investments across multiple asset classes and industries. This gives readers an idea of how successful these moguls are and why they believe so strongly in the prospects of Facebook.
