Mark Zuckerberg truly deserves the title of husband of the century. Why? Because instead of flaunting his achievements, he chooses to celebrate the woman in his life. Priscilla Chan, his wife of 13 years, recently turned 40, and in true romantic flair, he wasted no time making her feel like the queen she is.
The Facebook co-founder hosted a grand birthday bash, where even the usually understated mother of three embraced the limelight with five dazzling outfit changes. She went from a strapless gown to a sophisticated black gown with a shawl and then a striking red leather ensemble. Chan was nothing short of mesmerizing. Whoever said 40 is the new 30 must have been thinking of the Zuckerbergs.
A birthday party fit for a queen
The celebration was a lavish affair with sparkling chandeliers, candlelit elegance, beautifully set dinner tables, and a live band playing their favorite tunes. The cake was a masterpiece, a giant pastry designed to look like a silver champagne bucket, with a black-and-gold bottle labeled ‘Domaine Priscilla, Vintage 1985’ as a tribute to her birth year. The bucket, also made of cake, bore intricate bead detailing and a bold ‘40’ to mark the milestone.
Mark went all out to channel his inner Benson Boone
Not Jeff Bezos, not Bernard Arnault, and certainly not Elon Musk, none of these wealthy gentlemen wear their hearts on their sleeves like Zuckerberg does. The doting husband took the stage in a sparkly blue jumpsuit, mimicking singer-songwriter Benson Boone’s Grammy look at Priscilla’s much-talked-about 40th birthday. He shared his euphoria and bold antics on Instagram, writing, “Your wife only turns 40 once! Shoutout to @bensonboone for the jumpsuit and new single,” alongside a video of himself stepping onto the stage in a dark suit, only to have two people dramatically strip it away, revealing the shimmering blue outfit underneath.
More than grand gestures, it’s about love
But Zuckerberg isn’t the husband of the century just because he threw an extravagant party. A billionaire worth $232 billion can certainly afford luxury, but it’s his thoughtfulness that makes him stand out. From creating a “Get Low” remix as a surprise for their date-versary, enrolling West Coast Customs to create the world’s first-ever bulletproof Porsche minivan for the mother of his three daughters, commissioning a seven-foot statue of Priscilla by a world-renowned sculptor Daniel Arsham, to hosting a disco-themed party just because his lady love wanted one, the tech tycoon knows how to make his partner feel cherished. The CEO of Meta also never misses a chance to give heartfelt speeches in her honor, leaving her absolutely smitten.
His birthday was a quieter affair
In contrast, Zuckerberg’s own 40th birthday was a much quieter affair aboard his extravagant birthday gift to himself, the $300 million Launchpad superyacht. Of course, the luxury vessel came with a $30 million support vessel called Wingman, but money is not his concern. Time and effort are what matter most, and he gives both generously to the woman he met back in 2003 during their Harvard years.
From a simple wedding to grand celebrations
Their love story began at a fraternity party while waiting in line for the bathroom. It was an instant connection that led to two decades together. Compared to today’s extravagant celebrations, their wedding was incredibly simple.
In May 2012, just after Facebook’s IPO, Zuckerberg and Chan surprised family and friends with an intimate backyard wedding in Palo Alto, under the guise of a celebration for Chan’s medical school graduation.
Perhaps today’s lavish parties are Zuckerberg’s way of making up for the early years when celebrations took a backseat. Either way, he’s proving that in love, it’s not just about money, but about making every moment count.
