Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg was seen living it up in Las Vegas this weekend, attending UFC 313 while sporting one of the most coveted timepieces in the world – the extremely rare Rolex Daytona Le Mans in yellow gold. The tech billionaire, accompanied by his wife Priscilla Chan, managed to make waves both for his horology choice and his social media posts documenting the event.
The Daytona Le Mans ref. 126528LN adorning Zuckerberg’s wrist is no ordinary timepiece. Released in 2024 as an “off-catalog” piece, this ultra-exclusive watch isn’t even listed on Rolex’s official website, creating an air of mystique that has watch enthusiasts and collectors buzzing. Its 40mm yellow gold case and distinctive silver subdials with “lollipop” markers make it immediately recognizable to those in the know.
What makes this particular Daytona so exceptional is its extreme rarity. According to luxury watch dealers, fewer than six pieces were allocated to some international retailers with multiple points of sale. The watch commemorates the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans race, featuring a ceramic bezel with a distinctive red “100” marking – a detail originally designed to celebrate the race’s centennial. Its display caseback, unusual for Rolex, showcases the Caliber 4132 movement introduced with the 2023 Daytona line.
While the watch retails for $50,400 (for those lucky enough to receive an allocation), it commands upwards of $300,000 on the secondary market, making it a significant statement piece even for a tech billionaire. The juxtaposition of the warm yellow gold case with silver subdials creates what many collectors consider the perfect balance – bold without being ostentatious, exclusive without being unapproachable.
Zuckerberg’s evening in Sin City extended beyond simply showcasing rare horology. According to his Instagram posts, the Meta chief attended the UFC 313 match between Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira at T-Mobile Arena. His social media carousel featured photos with his wife Priscilla Chan, as well as UFC fighters Alex Pereira and Australian MMA fighter Alex Volkonovski.
In a particularly notable moment captured on video and shared to his Instagram Stories, Zuckerberg showed himself winning at poker against Volkonovski, playfully tagging the fighter with “sorry Volk” in his post. The entire evening seemed to be one of relaxation and entertainment for the tech CEO, who captioned his post: “Great night seeing friends and some of my favorite fighters. Can’t wait for the rematch.”
Interestingly, social media users were quick to point out what they jokingly call the “Zuckerberg curse” – a supposed phenomenon where fighters who pose with the Meta CEO go on to lose matches. After Magomed Ankalaev claimed the UFC light heavyweight title by defeating Alex Pereira, commenters invoked this superstition, with some playfully praying for Pereira to “break the curse.”
This appearance marks Zuckerberg’s return to public sporting events following his recovery from a significant knee injury. Just a week prior, on March 4, he had posted about enjoying his first ski weekend with his children since tearing his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in November 2023 while training for a fight – highlighting the Meta founder’s well-documented interest in mixed martial arts.
For watch enthusiasts, Zuckerberg’s choice of the Le Mans Daytona represents an interesting evolution in his collection. Few weeks back, he was photographed sporting a diamond-studded Rolex Daytona worth $1.3 million at his wife’s birthday party. While many tech CEOs opt for more understated timepieces, his selection of one of the most exclusive and sought-after watches in the current market suggests a growing appreciation for haute horology that matches his evident passion for combat sports.
