Mark Zuckerberg may be building a secretive mega-compound on Lake Tahoe, but on July 4th, he was out in the open, wakeboarding across the water in a giant inflatable American eagle suit. Yes, you read that right.
This year, the Meta CEO celebrated Independence Day by posting a now-viral video on Facebook and Instagram, where he’s seen wakeboarding while dressed like a cartoonish eagle, complete with a red, white, and blue belly and flapping wings. The clip opens with a simple but hilarious caption: “Is this the stupidest thing we’ve done so far?”
Zuckerberg is no stranger to July 4th antics. In 2021, he went viral for hydrofoiling across Lake Tahoe while holding an American flag, backed by John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads.” That video became an internet classic. But this year, he seems to have topped it.
The video starts with Zuck sitting on a boat, an enormous American flag flapping beside him. Then, without much buildup, he’s suddenly gliding over the lake’s blue surface, fully suited up as America’s national bird. The inflatable costume bounces with every wave, its wings flailing helplessly as Zuckerberg expertly carves through the water like a professional.
Despite the absurd getup, his wakeboarding is smooth and confident. He’s been surfing Lake Tahoe for years, and it shows. At one point, he throws in a slight turn just to show he’s still got skills, even with 20 pounds of plastic bird wrapped around him.
Viewers couldn’t get enough. One user commented, “This is so dumb, I love it.” Another wrote, “Full send, Zuck. Bald eagle mode activated.” Someone else asked, “Is that really him or did the Metaverse gain sentience?”
The whole stunt is so over-the-top it circles right back to being impressive. It’s rare to see a billionaire let loose like this, even if it involves looking like a mascot from a Fourth of July parade gone rogue.
Just beyond the shoreline, construction is underway on Zuckerberg’s massive 10-acre estate. He quietly bought two neighboring properties in 2018 and 2019 for a combined $59 million. Now, the land is being transformed into a seven-building compound that includes a 20,000-square-foot main house, a gym, guesthouses, bridges, fire pits, and miles of walking trails.
Zuckerberg’s yearly tradition of extreme patriotism is becoming something of an internet holiday itself. And now that he’s got his own private playground at Lake Tahoe, complete with timber facades and bear-proof boxes, next year’s celebration could be even more unhinged.
