Mark Zuckerberg wore something truly extraordinary to UFC 320 this weekend, where he sat front row and was seen interacting with fighters and other notable figures from the MMA world. On his wrist was a $2.5 million F.P. Journe Astronomic Souveraine with a grey dial and metal bracelet, a timepiece that instantly drew the attention of collectors and watch enthusiasts alike. It is the most expensive watch in Zuckerberg’s rapidly expanding collection and one of the most complicated mechanical creations ever built by F.P. Journe, representing a level of craftsmanship few watchmakers have ever achieved.
The Astronomic Souveraine sits at the very top of François-Paul Journe’s achievements. Unveiled in 2019, it remains the most complicated wristwatch the brand has ever produced. Measuring 44 mm in steel, it houses the hand-wound Caliber 1619, a movement crafted entirely in 18k rose gold and composed of approximately 758 parts.
The front dial presents mean solar time with seconds, a second time zone, sidereal time, a day-night indicator, sunrise and sunset indications, moon phase, and a power reserve. The caseback reveals an annual calendar and an equation of time display. Adding to its significance are a minute repeater, a one-minute tourbillon with a remontoir d’égalité, and dead-beat seconds, all operating in perfect mechanical harmony.
The story of this model began with the one-off Astronomic Blue, a tantalum-cased prototype created for the Only Watch charity auction in 2019, where it sold for CHF 1.8 million. F.P. Journe later produced a small number of steel Astronomic Souveraines, making them nearly impossible to acquire. Today, they trade privately in the low- to mid-seven-figure range, cementing their reputation as modern grail pieces. For collectors, it is a watch that represents mastery of both mechanical complexity and poetic expression, a complete cosmos contained within 44 millimeters of steel.
Zuckerberg’s choice of watch is telling. Over the past year, he has shifted from mainstream luxury toward serious independent horology, frequently wearing F.P. Journe pieces like the Byblos Chronomètre Bleu earlier this year. His interest aligns less with hype and more with craftsmanship, precision, and rarity. The Astronomic Souveraine, with its meticulous architecture and astronomical functions, fits perfectly with his personality as a builder obsessed with systems and control.
That watch was on full display when Zuckerberg attended UFC 320 this weekend in Las Vegas, where he sat front row at T-Mobile Arena. Cameras captured him greeting Brazilian bantamweight Daniel “Willycat” Santos moments after Santos’ stunning second-round knockout of Joosang Yoo. Getty editors logged and captioned his attendance, while fan media later shared a short clip of him thanking friends and UFC figures after the event.
His presence at fight night makes complete sense. In April 2025, the UFC named Meta its first “Official Fan Technology Partner,” integrating Meta AI, Threads, Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, and Quest VR into UFC broadcasts and in-arena experiences. Threads was designated the sport’s official social media platform. The partnership deepened further when Dana White, UFC’s CEO, joined Meta’s board of directors earlier this year, creating a direct link between the two organizations.
Beyond the corporate ties, Zuckerberg’s connection to mixed martial arts runs deep. He doesn’t just watch the sport; he competes in it. In May 2023, he entered a local Brazilian jiu-jitsu tournament and won both gold and silver in the white-belt masters division. Later that year, he earned his blue belt under Dave Camarillo of Guerrilla Jiu-Jitsu. His training partners include top UFC fighters Israel Adesanya and Alexander Volkanovski, who have both spoken highly of his dedication. On Joe Rogan’s podcast, Zuckerberg summed up his passion perfectly: “It really is the best sport… five minutes in I was like, ‘Where has this been my whole life?’”
A torn ACL in late 2023 briefly sidelined him, halting plans for an amateur MMA bout. But recovery hasn’t stopped his appearances at major UFC cards. From his much-memed corner moment at UFC 298 to his return for UFC 320, Zuckerberg has become something of a fixture at ringside, now blending his personal interests, corporate partnerships, and unmistakable taste in watches.
When he sat cageside in Las Vegas this weekend, the Astronomic Souveraine on his wrist said as much about him as the event itself. A watch that captures celestial precision and mechanical genius, worn by a man who has built his empire on both. In a night filled with heavyweights, the real knockout may have been the one ticking quietly under Zuckerberg’s cuff.
