Would you be friends with Mark Zuckerberg? Would you be friend number 901,000,001?
I’m obsessed with the well publicised story of Facebook’s history; I’ve seen the movie, read The Facebook Effect, The Accidental Billionaires and spent many an evening or hungover Sunday watching documentaries surrounding Facebook and its origins. I’m a complete Wikipedia demon when it comes to the achievements of Mark and his co-founders. It fascinates me that a young man still in college was able to create such a monster of an empire and he, with no prior experience or knowledge, became CEO and chairman of the company. Not without the help of others he was (incorrectly) crowned the world’s youngest billionaire. BILLIONAIRE. That’s a lot of money for anyone to have let alone a guy in his twenties. I’d love a billion dollars and what’s encouraging is that it all started from an idea of which we all have tonnes everyday. Facebook’s co-founder Dustin Moskovitz is actually the world’s youngest billionaire; he’s eight days younger than Mark giving Mark the number two spot.
Anyone who has seen the film or knows the story is aware that Mark Zuckerberg supposedly screwed over the Winklevoss twins and their friend Divya Narendra. Whether he actually did or not remains to be seen but paying them a $65 million settlement in stock and cash would suggest he did. After he screwed them over he then proceeded to do over his friend Eduardo who had been there with him from the start and who without there would be no Facebook.
With a new book chronicling the frat like beginnings of the social network and the inappropriate treatment of female employees, The Boy Kings by Facebook employee #51Katherine Losse, will only further damage the reputation of Zuckerberg and his public company. But it appears all the negative press has done neither Facebook nor Mark’s pocket any harm as they are now worth over $74 billion and $17.5 billion respectfully.
So the question is, would you befriend or work for Mark Zuckerberg, TIME Person of the Year 2010? Could you ever trust him? Trust him with your words, ideas, job or friendship? It would be inspiring to work for such a controversial and world renowned company but could you do it? Would he lure you in to steal your ideas á la the Winklevoss years? He’s supposedly stolen intellectual property before, what’s stopping him doing it again? Are there really no friends in business?
He’s devious, he’s shrewd and possibly a thief but he knows his trade and he’s doing extremely well for himself and for all the others involved. I’d love the chance to work with Zuckerberg and witness first hand his mind functioning but I wouldn’t appreciate being taken advantage of in exchange for his friendship or a job. Taking all the pros and cons into consideration I probably would be friend number 901,000,001 but I’d keep myself to myself, give nothing away and observe from afar. I certainly wouldn’t be keen on wearing a t-shirt with his face on to celebrate his birthday nor would I want to be a part of ‘Judgebook’. Having said that, Mark Zuckerberg can steal whatever ideas he likes from me or make me wear a t-shirt with his face on if I get $65 million for it – CHA CHING. The sly genius.
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