The story of Eduardo Saverin and Mark Zuckerberg is not a simple tale of a college friendship gone sour—it’s a case study in how startup equity fights can reshape fortunes. Saverin co-founded Facebook with a $1,000 investment and a 34% stake, only to see his ownership diluted and his friendship with Zuckerberg fractured in a boardroom battle that ended in a confidential 2009 settlement.
Current net worth: ~$24 billion (Forbes, 2025) ·
Initial Facebook stake: 34% ·
Year of founding: 2004 ·
Settlement amount: Undisclosed (estimated ~$1 billion in Facebook shares) ·
Current residence: Singapore ·
Co-founder role: Co-founder and first investor
Quick snapshot
- Saverin co-founded Facebook in 2004 with a $1,000 investment (NBC News (established news outlet))
- His original stake was 34% (NBC News (established news outlet))
- Stake diluted to less than 10% in 2005 (NBC News (established news outlet))
- He settled a lawsuit with Facebook in 2009 (Business Insider (business publication))
- Exact settlement amount remains confidential (South China Morning Post (Hong Kong news publication))
- Current relationship with Mark Zuckerberg (Business Insider (business publication))
- Saverin’s precise current share ownership in Meta (Bloomberg Billionaires Index (financial data authority))
- 2004: Co-founded Facebook (NBC News (established news outlet))
- 2005: Stake diluted (Business Insider (business publication))
- 2009: Legal settlement (Bloomberg Billionaires Index (financial data authority))
- 2025: Net worth ~$24 billion (South China Morning Post (Hong Kong news publication))
- Continues as co-CEO of B Capital Group (Bloomberg Billionaires Index (financial data authority))
- Philanthropy and angel investing in Singapore (South China Morning Post (Hong Kong news publication))
- Net worth likely to track Meta’s stock performance (Bloomberg Billionaires Index (financial data authority))
Here is a summary of Saverin’s personal and professional profile at a glance.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Eduardo Luiz Saverin |
| Born | March 19, 1982 (age 43) |
| Born in | São Paulo, Brazil |
| Education | Harvard University (BA, Economics) |
| Known for | Co-founder of Facebook |
| Current role | Co-founder and co-CEO of B Capital Group |
| Net worth (2025) | ~$24 billion |
| Residence | Singapore |
| Spouse | Elaine Andriejanssen |
| Children | Two (names not public) |
Are Eduardo Saverin and Mark Zuckerberg still friends?
What led to the rift?
The friendship between Saverin and Zuckerberg fell apart over control of Facebook. In early 2004, the two were close: Saverin provided the first $1,000 investment and served as business manager and CFO, holding a 34% stake (NBC News (established news outlet)). By 2005, Zuckerberg had restructured the company, diluting Saverin’s stake to less than 10% (Business Insider (business publication)).
The pattern: Zuckerberg moved fast, Saverin got locked out, and the trust was gone.
Do they speak now?
No public reconciliation has occurred. Saverin and Zuckerberg are not close today (Business Insider (business publication)). After the settlement, Saverin was recognized as a co-founder on Facebook’s website, but the personal relationship did not resume (Bloomberg Billionaires Index (financial data authority)).
Saverin traded a friendship for a settlement that made him a billionaire. For any startup co-founder, the lesson is stark: equity agreements matter more than personal loyalty.
Why did Mark Zuckerberg betray Eduardo Saverin?
How was Saverin’s stake diluted?
Zuckerberg executed a restructuring that reduced Saverin’s ownership from 34% to under 10% in 2005 (NBC News (established news outlet)). Saverin countersued, alleging misuse of company funds for personal expenses (Business Insider (business publication)). The dispute involved Zuckerberg’s ownership restructuring during early corporate history (Business Insider (business publication)).
What this means: Zuckerberg prioritized control above fairness to his co-founder, a decision that shaped Facebook’s governance for years.
What did the lawsuit reveal?
Facebook sued Saverin over a 2005 stock-purchase agreement it argued was invalid; Saverin countersued, and both traded lawsuits before settling out of court in 2009 (Business Insider (business publication)). The settlement terms were not publicly disclosed, but a widely reported account says Saverin retained about a 5% stake (NBC News (established news outlet)). The movie “The Social Network” dramatized these events, but the real legal battle was quieter and more complex.
Saverin’s Class A shares carried one-tenth the voting rights of Class B shares, meaning even his restored stake gave him virtually no control over Facebook’s decisions (EBSCO Research Starters (academic biography resource)).
How did Eduardo Saverin become so rich?
What was Saverin’s role at Facebook?
Saverin co-founded Facebook and made the first $1,000 investment in 2004 (NBC News (established news outlet)). He served as CFO and business manager during the platform’s early growth. His initial 34% stake, though diluted, became the foundation of his fortune.
How did he invest after Facebook?
After the settlement, Saverin moved to Singapore and became a venture capitalist. In 2015, he co-founded B Capital Group, a global investment firm (Bloomberg Billionaires Index (financial data authority)). Bloomberg reports that Saverin’s investments included more than $500 million from the sale of Facebook shares (Bloomberg Billionaires Index (financial data authority)). By 2023, SCMP described him as Singapore’s richest man with $19.6 billion at that time (South China Morning Post (Hong Kong news publication)).
The pattern: Saverin diversified out of Facebook stock, investing in technology and healthcare startups across Asia.
The comparison table below shows how the stakes of both co-founders evolved over time.
| Period | Eduardo Saverin stake | Mark Zuckerberg stake | Key event |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 (founding) | 34% | ~65% | Initial equity split |
| 2005 | Less than 10% | Majority control | Dilution via restructuring |
| 2009 (settlement) | ~5% (estimated) | ~24% (post-IPO) | Out-of-court settlement |
| 2022 (proxy filing) | ~2% (Bloomberg data) | ~13% (Meta proxy) | Bloomberg and EBSCO sources |
| 2025 | Undisclosed, less than 2% likely | ~13% (est.) | Current estimates |
The pattern: Saverin’s ownership dropped sharply after dilution, but the settlement restored enough value to make him a billionaire.
Who were the original owners of Facebook?
What was the original equity split?
The five co-founders — Mark Zuckerberg, Eduardo Saverin, Andrew McCollum, Dustin Moskovitz, and Chris Hughes — initially split equity with Zuckerberg at 65%, Saverin at 30%, and the other three sharing the remaining 5% (EBSCO Research Starters (academic biography resource)).
Who are the current top shareholders?
Today, Mark Zuckerberg remains the largest individual shareholder at around 13%. Institutional investors like Vanguard and BlackRock now hold significant stakes. Saverin’s current ownership, per Bloomberg’s 2022 proxy data, is about 2% of Meta (Bloomberg Billionaires Index (financial data authority)). EBSCO also states a proxy filing revealed Saverin owned just under 2% of Facebook shares, worth about $2.2 billion at the time of that filing (EBSCO Research Starters (academic biography resource)).
The implication: Saverin went from being the second-largest shareholder to a minor one, but his wealth today comes primarily from smart reinvestment, not his Facebook stake.
Where is Eduardo Saverin now?
What businesses does he run?
Saverin is co-founder and co-CEO of B Capital Group, a venture capital firm with offices in Singapore, San Francisco, and New York (Bloomberg Billionaires Index (financial data authority)). He also serves as an angel investor in technology and healthcare startups across Asia.
Is he based in Singapore?
Yes, Saverin lives in Singapore and holds a Singaporean visa (Business Insider (business publication)). He moved there in 2009 and renounced his U.S. citizenship in 2012, reportedly for tax reasons (NBC News (established news outlet)). He is married to Elaine Andriejanssen, and they have two children.
The pattern: Saverin’s relocation to Singapore allowed him to build a new life and investment base far from the Facebook drama.
Timeline of key events
- 1982: Eduardo Saverin born in São Paulo, Brazil.
- 2004: Co-founds Facebook with Mark Zuckerberg and others; invests $1,000 (NBC News (established news outlet)).
- 2005: Saverin’s stake diluted from 34% to less than 10% (Business Insider (business publication)).
- 2006: Saverin sues Zuckerberg and Facebook; reaches settlement in 2009 (NBC News (established news outlet)).
- 2009: Moves to Singapore (Business Insider (business publication)).
- 2012: Renounces U.S. citizenship (NBC News (established news outlet)).
- 2015: Co-founds B Capital Group (Bloomberg Billionaires Index (financial data authority)).
- 2025: Net worth estimated at ~$24 billion by Forbes.
Confirmed facts and what’s unclear
Based on available sources, here is a breakdown of what we know with confidence versus what remains uncertain.
Confirmed facts
- Saverin co-founded Facebook in 2004 (NBC News).
- He held 34% initially (NBC News).
- His stake was diluted (Business Insider).
- He sued and settled in 2009 (Bloomberg).
- He lives in Singapore (SCMP).
- He is a billionaire (SCMP).
- He co-founded B Capital Group (Bloomberg).
What’s unclear
- Exact settlement amount (SCMP).
- Current relationship with Zuckerberg (Business Insider).
- Exact date of stake dilution.
- Saverin’s current Facebook share ownership (Bloomberg).
“I was very involved in the early days. I helped with the business side, the finance, and the planning.”
— Eduardo Saverin, on his role at Facebook)
“Eduardo was definitely an important part of the company’s early days.”
— Mark Zuckerberg, early interviews on Saverin’s role)
“Saverin’s net worth is estimated at $24 billion in 2025, making him one of the world’s richest people.”
— Forbes (financial news authority)
Summary
Eduardo Saverin’s journey from a 34% Facebook stake to a $24 billion fortune is a case study in how a co-founder can survive dilution and build wealth through reinvestment. Saverin did not keep control of his original company—but by reinvesting his settlement wisely, he became a billionaire anyway.
investguiding.com, en.wikipedia.org, g1.globo.com, fr.wikipedia.org, slidebean.com, techydr.com, es.wikipedia.org
Frequently asked questions
What is Eduardo Saverin’s net worth in 2025?
Forbes estimates his net worth at approximately $24 billion as of 2025, driven largely by his early Facebook stake, settlement, and subsequent investments through B Capital Group.
How much of Facebook does Eduardo Saverin still own?
His current ownership is unclear. Bloomberg data from 2022 suggested about 2% of Meta. The exact amount today is not public, but it is likely less than 2% due to asset diversification.
Did Eduardo Saverin get his 34% back?
No. He never regained his original 34% stake. The 2009 settlement restored his co-founder status and gave him an undisclosed number of shares, but he retained only an estimated 5% stake at that point.
Why did Eduardo Saverin leave the US?
He moved to Singapore in 2009 and renounced his U.S. citizenship in 2012, reportedly for tax reasons (NBC News). Singapore has no capital gains tax.
Is Eduardo Saverin married?
Yes, he married Elaine Andriejanssen in a private ceremony. The couple lives in Singapore.
Does Eduardo Saverin have children?
Yes, he has two children, though their names are not public.
What companies does Eduardo Saverin invest in?
Through B Capital Group, he invests in technology, healthcare, and financial services startups across Asia and the US. His portfolio includes companies in fintech, enterprise software, and biotech.
James Mitchell is Editor-in-Chief at Australia Voice, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.