Way before he became one of the richest men on the planet, Mark Zuckerberg had already earned a reputation in Harvard, as far as programming is concerned. In 2004, he launched what would become a Fortune 500 company from the comfort of his dorm room. He had no idea that the platform would be a game-changer and a revenue stream for celebrities with a following as huge as Rihanna's. Zuckerberg dropped out of college to pursue his dreams of growing Facebook. Years later, he would grow in popularity and be significant enough to receive an honorary degree from Harvard.
As Zuckerberg’s popularity grew, so did interest in his personal life. Priscilla Chan and Zuckerberg met at a frat party when he was still a student at Harvard. They eventually got married in their backyard in 2012. The low-key ceremony also marked Priscilla’s graduation from medical school. Mark and Priscilla have two daughters, Maxima and August. While they are public figures, Priscilla Chan has consistently maintained a low profile, and only pops up when need be. We dug deep into the archives to find out more about her. Here’s what we managed to unbury:
10 Priscilla Chan’s Childhood
The Beginning of Priscilla Chan’s life journey in the United State is tied to the brave nature of her parents. Yvonne and Dennis Chan fled Vietnam in refugee boats and set their sights on America. In 1985, Priscilla became the newest addition to the family. She was born and raised in Massachusetts.
9 She Was A Victim Of Bullying
In an interview with Quartz, Priscilla revealed that her school life wasn’t so glamorous. In seventh grade, she was subjected to constant bullying. “ I never went to recess.” She said. At school, Priscilla would have her lunch then ‘wait in the bathroom until it was over.’ Priscilla also added that the bullying went on for a whole year, and none of her teachers ever noticed.
8 She Was Part Of The Tennis Team In High School
Priscilla’s time in school was pretty lonely until she joined the Robotics class. Later, she would join the tennis team and ‘find her world.’ Priscilla’s science and tennis teacher, Peter Swanson revealed that she wasn’t the most athletic student but she ‘worked hard and liked playing.’ In her senior year, she became the tennis team’s co-captain. Her talent on the court was still questionable, but her spirit was admirable.
7 And Graduated As A Valedictorian
While she struggled on the tennis court, Priscilla breezed through her classes and consistently recorded stellar grades. As a sophomore, she took AP environment science, which was so difficult, the school had to restrict future sophomores from taking it. Unlike her classmates, Chan was the top scorer on the test. Her academic prowess led her to graduate as a valedictorian.
6 Schooling At Harvard
Priscilla joined the Ivy League institution in 2003. Still speaking to Quartz, Priscilla said that she felt privileged to be at the institution. “ I came from a family that didn’t have the resources, didn’t have the opportunities, didn’t have the connections.” At Harvard, she was part of the Franklin Afterschool Enrichment program, which is dedicated to mentoring and tutoring young children. She graduated from Harvard in 2007, with a Bachelor of Science in Biology.
5 Meeting Her Future Husband, Mark Zuckerberg
Unlike Priscilla, Mark Zuckerberg did not get to graduate from Harvard. However, destiny had it that he would meet Priscila at the prestigious institution. The two met while they were both in line for the bathroom at a frat party during their freshman year. Priscilla and Zuckerberg have the Alpha Epsilon fraternity to thank for that timely occurrence.
4 Her Life As A Pediatrician
Fresh out of Harvard, Priscilla took up the position of a science teacher at ‘The Harker School’, a private not-for-profit institution founded in 1983. She taught at the school for a year, then enrolled in medical school. From 2008 to 2012, Priscilla schooled at the University of California, San Francisco. She proceeded on to pediatric residency, which she completed in the summer of 2015.
3 Starting The Primary School
The Primary School was established in 2016. Its goal: To provide K-12 education, as well as prenatal care. According to the school’s website, it is aimed at creating a new school model that seeks to support children who are impacted by poverty and racism. The school is the brainchild of Priscilla Chan and Co-founder, Meredith Liu.
2 Co-Running The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative
The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative is the result of Priscilla and Mark Zuckerberg’s pledge to donate an estimated $4.6 billion to charity. Later, the couple would pledge 99% of their Facebook shares, valued at $45 billion. As the co-runner of CZI, Priscilla Chan oversees an annual budget that is somewhere in the neighborhood of $700 million to $800 million. On how the two manage, Zuckerberg, also speaking to Quartz, said,” When you are doing a partnership like this, it’s important to set aside time for your personal partnership.”
1 A Private Family Life
Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg have been together for 17 years. Nine of those have been spent in marriage. The tight-knit family includes their two daughters, Max and August, and their furry friend, Beast. In a rare interview with CBS’s Gayle King, the couple let the public into their family life. On how they raise their children when they can provide anything materially, Zuckerberg said, “First of all, we don’t give them everything.” He proceeded to mention that they were raising their children normally, and Max and August did chores, just like they would in any household.