October 24, 2026
The Washington Post newspaper revealed that sharp disagreements had erupted between the founder of Meta and its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, and members of the company’s board of directors, against the backdrop of his efforts to retain decision-making power, in conjunction with plans to raise additional funding for artificial intelligence projects.
According to the newspaper, Zuckerberg demanded that he maintain his voting influence even if he sold large amounts of his shares, in addition to discussing increasing his financial compensation. This raised objections within the Board of Directors, to the point where some members threatened to resign.
These disagreements came against the backdrop of consideration of issuing a new class of shares to raise the necessary funds to finance the company’s investments in the artificial intelligence sector and future acquisitions, as some board members believed that Zuckerberg’s maintenance of absolute control despite reducing his stake may conflict with the interests of the rest of the shareholders.
The state of tension between the two sides worsened after Zuckerberg raised the possibility of leaving the state of California, due to the impact of a proposed tax targeting billionaires, which raised serious concerns about the repercussions of this move on the future of the company.
In mid-September, the two parties succeeded in reaching a settlement that stipulated that Zuckerberg would remain in the state of California for eight years, while allowing him to sell a limited portion of his shares without losing his voting influence, with this authority being gradually expanded at a later stage.
This crisis reflects the magnitude of the challenges that Meta Company faces in securing the necessary financing for its huge investments in the field of artificial intelligence, amid continuous efforts to achieve the difficult equation between preserving the founder’s powers and ensuring shareholders’ rights.
