Objective Summary #2

In chapters 13-22 in The Accidental Billionaires, Ben Mezrich discusses the changes in Mark Zuckerberg’s life immediately after Facebook was launched. Mark becomes instantly popular with girls around Harvard after the success of Facebook, something that is new to him. However, Mezrich emphasizes that not all the attention Mark is getting is positive; Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss hear about the launch of Facebook and believe Mark stole the idea of Facebook from them. 

Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss

The Winklevoss brothers argue that since Mark was helping them on a social media site prior to starting Facebook, he stole their idea. Mezrich reports that the Winklevoss brothers even hired lawyers and talked with Larry Summers, the president of Harvard, in hopes of punishing Mark. Mezrich points out that both Summers and the lawyers are unable to punish Mark because there was no written legal agreement between Mark and the Winklevoss twins. Meanwhile, Eduardo is focused on making money off of Facebook, something that Mezrich argues Mark is not interested in. While in New York meeting with potential investors, Eduardo and Mark meet with Sean Parker, someone interested in helping run Facebook who has made multiple other social media sites. Mezrich concludes with Mark moving to California over the summer to run Facebook while Eduardo is going to New York for an internship.