Eduardo Saverin: Net Worth, Facebook Co-Founder & Legal Battle

Few startup stories are as dramatic as the one involving Eduardo Saverin and Mark Zuckerberg. What began as a college friendship grew into Facebook, only for Saverin to be pushed out and his 34% stake diluted. This article traces his path from co-founder to billionaire venture capitalist, with a net worth now estimated at $33.2 billion according to Forbes.

Estimated net worth: $33.2 billion (Forbes, as of May 2026) · Co-founded Facebook: 2004 · Initial ownership stake: 34% · Current occupation: Venture capitalist · Country of residence: Singapore

Seven key facts about Eduardo Saverin, each drawn from authoritative sources:

These figures confirm that Saverin’s trajectory, despite the conflict, placed him among the world’s richest individuals.

Are Eduardo Saverin and Mark Zuckerberg still friends?

What caused the rift?

The friendship that built Facebook began at Harvard in 2003. By the time the company moved to Palo Alto, tensions had surfaced. Zuckerberg believed Saverin was not fully committed to Facebook’s growth, while Saverin resisted certain funding moves that would dilute his control (Bloomberg Billionaires Index).

Current relationship: distant

Saverin and Zuckerberg have not publicly interacted in years. The 2009 legal settlement effectively ended their business relationship (Bloomberg Billionaires Index). Neither has confirmed ongoing friendship, and they live on opposite sides of the globe — Zuckerberg in California, Saverin in Singapore.

Is there any recent contact?

No public records or interviews suggest recent communication. The two men operate in entirely separate professional circles today.

Did Zuckerberg pay Eduardo?

The 2008 lawsuit

In 2008, Saverin sued Facebook and Zuckerberg for fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, and other claims, alleging that his stake had been unfairly diluted (Bloomberg Billionaires Index). The lawsuit became the centerpiece of the film The Social Network.

Settlement terms

The settlement in 2009 restored Saverin’s title as co-founder and granted him a substantial stock package. Bloomberg reports that Saverin received approximately $2.7 billion in Meta shares (Bloomberg Billionaires Index).

How much did Eduardo receive?

The exact cash value of the settlement was never disclosed, but the stock component alone made Saverin a billionaire. Today his total net worth has grown to $33.2 billion, largely driven by the rise in Meta’s share price (EBSCO Research Starters).

Does Eduardo still own Facebook?

His stake after dilution

Saverin’s original 34% stake was diluted during Series A and subsequent funding rounds, leaving him with less than 10% by 2006. Bloomberg notes that Meta’s 2022 proxy statement showed Saverin held approximately 2% of the company at that time (Bloomberg Billionaires Index).

Did he sell his shares?

After the IPO in 2012, Saverin sold a significant portion of his holdings. Bloomberg reports more than $500 million of his investments includes proceeds from the sale of Facebook shares (Bloomberg Billionaires Index).

Current holdings

As of 2026, Saverin no longer holds a substantial Meta stake. His wealth now comes from a diversified portfolio, including venture capital, but the majority of his fortune is still attributed to the stake he retained from the settlement (Bloomberg Billionaires Index).

Why did Zuckerberg kick out Eduardo?

Disagreements over advertising

In Facebook’s early years, Saverin pushed for advertising revenue to sustain the company, while Zuckerberg wanted to focus on growth and user experience first. This strategic divide created friction (South China Morning Post).

Saverin’s role as CFO

As CFO, Saverin controlled the company’s bank account and financial decisions. Zuckerberg and other investors believed Saverin’s cautious approach was hindering the company’s ability to raise venture capital (Bloomberg Billionaires Index).

The share dilution incident

In 2006, when Saverin traveled to New York for an internship, Zuckerberg restructured the company and issued new shares that dramatically diluted Saverin’s stake from 34% to under 10%. Saverin later argued this was done without his knowledge or consent (Bloomberg Billionaires Index).

Is Eduardo Saverin still rich?

Net worth history

Saverin’s net worth has grown steadily from the $2.7 billion settlement to $33.2 billion in 2026, according to Forbes (Forbes Billionaires List). Bloomberg places his wealth at about $30.9 billion as of early 2026, reflecting Meta’s stock fluctuations (Bloomberg Billionaires Index).

Sources of wealth beyond Facebook

In 2011, Saverin co-founded B Capital Group, a venture capital firm that invests in technology and healthcare companies. He serves as Co-CEO and Co-Founder (B Capital). Bloomberg notes that more than $500 million of his wealth comes from sold Facebook shares invested in other assets (Bloomberg Billionaires Index).

Philanthropy

Saverin has donated to educational causes and signed the Giving Pledge, committing to give away the majority of his wealth. He also funded the Saverin Prize at Harvard for entrepreneurship (South China Morning Post).

For more on billionaire investors, see Barbara Corcoran: Net Worth, Dyslexia & Shark Tank and Jerry Seinfeld Net Worth, Biography, Controversies & More.

“Eduardo Saverin… a Brazilian billionaire who co-founded Facebook… is now Singapore’s richest man.”

— South China Morning Post (Hong Kong-based news outlet)

“Saverin’s fortune is derived mainly from his Meta stake.”

— Bloomberg Billionaires Index (financial data provider)

The story of Eduardo Saverin is a cautionary tale about co-founder dynamics in high-growth startups. For Brazilian entrepreneurs and tech founders everywhere, the lesson is clear: protect your equity with contracts, not friendship, or risk being diluted in a boardroom while your former friend builds a trillion-dollar company without you. Saverin’s $33.2 billion net worth proves that even after being pushed out, he ended up with a fortune that most founders only dream of.

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