(As of December 12, 2025 | Post Q3 2025 earnings and recent insider transactions)
Current market capitalization: ≈ $1.65 trillion (based on ~$652.71/share and 2.53 billion shares outstanding)
Introduction
Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ: META), formerly Facebook, founded in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg, is a global leader in social media (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp), digital advertising, and emerging tech like AI and the metaverse (Reality Labs). Public since 2012 with a dual-class share structure—Class A (1 vote/share, public), Class B (10 votes/share, insiders like Zuckerberg for control)—ownership is institutionally dominant (~79%), with insiders ~14% economic but ~62% voting power. No single non-insider exceeds 9%, promoting balanced influence. The table below details the top 10 economic shareholders from Q3 2025 13F filings (Sep 30, 2025) and SEC data, with values at current market cap. Recent activity includes Zuckerberg's ~$14M sales in Nov 2025 (via CZI Holdings) and $5B buybacks reducing shares by ~1% YoY.
| Rank | Owner / Stakeholder | Ownership % | Approx. Value ($1.65T valuation) | Detailed Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mark Zuckerberg (Founder & CEO) | 13.5% | $222.8 billion | Largest shareholder; ~342M shares (mix Class A/B). Controls ~62% voting via Class B super-voting shares. Recent sales (~$14M Nov 2025) for philanthropy/diversification; net worth ~$223B tied to META performance and AI/metaverse vision. |
| 2 | Vanguard Group Inc. | 8.8% | $145.2 billion | Top institutional via index funds (e.g., VTI, VOO); owns ~193M shares. Passive with ~$9.3T AUM; trimmed ~0.1% in Q3 2025 but core S&P 500 holding (~7% weighting). No direct control; focuses on ad/AI growth. |
| 3 | BlackRock Inc. | 7.7% | $127.1 billion | Holds ~168M shares through iShares ETFs (e.g., IVV); passive/active mix. Added ~0.2% in Q3 2025; board observer on governance/ESG/privacy. Key in digital ad funds; META ~3% of portfolio. |
| 4 | FMR LLC (Fidelity) | 6.0% | $99.0 billion | ~130M shares across funds (e.g., Contrafund); active with minor Q3 trim (~1M shares). Bullish on Reels/Threads (20%+ user growth); advisory on AI ethics and antitrust. |
| 5 | JPMorgan Chase & Co. | 5.0% | $82.5 billion | ~109M shares in asset management; index/active blend. Up ~1.5% in 2025; provides banking/debt for META's $80B+ cash reserves and $70B capex. |
| 6 | State Street Corporation | 4.0% | $66.0 billion | Owns ~86M shares via SPDRs (e.g., SPY); fully passive. Stable QoQ; votes proxies on exec comp and content moderation. ~4% of tech holdings; supports $5B quarterly buybacks. |
| 7 | Geode Capital Management, LLC | 2.0% | $33.0 billion | Fidelity affiliate with ~51M shares in index trackers; passive. Grew ~0.1% in Q3; tracks Nasdaq 100; minimal voting power. |
| 8 | T. Rowe Price Associates Inc. | 1.8% | $29.7 billion | ~46M shares in growth funds (e.g., Blue Chip); trimmed ~2% on valuation but holds for AI ad tools. Board input on R&D; ~2% of portfolio. |
| 9 | Capital World Investors | 1.7% | $28.1 billion | ~44M shares across funds; active with Q3 sales (~$1B). Focuses on WhatsApp monetization; advisory on emerging markets. |
| 10 | Sheryl Sandberg (Former COO) | 0.5% | $8.3 billion | ~13M shares (post-resignation); legacy insider stake. Recent gifts/sales for philanthropy; retains board influence on operations. |
Total Top 10 = ~50.0% | Remaining: Other Institutions (~29%), Other Insiders (~0.5%, e.g., Jen Newstead CLO at ~0.01%), Retail (~20%) | Grand Total = 100%
Conclusion
As of December 2025, Meta's ownership is institutionally led (~79% total) by passive giants like Vanguard and BlackRock, ensuring stability for its $164.5B FY2025 revenue guidance (up 22% YoY, 98% from ads) and ~$62B net income (up 59% YoY), while Zuckerberg's ~13.5% stake wields ~62% voting control for bold bets (e.g., $70-72B capex on AI infrastructure). Retail's ~20% reflects user/investor loyalty, but regulatory scrutiny (e.g., EU DSA fines) and metaverse losses (~$16B in Reality Labs) loom. With $1.65T market cap (up 9% YoY) and $20B buybacks/dividends authorized ($2.10 annual yield), expect ~1% annual share reductions, minor institutional tweaks in Q4 13Fs (due Feb 2026), and Q4 revenue of $56-59B. This founder-controlled model drives innovation amid volatility. For filings, visit SEC EDGAR or Meta's investor relations.