
Eduardo Saverin’s name is permanently etched into the founding story of Facebook — but the arc of his career didn’t end with a lawsuit and a settlement. Today, as a billionaire venture capitalist and co-CEO of B Capital, he’s built a second act that’s arguably as impressive as the first.
Net worth: $33.2 billion (Forbes, 2026) · Founding ownership: 34% · Initial investment: $30,000 · Lawsuit settlement: ~$500 million (estimated) · Current role: Co-Founder & Co-CEO, B Capital
Quick snapshot
- Saverin co-founded Facebook in 2004 (B Capital team page)
- He invested $30,000 as initial capital (Slidebean analysis)
- He lives in Singapore and is married with children (South China Morning Post profile)
- Exact settlement amount — only estimated at ~$500 million (Wikipedia entry)
- Current relationship with Mark Zuckerberg (likely not friends) (South China Morning Post profile)
- Mechanics of the share dilution (Slidebean analysis)
- 2005: Stake diluted from 34% to ~10% (Wikipedia entry)
- 2009: Lawsuit settled; Saverin kept co-founder title (Wikipedia entry)
- B Capital continues raising funds; $750 million raised in 2024 (Reuters report)
- Saverin’s tax deferral on Meta stake may be triggered (Bloomberg Billionaires Index)
Eight key facts define Saverin’s profile, from his Brazilian roots to his current role steering a global venture platform.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Eduardo Saverin |
| Born | March 19, 1982 (Wikipedia entry) |
| Nationality | Brazilian (formerly US) (South China Morning Post profile) |
| Net Worth | $33.2 billion (2026) (Wikipedia citing Forbes) |
| Known for | Co-founding Facebook, first investor (B Capital team page) |
| Current Role | Co-CEO, B Capital Group (B Capital team page) |
| Spouse | Elaine Andriejanssen (South China Morning Post profile) |
| Children | Two (names not public) (South China Morning Post profile) |
Are Eduardo Saverin and Mark Zuckerberg friends?
Initial friendship at Harvard
- Saverin met Mark Zuckerberg at Harvard University in the early 2000s. The two became roommates and bonded over shared intellectual interests (Wikipedia entry). Saverin provided the initial $30,000 seed funding for thefacebook.com in 2004 (Slidebean analysis).
The falling out after dilution
- In 2005, Zuckerberg diluted Saverin’s stake from 34% to approximately 10% without Saverin’s consent, effectively removing him as an equal partner (Wikipedia entry). Saverin alleged fraud and breach of fiduciary duty in a 2005 lawsuit (Wikipedia entry).
Current relationship status
- Multiple reports indicate the two are no longer friends. Saverin lives in Singapore and has not publicly interacted with Zuckerberg in years (South China Morning Post profile).
Why did Mark get rid of Eduardo?
Disagreement over monetization
- Saverin pushed to monetize Facebook through advertising early on. Zuckerberg, by contrast, prioritized user growth and resisted aggressive revenue moves (Wikipedia entry).
Zuckerberg dilutes Saverin’s stake
- In early 2005, Zuckerberg restructured the company, issuing new shares that reduced Saverin’s ownership from 34% to roughly 10% (Wikipedia entry). Saverin later claimed this was done without his knowledge while he was in New York (Slidebean analysis).
Saverin’s legal response
- Saverin sued Zuckerberg and Facebook in 2005 for fraud, breach of contract, and breach of fiduciary duty (Wikipedia entry). The two sides settled out of court in 2009 for an undisclosed amount, widely estimated at ~$500 million (Wikipedia entry).
Zuckerberg chose growth over revenue in 2004–2005. That bet paid off enormously for him, but it came at the cost of a co-founder relationship and a protracted legal battle.
How much money did Eduardo Saverin get from Mark Zuckerberg?
Initial $30,000 investment
- Saverin put up $30,000 as seed capital for Facebook in 2004, making him the company’s first external investor (Slidebean analysis).
Settlement amount ~$500 million
- The 2009 lawsuit settlement is reported to have given Saverin around $500 million, though the exact terms remain confidential (Wikipedia entry).
Saverin’s net worth today
- As of May 2026, Forbes estimates Saverin’s net worth at $33.2 billion (Wikipedia citing Forbes). Other estimates range from $19.6 billion (SCMP, 2023) to $27.2 billion (EBSCO) (South China Morning Post profile, EBSCO Research Starters).
Did Zuckerberg sue Saverin?
Who sued whom
- It was Saverin who sued Zuckerberg and Facebook in 2005, not the other way around (Wikipedia entry).
The 2005 lawsuit
- Saverin’s complaint alleged fraud, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, and demanded that the dilution be reversed (Wikipedia entry). The suit also claimed Zuckerberg had secretly set up a competing social network while still working with Saverin (Slidebean analysis).
Out-of-court settlement
- The case was settled in 2009 for an undisclosed amount. Settlement terms reportedly included Saverin being allowed to keep the title “co-founder” of Facebook (Wikipedia entry).
The lawsuit established a precedent for founder disputes in high-growth startups and highlighted the risks of unequal voting rights and board control.
Is Eduardo Saverin still rich?
Saverin’s wealth after Facebook
- Saverin retained a significant stake in Meta (formerly Facebook). As of 2015, Simple English Wikipedia estimated he held about 53 million shares, roughly 0.4% of outstanding shares (Simple English Wikipedia entry). Bloomberg notes that his tax bill on those shares could exceed $255 million, which he can defer until sale (Bloomberg Billionaires Index).
Investment career with B Capital
- In 2014, Saverin co-founded B Capital Group with Raj Ganguly, a global investment firm targeting early- to late-stage technology, healthcare, energy, and climate companies (B Capital team page). In March 2024, B Capital raised $750 million for a new opportunities fund (Reuters report).
Personal life and philanthropy
- He resides in Singapore with his wife, Elaine Andriejanssen, and their two children (South China Morning Post profile). He renounced his U.S. citizenship in 2011, reportedly for tax reasons (Wikipedia entry).
Saverin lost control of Facebook but built a venture capital firm that now manages billions — turning a painful exit into a platform that backs the next generation of founders.
Timeline of Key Events
- 1982: Born in São Paulo, Brazil (Wikipedia entry)
- 1990s: Moved to the U.S. for education (Wikipedia entry)
- 2004: Co-founded Facebook with Zuckerberg, Moskovitz, and Hughes (B Capital team page)
- 2004–2005: Served as Facebook’s CFO and business manager (Wikipedia entry)
- 2005: Zuckerberg diluted Saverin’s stake from 34% to about 10% (Wikipedia entry)
- 2005: Saverin filed lawsuit against Zuckerberg and Facebook (Wikipedia entry)
- 2009: Settlement reached; amount undisclosed, estimated $500 million (Wikipedia entry)
- 2010: Moved to Singapore (South China Morning Post profile)
- 2011: Renounced U.S. citizenship; Forbes estimated tax savings (Wikipedia entry)
- 2014: Co-founded B Capital Group with Raj Ganguly (B Capital team page)
- 2026: Net worth $33.2 billion per Forbes (Wikipedia entry)
What We Know and What We Don’t
Confirmed facts
- Saverin co-founded Facebook (B Capital team page)
- He sued and settled with Zuckerberg (Wikipedia entry)
- He is a billionaire and lives in Singapore (South China Morning Post profile)
- He is married with children (South China Morning Post profile)
What’s unclear
- Exact settlement amount (estimated ~$500 million) (Wikipedia entry)
- Current friendship with Zuckerberg (likely not friends) (South China Morning Post profile)
- Details of the dilution mechanics (Slidebean analysis)
- Exact date of U.S. citizenship renunciation (Wikipedia entry)
- Exact net worth (varying estimates from $19.6B to $33.2B) (South China Morning Post profile, Wikipedia entry)
“I’m proud of what Facebook has become, but I’m also proud of what I’ve built since.”
— Eduardo Saverin, 2012 interview (South China Morning Post profile)
“B Capital is an investment firm built to support early- to late-stage innovators across Technology, Healthcare, Energy, and Climate.”
— B Capital (B Capital about page)
Saverin’s story is not just about a college feud — it’s a playbook for how a founder can lose a company yet win a fortune. For tech entrepreneurs who face shareholder disputes, the lesson is clear: litigation is costly, but walking away with equity and a clear title can unlock a second career worth billions.
His early partnership with Mark Zuckerberg, detailed in this Mark Zuckerberg biography, ultimately led to a legal settlement that reshaped his financial future.
Frequently asked questions
How old is Eduardo Saverin?
He was born on March 19, 1982, making him 44 years old as of 2026 (Wikipedia entry).
Where does Eduardo Saverin live?
He resides in Singapore with his family (South China Morning Post profile).
What is Eduardo Saverin’s educational background?
He studied at Harvard University, where he met Mark Zuckerberg (Wikipedia entry).
Did Eduardo Saverin renounce his US citizenship?
Yes, he renounced his U.S. citizenship in 2011 (Wikipedia entry).
How many children does Eduardo Saverin have?
He has two children; their names have not been made public (South China Morning Post profile).
How is Eduardo Saverin portrayed in The Social Network?
The 2010 film dramatizes his dispute with Mark Zuckerberg, showing Saverin as the betrayed co-founder (Wikipedia entry).
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