Mark Zuckerberg‘s rise in the billionaire rankings has been nothing short of spectacular. Fueled by Meta’s skyrocketing stock value and bold financial moves, he has surpassed Jeff Bezos for the first time, now trailing only Elon Musk.

A Meteoric Rise Powered by Meta

Mark Zuckerberg’s net worth has now reached $206 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. This rapid ascent has been driven by the soaring value of Meta’s stock, which hit an all-time high of $590 per share, marking a staggering 70% increase since the beginning of the year.

Meanwhile, Amazon’s stock took a 11% nosedive in February, slashing $23 billion from Jeff Bezos‘ fortune and clearing the way for Zuckerberg to seize the No. 2 spot. But beyond the numbers, it’s a series of bold strategic decisions that have propelled Zuckerberg to this level.

Meta Wins over Investors with Its First-Ever Dividend and Massive Stock Buyback

One of Zuckerberg’s biggest power moves was announcing Meta’s first-ever quarterly dividend, along with a massive $50 billion stock buyback. These moves reassured investors, proving that the company is not only financially strong but also committed to sharing its profits.

This strategy has allowed Zuckerberg to add $78 billion to his fortune this year alone—more than any other billionaire, including Jensen Huang (Nvidia), who is riding the semiconductor boom.

Cost-Cutting Measures That Boost Investor Confidence

Zuckerberg didn’t just ride the wave of Meta’s stock surge—he also tackled one of the company’s biggest weaknesses: the profitability of its Reality Labs division, which is focused on the metaverse.

After years of pouring billions into this controversial project, Meta narrowed its losses more than expected in the second quarter. Even more impressively, Zuckerberg ordered a 20% reduction in Reality Labs’ costs, proving that he was listening to investors’ concerns.

Another announcement that electrified the market: the imminent development of “Orion” augmented reality glasses, which will integrate Meta’s artificial intelligence. This ambitious project has opened up new growth prospects for the company.

A Major Internal Transformation Pays Off

Behind Zuckerberg’s financial surge, Meta has undergone a major internal restructuring. He streamlined the company by eliminating unnecessary management layers, making it more agile and efficient.

At a time when tech giants are looking to optimize operations, this shift has reinforced investor confidence in Meta’s ability to be more profitable while staying at the forefront of innovation.

Could Zuckerberg Overtake Elon Musk?

With a $256 billion fortune, Elon Musk still holds a comfortable lead over Zuckerberg. But with Meta’s current momentum and Tesla’s uncertain future, the race is far from over.

If Zuckerberg keeps up this pace, could he claim the No. 1 spot and become the world’s richest person? One thing is certain: he’s closer than ever.