Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg's fondness for combat sports and extreme water activities has become a concern for the company, as disclosed in its annual financial report for 2023.
The report cited a new risk to investors associated with Zuckerberg and other executives engaging in possibly dangerous hobbies, such as mixed martial arts (MMA), extreme sports, and recreational aviation.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg's Love of Combat Sports a Risk Factor?
CNBC reported that Meta acknowledged the potential hazards of these activities by saying that these high-risk hobbies "carry the risk of serious injury and death."
"We currently depend on the continued services and performance of our key personnel, including Mark Zuckerberg," Meta said.
"If Mr. Zuckerberg were to become unavailable for any reason, there could be a material adverse impact on our operations," the company added.
Zuckerberg has publicly demonstrated his interest in MMA and extreme sports like hydrofoiling. His dedication to combat sports was evident when he revealed tearing his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during MMA training in November, leading to subsequent surgery for its replacement.
This incident and his participation in hydrofoiling prompted Meta to include these activities as a notable risk in its financial disclosure. Aside from being the founder and CEO of Meta, Zuckerberg is also the company's biggest shareholder.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg: 'High Risk = High Reward'
Mark Zuckerberg's involvement in combat sports also stirred headlines during a public exchange with Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
The two tech moguls, known for their clashes on topics like artificial intelligence, had planned an MMA match, but the event was eventually canceled for various reasons. Zuckerberg and Musk, who now owns the social media platform X, accused each other of bailing.
In reply to a Morning Brew post on Threads about the new risk factor cited in Meta's report, Zuckerberg posted a GIF saying, "High risk = high reward."
Meta shares jumped more than 20% on Friday after it reported a tripling in the fourth-quarter profit and issued its first-ever dividend.
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