Facebook Founder Mark Zuckerberg Throws Surprise Wedding

Mark Zuckerberg had what had to have been the best week of his life last week. Not only did his little company called Facebook go public, making him an instant billionaire, but he married his college sweetheart, Pricilla Chan, 27.

The 28-year-old Zuckerberg likely planned his wedding during a week when the world – and specifically the media – would be preoccupied with the Facebook IPO going public and, therefore, be least likely to catch wind of his wedding and crash it with photographers and journalists.

Even the 100 wedding guests had no idea there was going to be a wedding that day. They thought they were attending a party to celebrate Chan’s recent graduation from medical school at the University of California, but instead they witnessed the wedding of one of the world’s richest men.

The wedding was held at Zuckerberg’s home, dinner was from the couple’s favorite sushi restaurant, and dessert included chocolates like the couple had eaten on their first date. Zuckerberg and Chan met while attending Harvard as undergraduates.

Revealing a bit of a romantic and sentimental side, it has been reported that Zuckerberg designed his wife’s wedding ring personally. It is said to be a “very simple ruby,” but pictures have not yet been released. I have a feeling “very simple” to a billionaire may be slightly different from what “very simple” means to the rest of us.

Zuckerberg announced his marriage by posting a picture of himself and Chan in their wedding attire on his Facebook page. He also changed his status from “in a relationship” to “married.”

A rumor of their engagement was started last year by none other than Microsoft founder Bill Gates (who knew he was such a gossip!). During an interview, Gates was discussing how Zuckerberg had reached out to him to participate in some philanthropic efforts, and Gates casually referred to Chan as Zuckerberg’s “fiancée”

"I didn't say to Mark, 'Give me all your money!' He was predisposed to do it and he came to me seeking advice. His fiancée Priscilla thought about education and he gave money to Newark, New Jersey," Gates said.

There were other clues last year that the couple was headed toward marriage; Zuckerberg bought a $7 million home in Palo Alto, California, that the couple moved in to, and they promptly adopted a puppy named Beast together.

Whether anyone thought it was coming or not, Zuckerberg did a great job of providing a distraction for the rest of the world, so he, Chan, and 100 of their closest friends and family would celebrate their union privately.