TheAccidentalBillionairesTheFoundingofFacebookATaleofSex,Money,GeniusandBetrayalBenMezrichDOUBLEDAYCopyrightbyBenMezrichAllrightsreservedPublishedintheUnitedStatesbyDoubleday,adivisionofRandomHouse,Inc,NewYork,andinCanadabyRandomHouseofCanadaLimited,TorontowwwdoubledaycomDOUBLEDAYandtheDDcolophonareregisteredtrademarksofRandomHouse,IncCataloginginPublicationDataisonfilewiththeLibraryofCongresseISBN:FIRSTEDITIONTOTONYA,THISGEEK’SDREAMGIRL…CONTENTSAUTHOR’SNOTECHAPTER|OCTOBERCHAPTER|HARVARDYARDCHAPTER|ONTHECHARLESCHAPTER|CANNIBALISTICCHICKENSCHAPTER|THELASTWEEKOFOCTOBERCHAPTER|LATERTHATEVENINGCHAPTER|WHATHAPPENSNEXTCHAPTER|THEQUADCHAPTER|THECONNECTIONCHAPTER|NOVEMBER,CHAPTER|CAMBRIDGE,CHAPTER|JANUARY,CHAPTER|FEBRUARY,CHAPTER|FEBRUARY,CHAPTER|AMERICANIDOLCHAPTER|VERITASCHAPTER|MARCHCHAPTER|SPRINGSEMESTERCHAPTER|MAYCHAPTER|SERENDIPITYCHAPTER|CALIFORNIADREAMINGCHAPTER|HENLEYONTHETHAMESCHAPTER|JULY,CHAPTER|SANFRANCISCOCHAPTER|OCTOBERCHAPTER|DECEMBER,CHAPTER|APRIL,CHAPTER|APRIL,CHAPTER|WHATGOESAROUND…CHAPTER|JUNECHAPTER|THREEMONTHSLATERCHAPTER|CEOCHAPTER|MAYEPILOGUE|WHEREARETHEYNOW…SECONDARYSOURCESAUTHOR’SNOTETheAccidentalBillionairesisadramatic,narrativeaccountbasedondozensofinterviews,hundredsofsources,andthousandsofpagesofdocuments,includingrecordsfromseveralcourtproceedingsThereareanumberofdifferentandoftencontentiousopinionsaboutsomeoftheeventsthattookplaceTryingtopaintascenefromthememoriesofdozensofsourcessomedirectwitnesses,someindirectcanoftenleadtodiscrepanciesIrecreatedthescenesinthebookbasedontheinformationIuncoveredfromdocumentsandinterviews,andmybestjudgmentastowhatversionmostcloselyfitsthedocumentaryrecordOtherscenesarewritteninawaythatdescribesindividualperceptionswithoutendorsingthemIhavetriedtokeepthechronologyasclosetoexactaspossibleInsomeinstances,detailsofsettingsanddescriptionshavebeenchangedorimagined,andidentifyingdetailsofcertainpeoplealteredtoprotecttheirprivacyOtherthanthehandfulofpublicfigureswhopopulatethisstory,namesandpersonaldescriptionshavebeenalteredIdoemploythetechniqueofrecreateddialogueIhavebasedthisdialogueontherecollectionsofparticipantsofthesubstanceofconversationsSomeoftheconversationsrecountedinthisbooktookplaceoverlongperiodsoftime,inmultiplelocations,andthussomeconversationsandsceneswererecreatedandcompressedRatherthanspreadtheseconversationsout,IsometimessetthesescenesinlikelysettingsIaddresssourcesmorefullyintheacknowledgments,butitisappropriateheretothankinparticularWillMcMullenforintroducingmetoEduardoSaverin,withoutwhomthisstorycouldnothavebeenwrittenMarkZuckerberg,asishisperfectright,declinedtospeakwithmeforthisbookdespitenumerousrequestsCHAPTER|OCTOBERItwasprobablythethirdcocktailthatdidthetrickItwashardforEduardototellforsure,becausethethreedrinkshadcomeinsuchrapidsuccessiontheemptyplasticcupswerenowstackedaccordionstyleonthewindowsillbehindhimthathehadn’tbeenabletogaugeforcertainwhenthechangehadoccurredButtherewasnodenyingitnow,theevidencewasalloverhimThepleasantlywarmflushtohisnormallysallowcheekstherelaxed,almostrubberywayheleanedagainstthewindowastarkcontrasttohisusualcalcified,ifslightlyhunchedpostureandmostimportantofall,theeasysmileonhisface,somethinghe’dpracticedunsuccessfullyinthemirrorfortwohoursbeforehe’dlefthisdormroomthateveningNodoubtatall,thealcoholhadtakeneffect,andEduardowasn’tscaredanymoreAttheveryleast,hewasnolongeroverwhelmedwiththeintenseurgetogetthefuckoutofthereTobesure,theroominfrontofhimwasintimidating:theimmensecrystalchandelierhangingfromthearched,cathedralceilingthethickredvelvetcarpetingthatseemedtobleedrightoutoftheregalmahoganywallsthemeandering,bifurcatedstaircasethatsnakeduptowardthestoried,ultrasecret,catacombedupperfloorsEventhewindowpanesbehindEduardo’sheadseemedtreacherous,litfrombehindbytheflickeringangerofabonfireconsumingmostofthenarrowcourtyardoutside,twistsofflamelickingattheancient,pockmarkedglassThiswasaterrifyingplace,especiallyforakidlikeEduardoHehadn’tgrownuppoorhe’dspentmostofhischildhoodbeingshuttledbetweenuppermiddleclasscommunitiesinBrazilandMiamibeforematriculatingatHarvardbuthewasacompletestrangertothesortofoldworldopulencethisroomrepresentedEventhroughthebooze,EduardocouldfeeltheinsecuritiesrumblingdeepdowninthepitofhisstomachHefeltlikeafreshmanalloveragain,steppingintoHarvardYardforthefirsttime,wonderingwhatthehellhewasdoingthere,wonderinghowhecouldpossiblybelonginaplacelikethatHowhecouldpossiblybelonginaplacelikethisHeshiftedagainstthesill,scanningthecrowdofyoungmenthatfilledmostofthecavernousroomAmob,really,bunchedtogetheraroundthepairofmakeshiftbarsthathadbeensetupspecificallyfortheeventThebarsthemselveswerefairlyshoddywoodentablesthatwerelittlemorethanslabs,starklyoutofcharacterinsuchanausteresettingbutnobodynoticed,becausethebarswerestaffedbytheonlygirlsintheroommatching,bustheavyblondesinlowcutblacktops,broughtinfromoneofthelocalallfemalecollegestocatertothemobofyoungmenThemob,inmanyways,wasevenmorefrighteningthanthebuildingitselfEduardocouldn’ttellforsure,butheguessedtherehadtobeabouttwohundredofthemallmale,alldressedinsimilardarkblazersandequallydarkslacksSophomores,mostlyamixofraces,buttherewassomethingverysimilaraboutallthefacesthesmilesthatseemedsomucheasierthanEduardo’s,theconfidenceinthosetwohundredpairsofeyesthesekidsweren’tusedtohavingtoprovethemselvesTheybelongedFormostofthem,thispartythisplacewasjustaformalityEduardotookadeepbreath,wincingslightlyatthebittertingetotheairTheashfromthebonfireoutsidewasmakingitswaythroughthewindowpanes,buthedidn’tmoveawayfromhisperchagainstthesill,notyetHewasn’treadyyetInstead,helethisattentionsettleonthegroupofblazersclosesttohimfourkidsofmediumbuildHedidn’trecognizeanyofthemfromhisclassestwoofthekidswereblondandpreppylooking,likethey’djuststeppedoffatrainfromConnecticutThethirdwasAsian,andseemedalittleolder,butitwashardtotellforsureThefourth,howeverAfricanAmericanandverypolishedlooking,fromhisgrintohisperfectlycoiffedhairwasdefinitelyaseniorEduardofelthisbackstiffen,andheglancedtowardtheblackkid’stieThecolorofthematerialwasalltheverificationEduardoneededThekidwasasenior,anditwastimeforEduardotomakehismoveEduardostraightenedhisshouldersandpushedoffofthesillHenoddedatthetwoConnecticutkidsandtheAsian,buthisattentionremainedfocusedontheolderkidandhissolidblack,uniquelydecoratedtie“EduardoSaverin”Eduardointroducedhimself,vigorouslyshakingthekid’shand“Greattomeetyou”Thekidrespondedwithhisownname,Darronsomething,whichEduardofiledawayinthebackofhismemoryThekid’snamedidn’treallymatterthetiealonetoldhimeverythingheneededtoknowThepurposeofthisentireeveninglayinthelittlewhitebirdsthatspeckledthesolidblackmaterialThetiedesignatedhimasamemberofthePhoenixSKhewasoneoftwentyorsohostsoftheevening’saffair,whowerescatteredamongthetwohundredsophomoremen“SaverinYou’retheonewiththehedgefund,right”Eduardoblushed,butinsidehewasthrilledthatthePhoenixmemberrecognizedhisnameItwasabitofanexaggerationhedidn’thaveahedgefund,he’dsimplymadesomemoneyinvestingwithhisbrotherduringhissophomoresummerbuthewasn’tgoingtocorrectthemistakeIfthePhoenixmembersweretalkingabouthim,ifsomehowtheywereimpressedbywhatthey’dheardwell,maybehehadachanceItwasaheadythought,andEduardo’sheartstartedtobeatalittleharderashetriedtospreadjusttherightamountofbullshittokeeptheseniorinterestedMorethananytesthe’dtakenfreshmanorsophomoreyear,thismomentwasgoingtodefinehisfutureEduardoknewwhatitwouldmeantogainentrancetothePhoenixforhissocialstatusduringhislasttwoyearsofcollege,andforhisfuture,whateverfuturehechosetochaseLikethesecretsocietiesatYalethathadgottensomuchpressovertheyears,theFinalClubswerethebarelykeptsecretsoulofcampuslifeatHarvardhousedincenturiesoldmansionsspreadoutacrossCambridge,theeightallmaleclubshadnurturedgenerationsofworldleaders,financialgiants,andpowerbrokersAlmostasimportant,membershipinoneoftheeightclubsgrantedaninstantsocialidentityeachoftheclubshadadifferentpersonality,fromtheultraexclusivePorcellian,theoldestcluboncampus,whosemembershadnameslikeRooseveltandRockefeller,tothepreppedoutFlyClub,whichhadspawnedtwopresidentsandahandfulofbillionaires,eachoftheclubshaditsowndistinct,andinstantlydefining,powerThePhoenix,foritspart,wasn’tthemostprestigiousoftheclubs,butinmanywaysitwasthesocialkingofthehilltheausterebuildingatMtAuburnStreetwasthedestinationofchoiceonFridayandSaturdaynights,andifyouwereamemberofthePhoenix,notonlywereyouapartofacenturyoldnetwork,youalsogottospendyourweekendsatthebestpartiesoncampus,surroundedbythehottestgirlsculledfromschoolsalloverthezipcode“Thehedgefundisahobby,really,”Eduardohumblyconfidedasthesmallgroupofblazershungonhiswords“WefocusmostlyonoilfuturesSee,I’vealwaysbeenobsessedwiththeweather,andImadeafewgoodhurricanepredictionsthattherestofthemarkethadn’tquitepickedupon”Eduardoknewhewaswalkingafineline,tryingtominimizethegeekinessofhowhe’dactuallyoutguessedtheoilmarketheknewthePhoenixmemberwantedtohearaboutthethreehundredthousanddollarsEduardohadmadetradingoil,notthenerdishobsessionwithmeteorologythathadmadethetradespossibleButEduardoalsowantedtoshowoffalittleDarron’smentionofhis“hedgefund”onlyconfirmedwhatEduardohadalreadysuspected,thattheonlyreasonhewasinthatroominthefirstplacewashisreputationasabuddingbusinessmanHell,heknewhedidn’thavemuchelsegoingforhimHewasn’tanathlete,didn’tcomefromalonglineoflegacies,andcertainlywasn’tburningupthesocialsceneHewasgawky,hisarmswerealittletoolongforhisbody,andheonlyreallyrelaxedwhenhedrankButstill,hewasthere,inthatroomAyearlatemostpeoplewere“punched”duringthefalloftheirsophomoreyear,notasjuniorslikeEduardobuthewastherejustthesameThewholepunchprocesshadtakenhimbysurpriseJusttwonightsbefore,Eduardohadbeensittingathisdeskinhisdormroom,workingonatwentypagepaperaboutsomebizarretribethatlivedintheAmazonianrainforest,whenaninvitationhadsuddenlyappearedunderhisdoorItwasn’tanythinglikeafairytalegoldenticketofthetwohundredmostlysophomoreswhowereinvitedtothefirstpunchparty,onlytwentyorsowouldemergeasnewmembersofthePhoenixbutthemomentwasasthrillingtoEduardoaswhenhehadopenedhisHarvardacceptanceletterHe’dbeenhopingforashotatoneoftheclubssincehe’dgottentoHarvard,andnow,finally,he’dgottenthatshotNowitwasjustuptohimand,ofcourse,thekidswearingtheblack,birdcoveredtiesEachofthefourpuncheventsliketonight’smeetandgreetcocktailpartywasasortofmassinterviewAfterEduardoandtherestoftheinviteesweresenthometotheirvariousdormsspreadacrossthecampus,thePhoenixmemberswouldconveneinoneofthesecretroomsupstairstodeliberatetheirfatesAftereachevent,asmallerandsmallerpercentageofthepunchedwouldgetthenextinvitationandslowly,thetwohundredwouldbeweededdowntotwentyIfEduardomadethecut,hislifewouldchangeAndifittooksomecreative“elaboration”ofasummerspentanalyzingbarometricchangesandpredictinghowthosechangeswouldaffectoildistributionpatternswell,Eduardowasn’tabovealittleappliedcreativity“Therealtrickisfiguringouthowtoturnthreehundredthousandintothreemillion”Eduardogrinned“Butthat’sthefunofhedgefundsYougettoberealinventive”Hedelvedintothebullshitwithfullenthusiasm,carryingthewholegroupofblazerswithhimHe’dhonedhisbullshitskillsovernumerousprepunchpartiesasafreshmanandsophomorethetrickwastoforgetthatthiswasnolongeradryrunthatthiswastherealthingInhishead,hetriedtopretendhewasbackatoneofthoselessimportantmixers,whenhewasn’tyetbeingjudged,whenhewasn’ttryingtoenduponsomeallimportantlistHecouldrememberone,inparticular,thathadgoneincrediblywellaCaribbeanthemedparty,withfauxpalmtreesandsandonthefloorHetriedtoputhimselfbackthererememberingthelessimposingdetailsofthedecor,rememberinghowsimpleandeasytheconversationhadcomeWithinmoments,hefelthimselfrelaxingevenmore,allowinghimselftobecomeenraptinhisownstory,thesoundofhisownvoiceHewasbackatthatCaribbeanparty,downtothelastdetailHerememberedthereggaemusicbouncingoffthewalls,thesoundofsteeldrumsbitingathisearsHerememberedtherumbasedpunch,thegirlsinfloweredbikinisHeevenrememberedthekidwiththemopofcurlyhairwhohadbeenstandinginacorneroftheroom,barelytenfeetawayfromwherehewasnow,watchinghisprogress,tryingtogetupthenervetofollowhisleadandapproachoneoftheolderPhoenixkidsbeforeitwastoolateButthekidhadnevermovedfromthecornerinfact,hisselfdefeatingawkwardnesshadbeensopalpable,ithadactedlikeaforcefield,carvingoutanareaoftheroomaroundhim,asortofreversemagnetism,pushinganyonenearbyawayEduardohadfeltatingeofsympathyatthetimebecausehehadrecognizedthatkidwiththecurlyhairandbecausetherewasnowayinhellakidlikethatwasevergoingtogetintothePhoenixAkidlikethathadnobusinesspunchinganyoftheFinalClubsGodonlyknewwhathehadbeendoingthereattheprepunchpartyinthefirstplaceHarvardhadplentyoflittlenichesforkidslikethatcomputerlabs,chessguilds,dozensofundergroundorganizationsandhobbiescateringtoeveryimaginabletwistofsocialimpairmentOnelookatthekid,andithadbeenobvioustoEduardothathedidn’tknowthefirstthingaboutthesortofsocialnetworkingonehadtomastertogetintoaclublikethePhoenixButthen,asnow,EduardohadbeentoobusychasinghisdreamtospendmuchtimethinkingabouttheawkwardkidinthecornerCertainly,hehadnowayofknowing,thenornow,thatthekidwiththecurlyhairwasonedaygoingtotaketheentireconceptofasocialnetworkandturnitonitsheadThatoneday,thekidwiththecurlyhairstrugglingthroughthatprepunchpartywasgoingtochangeEduardo’slifemorethananyFinalClubevercouldCHAPTER|HARVARDYARDTenminutespastoneinthemorning,andsomethinghadgoneterriblywrongwiththedecorationsItwasn’tjustthattheribbonsofwhiteandbluecoloredcrepepaperattachedtothewallshadstartedtodrooponeofthembowingsolowthatitstaffetalikecurlsthreatenedtooverwhelmtheoversizepunchbowlperchedbelowbutnowthebrightlydesigneddecorativepostersthatcoveredmuchofthebarespacebetweenthecrepepaperhadalsobeguntounhingeanddroptotheflooratanalarmingrateInsomeareas,thebeigecarpethadalmostvanishedbeneathpilesofglossycomputerprintedpagesOncloserinspection,thecatastropheofthedecorationsmademoresensethepeelingstripsofpackingtapethatheldthecoloredpostersandcrepepaperribbonsinplacewereclearlyvisible,andwhat’smore,asheenofcondensationwasslowlyworkingthestripsoftapefreeastheheatfromtheoverworkedradiatorsthatlinedthewallsplayedhavocwiththehastilyconstructedambienceTheheatwasnecessary,ofcourse,becauseitwasNewEnglandinOctoberThebannerhangingfromtheceilingabovethedyingposterswasallwarmthALPHAEPSILONPI,MEETANDGREET,buttherewasnowayabannercouldcompetewiththeicethathadbeguntoformontheoversizewindowsliningthebackwallofthecavernouslectureroomAllinall,thedecoratingcommitteehaddonewhattheycouldwiththeroomnormallyhometonumerousphilosophyandhistoryclasses,lodgedasitwasdeepintothefifthfloorofanagingbuildinginHarvardYardThey’dcartedawaytherowuponrowofscuffedwoodenchairsanddilapidateddesks,triedtocoverupthebland,chippedwallswithpostersandcrepe,andputupthebanner,concealingmostoftheugly,oversizefluorescentceilinglightsToppingitalloff,therewasthecoupdegrceaniPodplayerattachedtotwoenormousandexpensivelookingspeakerssetonthelittlestageattheheadoftheroom,wheretheprofessor’slecternusuallystoodTenminutestooneinthemorning,andtheiPodwaschurningaway,fillingtheairwithamixtureofpopandanachronisticfolkrockeithertheresultofaschizophrenic’splaylistorsomebickeringcommitteemembers’poorlythoughtoutcompromiseEvenso,themusicwasn’thalfbadandthespeakerswereaminorcoupbroughtaboutbywhoeverwasinchargeoftheentertainmentApreviousyear’sshindighadfeaturedacolortelevisioninthebackcorneroftheclassroom,hookeduptoaborrowedDVDofNiagaraFallsplayingonaninfiniteloopNomatterthatNiagaraFallshadnothingevenremotelytodowithAlphaEpsilonPiorHarvardthesoundofrunningwaterhadsomehowseemedpartyappropriate,andithadn’tcostthecommitteeadimeThespeakersystemwasanupgradeaswerethepeelingpostersTheparty,ontheotherhand,wasparforthecourseEduardostoodbeneaththebanner,thinslackshangingdownoverhisstorkishlegs,anoxfordshirtbuttonedallthewayuptohisthroatSurroundinghimwerefoursimilarlyattiredguys,mostlyjunio