A very Meta makeover! How Mark Zuckerberg and his college sweetheart Priscilla Chan have gone from 'geek chic' to billionaire bling as Facebook founder tries to spice up his serious tech tycoon image

When Mark Zuckerberg testified in front of US congress back in 2018, he looked every inch the technology tycoon, with his hair close-cropped and sporting a sober navy suit.

Fast forward to 2024, and it seems a Meta makeover is in full swing, with Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan, who is usually as conservative a dresser as her husband of 12 years, looking, well, a little bit billionaire bougie.  

Earlier this month, the couple, reputed to be worth an extraordinary £138 billion, attended the Ultimate Fighting Championship 300 event in Las Vegas, perhaps not the most obvious date night for a couple whose fortune was built on code. 

But Zuckerberg has, it seems, taken a leaf out of the style book of fellow mogul Jeff Bezos and his glamorous squeeze Lauren Sanchez - looking more 'mob chic' than 'geek chic'. 

Status update: Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan were barely recognisable at mixed martial arts event UFC 300 in Las Vegas earlier this month, with the couple, known for their sensible attire, looking decidedly bling

Zuckerberg, the original technology nerd, cut a cooler figure in black jeans and a white tee, with a silver chain and his close-cropped hair grown out. Meanwhile Priscilla, his wife of 12 years, went for a short all-black ensemble

Priscilla embodied high fashion in an all-black outfit at the fight meet, wearing a short black dress with a plunging neckline and a gold necklace. The ultimate signifier that Chan is going for a cooler look? She was also wearing designer sunglasses indoors.

The look was a far cry from the casual jeans and t-shirt ensembles - with smart business dresses for work - that Chan has preferred in the past. 

Meanwhile the tech entrepreneur, 39, donned a white tee, gold chain and baggy black pants to watch the fights, and later pose in photos with UFC champions. 

After the Facebook founder published the photos on his Instagram, many commented on the fashion gear-change. 

One wrote: 'First time I've ever seen Zuckerberg wear jewellery... is he trying to be cool or something?' 

Just six years ago, while offering a testimony in Washington, Zuckerberg cut a much more conservative figure, wearing his hair closely cropped and donning a sober suit

When they first met, Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan were fresh faced and clean cut - in casual, high-street fashion and with untamed hair. Right: Now they both seem to be more experimental in the sartorial stakes, with Mark recently sporting a suit with dragon fly embroidery, and Priscilla opting for more daring dresses

Is a stylist on the Meta payroll? In March, Mark and Priscilla attended an Indian wedding together, and sported the more adventurous ensembles

WHEN THEY FIRST MET: STUDENTS SHARED A PASSION FOR NO-FUSS CLOTHING 

The couple pictured four years after they wed: Zuckerberg was frequently seen in his tech uniform of an unremarkable jeans and a t-shirt, while Priscilla matched his sensible clothing choices 

The couple pictured in 2014 in traditional black tie glamour at the Annual Breakthrough Prize Award Ceremony

Playing it safe: Priscilla, pictured in 2019, has traditionally been a fan of smart, business attire

Fresh faced: The couple seen at an awards' ceremony in Berlin in 2016

The couple famously met when they were in a line for the bathroom at a party hosted by the entrepreneur's fraternity at Harvard, where they were both students. 

When they first began stepping out in 2003, they were the epitome of geek chic; fresh faced and clean cut with a passion for casual, high-street fashion.

Photographs from the period, shortly before Zuckerberg's social media venture thrust him into the spotlight, show just that - two students in t-shirts, jeans, quarter-zips and sneakers. They were practically indistinguishable from hundreds of their peers.

FASHION GEAR CHANGE: WHEN DID THE META MAKEOVER BEGIN?   

In March this year, perhaps the first sign that there was a stylist on the payroll became obvious. 

Attending an Indian wedding together in stunning all-black ensembles, decorated with intricate gold detailing in the shape of dragonflies (him) and roses (her), they were a vision of on-trend couple co-ordination. 

'What an epic night' is how the Facebook founder described his night out in Vegas, as he posed with martial arts stars as Priscilla, wearing a low cut dress, looked on

Beard incoming? The Meta owner posted this AI snap of himself with a beard a few weeks ago, and fans suggested the look might suit him

And they looked equally chic on a date night earlier this year, with Priscilla opting for a cream pleated skirt and bodysuit, while Mark wore all black and a beige, large-knit cardigan.

Mark wrote in the caption of the Instagram snap: 'Our daughter Max gave us her highest compliment (that we look like we belong at Hogwarts) and really wanted to take our photo as we headed out for date night.'

And it seems the Meta CEO is getting more playful too; he recently stunned social media users with an image of him sporting facial hair, leaving dozens in awe of his 'handsome' new look. 

In the video screenshot, Mark can be seen wearing a navy blue T-shirt and a silver chain necklace, while sporting a beard and moustache. 

It emerged later that the new look was purely digital and borne out of an opportunity to show off Meta's new AI features - but it suggests the entrepreneur might be up for experimenting with how he looks. 

His transformation didn't go unnoticed by users, who were quick to joke about the billionaire's new look: 

'He went from Mr. Steal your data to Mr. Steal your girl,' one person joked, while another added: 'My man is ageing in reverse.' 

The couple, who now live in Hawaii, looked equally chic on a date night earlier this year, with Priscilla opting for a cream pleated skirt and bodysuit, while Mark wore all black and a beige, large-knit cardigan

HAWAII, BABY! HOW THE ZUCKERBERGS FINALLY BOUGHT A ROCK STAR PAD 

In the 21 years since they first met, the Zuckerbergs' lives have changed monumentally - but the couple have never been showy with their billions. 

However, it seems they now finally have a little time to embrace life's more frivolous offerings - and have quietly amassed the kind of assets any self-respecting global tycoon might own.  

With three mini heiresses to the throne: daughters Maxima, August and Aurelia, security is paramount, and the couple last year invested in the kind of family home any rock star would be proud of too. 

On the Hawaiian island of Kauai, the sprawling compound, which is already under construction and which the Zuckerbergs call 'Koolau Ranch', includes more than a dozen buildings - including several guest houses - which have a total of more than 30 bedrooms and bathrooms.

Glow up! New Year's Eve this year, the suited and booted Mark looked swathe in a tux, while his wife wore a sparkling mesh dress 

Through the years, the couple have opted for classic silhouettes for red carpet looks, and kept their casual style on the day-to-day. Pictured left: Priscilla in 2017 and right: Mark in 2022 

In 2015, Priscilla and Mark attended a White House State Dinner in formal attire

Zuckerberg's venture is one of the most ambitious private construction projects in North American history, and will see the building not only of two mansions but an entire village of outhouses.

At the centre are two mansions with a total floor area, at 55,000 sq ft, similar to that of an American football pitch. The two houses boast lifts, offices, conference rooms and 'industrial-sized' kitchens.

Another building will feature a full-size gym, pools, sauna, hot tub, 'cold plunge' pool and tennis court.

Hawaii may be part of the U.S. but, as a chain of small islands surrounded by thousands of miles of Pacific Ocean, it's very isolated — perfect for tech billionaires needing a getaway in the event of a world-collapsing mega-crisis.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has property on the island of Maui, Artificial Intelligence guru Sam Altman has a £34million home on the Big Island and Oracle software firm co-founder Larry Ellison owns 98 per cent of the small island of Lanai after forking out £235million in 2012.