Meta (owners of Facebook app) CEO Mark Zuckerberg sold more than $733 million worth of company stock in the first quarter of 2025, just weeks before President Donald Trump announced sweeping reciprocal tariffs on April 2.
According to reports, Zuckerberg offloaded approximately 1.1 million shares between January and March through a pre-arranged 10b5-1 trading plan established in August 2024. The transactions were executed via the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and its affiliated foundation.
Zuckerberg’s stock sales align with a broader trend among top U.S. executives offloading substantial equity stakes ahead of anticipated market turbulence. Trump’s tariff announcement reignited fears of a global trade war, sending tech stocks—including Meta—into decline. The drop reduced Zuckerberg’s net worth to $178 billion, his lowest this year.
Not Just Mark Zuckerberg
Several other high-profile executives executed massive stock sales in early 2025 under pre-established 10b5-1 trading plans. Oracle CEO Safra Catz sold stock options worth approximately $705 million in January, cashing in when Oracle shares peaked at $180.
Palo Alto Networks CEO Nikesh Arora sold 2.36 million shares for over $432 million, bringing his total stock sales for 2025 to $565 million. Nutanix director Max de Groen offloaded 5.5 million shares valued at approximately $410 million.
Chuck Davis, Axis Capital director and co-CEO of Stone Point Capital, sold 4.3 million shares for nearly $400 million. Palantir President Stephen Cohen divested 4.06 million shares worth $337 million as Palantir stock surged 100% in early 2025.
JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon sold more than $265 million in shares between February and April, pushing his total stock sales beyond a quarter-billion dollars.
Other executives who sold large amounts of shares included Eric Lefkofsky, CEO of Tempus AI, who divested over 4 million shares worth $231.5 million. Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos sold nearly $195 million in stock under a long-term 10b5-1 plan extending through 2026.
Dutch Bros co-founder Travis Boersma sold 2.5 million shares in February, generating $189.6 million over five days.
Curious Timing of Transaction
While these transactions were legally executed under pre-arranged trading plans, their timing—preceding a geopolitical event that disrupted global markets—has reignited scrutiny around insider sales and regulatory loopholes.
Critics argue that while 10b5-1 trading plans help executives avoid allegations of insider trading, their flexibility may still allow them to act on non-public foresight about future market volatility.
Trump’s tariff announcement reignited fears of a global trade war, causing sharp declines in tech stocks. Meta’s stock dropped 32%, reducing Zuckerberg’s net worth to $178 billion, his lowest this year.
Is Something Going Wrong With Meta?
Meta isn’t imploding, but the timing of these stock sales raises interesting questions. Executives often use 10b5-1 trading plans to schedule stock sales in advance, which helps them avoid accusations of insider trading.
However, when multiple high-profile leaders offload large amounts of shares before a major geopolitical event, like Trump’s tariff announcement, it naturally leads to speculation.
Meta’s stock has taken a hit, dropping 32% after the tariffs were announced, which suggests that investors are reacting strongly to economic uncertainty.
Despite this, Meta remains financially strong, with projected Q1 2025 revenue between $39.5 billion and $41.8 billion. The company is also investing heavily in AI infrastructure, positioning itself as a leader in the space.
So, are these executives acting on inside knowledge? Not necessarily. Many of them sold shares under pre-arranged trading plans, which means the sales were scheduled months in advance.
However, critics argue that these plans still offer flexibility, allowing executives to adjust their sales based on anticipated market shifts.
Meta is facing challenges, but it’s far from collapsing. The company continues to grow, especially in AI and advertising, and remains one of the top-performing tech stocks.
The stock sales may be strategic moves to secure profits before volatility increases, rather than signs of internal trouble.
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