Meta Platforms’ $30B AI Bet Triggers Market Rout, Zuckerberg Wealth Plunge
Meta Platforms shares cratered 11% in their steepest single-day decline since 2022 after unveiling a $30 billion debt offering to fund artificial intelligence infrastructure. The tech giant's aggressive spending plans erased $29.2 billion from CEO Mark Zuckerberg's net worth, demoting him to fifth place among global billionaires.
Wall Street balked at the scale of proposed investment, with analysts highlighting mounting concerns over Meta's capital expenditures. The bond issuance marks a strategic pivot as the company races to build AI capabilities across Facebook, Instagram and Threads - a gamble that could redefine social media's future.