Zuckerberg’s $300M Yacht Mocked as Meta Cuts Seattle Jobs
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg faced backlash after his $300 million superyacht arrived in Seattle the same day the company confirmed nearly 1,400 local layoffs as part of broader restructuring.
The 390-foot vessel known as Launchpad sailed into Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood on Tuesday to a chorus of jeers and hostile reactions from residents, according to New York Post. One furious bystander was heard shouting that the billionaire should pay his taxes as the enormous yacht made its entrance.
Mark Zuckerberg was not aboard the vessel during its arrival.
The timing proved particularly inflammatory given that Meta had just filed a WARN notice with local authorities confirming the elimination of 1,395 positions across King County, Washington. Social media users quickly condemned what many characterized as an insensitive display of extreme wealth while thousands of employees faced unemployment.
Critics on X flooded the platform with pointed commentary. One described the Meta chief as just another technology executive unable to grasp appropriate optics, while another posted images of the massive yacht with commentary noting the vessel’s arrival coincided with Meta cutting 20 percent of its area workforce.
The Seattle-area job losses form part of a broader company restructuring that eliminated 8,000 positions entirely, with an additional 7,000 workers reassigned to artificial intelligence-focused roles. Among Washington state employees affected, approximately 700 worked from Meta’s Bellevue offices, 206 from Redmond, nearly 300 from Seattle proper, and 231 operated remotely.
A dockworker familiar with the harbor told reporters the superyacht represents the largest vessel to arrive at the facility in 14 years of operation.
Zuckerberg has been connected to Launchpad since at least 2024, though he has never publicly confirmed ownership. The yacht was constructed by Dutch shipbuilder Feadship, with exterior styling by Espen Øino International and interior work completed by France-based Zuretti Interior Design. Built with a steel hull and aluminum superstructure, the luxury vessel operates on four engines capable of reaching speeds up to 24 knots, equivalent to roughly 28 miles per hour.
Meta has faced intensifying scrutiny over its decision to implement significant workforce reductions while simultaneously committing enormous financial resources to artificial intelligence development. The company’s capital expenditures are projected to reach as high as $145 billion during the current year alone, highlighting the stark contrast between corporate investment priorities and employee security.
Meta did not respond to requests for comment on the incident.
With information from New York Post
