When you think about the world’s top tech CEOs, you probably imagine a life of luxury and privilege. But have you ever stopped to think about the cost of keeping them safe? Recently, I stumbled upon a staggering fact: Meta spends more on guarding Mark Zuckerberg than Apple, Nvidia, Microsoft, Amazon, and Alphabet do for their own CEOs—combined.
I couldn’t believe it. What could possibly justify such an enormous expense? According to a recent Fortune article, Meta’s security detail for Zuckerberg costs a whopping $26.5 million annually. To put that into perspective, that’s more than the combined security budgets of Apple, Nvidia, Microsoft, Amazon, and Alphabet for their respective CEOs.
So, what makes Zuckerberg’s security so special? For one, his high profile and wealth make him a prime target for threats. Additionally, his role as CEO of Meta means he has access to sensitive information and is a key figure in the tech industry.
But still, $26.5 million is a staggering amount. It’s hard not to wonder if this level of security is truly necessary. Perhaps it’s a sign of the times we live in, where high-profile individuals require extraordinary protection.
What do you think? Is this level of security justified, or is it an excessive use of resources?
*Further reading: [Fortune article on Mark Zuckerberg’s security detail](https://fortune.com/2025/08/16/mark-zuckerberg-meta-security-detail-costs-apple-nvidia-microsoft-amazon-alphabet-ceos/)*