Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is facing fresh backlash after his reported $300 million superyacht sailed into Seattle on the same day, May 26, the tech giant disclosed plans to cut nearly 1,400 jobs in Washington state.
Zuckerberg’s massive yacht, named Launchpad, drew boos, heckling, and angry comments as it passed through Seattle’s Ballard Locks. According to The New York Post, onlookers lining the docks jeered the vessel while one person shouted, “Pay some f***ing taxes!”
The 387-foot yacht, one of the largest privately owned vessels in the world, attracted a crowd as it made its way from Elliott Bay toward Lake Union. While more than a dozen crew members were visible onboard, reports indicated Zuckerberg himself was not aboard the vessel.
Earlier the same day, Meta disclosed that it was eliminating approximately 1,395 jobs in Washington state as part of broader workforce reductions affecting thousands of employees across the company. The layoffs reportedly represent a substantial portion of Meta’s Seattle-area workforce.
The cuts come as Meta continues pouring enormous resources into artificial intelligence initiatives. The company has indicated that capital expenditures for AI could be as much as $145 billion this year.
Photos and videos of the yacht’s arrival quickly spread across social media, with users criticizing what they viewed as a tone-deaf display of wealth during a period of job losses.
“Just another tech bro who can’t read the room,” one social media user wrote.
The yacht itself has become a symbol of Zuckerberg’s immense wealth. The Meta founder is estimated to be worth more than $200 billion, making him one of the richest people in the world.
Built by Dutch shipbuilder Feadship, Launchpad features luxury accommodations, multiple decks. It also features a helicopter landing pad, solar panels powering onboard systems, a special meditation room, and AI-powered climate control.
There’s an onboard cinema with reclining seats and surround sound, a fully equipped gym looks out over the ocean, a music studio, as well as an infinity pool has a waterfall feature. Of course, there is virtual reality gaming available.
