Priscilla Chan: The Woman Behind the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative
- Age: 40 (born February 24, 1985)
- Business: Co-founder and Co-CEO of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI), Founder of The Primary School
- Height: 5 feet 5 inches (165 cm)
- Spouse: Mark Zuckerberg (married since 2012)
- Net Worth: While Priscilla Chan's personal net worth isn't publicly disclosed, she and Mark Zuckerberg have pledged billions toward philanthropy.
Who is Priscilla Chan?
Priscilla Chan is much more than the wife of Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg. She is a dedicated pediatrician, educator, and philanthropist with a mission to improve healthcare, education, and science. As the Co-CEO of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI), she plays a significant role in directing billions of dollars into research and social impact projects.
Despite being married to one of the most famous tech moguls in the world, Chan keeps a relatively low public profile, focusing on her humanitarian work. Her passion for education and medicine stems from her own upbringing as a first-generation American, watching her immigrant parents work tirelessly to provide for their family.
Early Life and Education
Priscilla Chan was born in Braintree, Massachusetts, on February 24, 1985. She grew up in a working-class household with parents who were Chinese-Vietnamese refugees. They had fled Vietnam by boat and eventually settled in the United States in search of a better life.
From an early age, Chan showed great academic potential. Despite the challenges of growing up in a non-English-speaking household, she excelled in school and graduated as valedictorian of Quincy High School in 2003. Her hard work and intelligence earned her a full scholarship to Harvard University, where she majored in biology and was the first in her family to attend college.
At Harvard, Chan developed an interest in both medicine and education. She later pursued her dream of becoming a doctor by enrolling at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine, where she earned her medical degree in 2012.
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How Did Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg Meet?
Chan met Mark Zuckerberg in 2003 while they were both students at Harvard. Their first meeting was anything but glamorous—they met while waiting in line for the bathroom at a fraternity party!
At the time, Zuckerberg was in trouble with the university for creating Facemash, a controversial website where students could rank the attractiveness of their peers. Believing he might be expelled, he took a bold step and asked Chan out on a date, joking that he had nothing to lose.
Despite his awkward charm, Chan saw something special in Zuckerberg. Their relationship grew stronger over the years, and even when Zuckerberg dropped out of Harvard to build Facebook, they maintained a long-distance relationship while she finished her studies.
After nearly a decade together, they got married on May 19, 2012, in a surprise backyard wedding at their home in Palo Alto, California. The event was disguised as a graduation party for Chan, who had just completed medical school.
What Does Priscilla Chan Do for Work?
Although Chan trained as a pediatrician, she eventually left medical practice to focus on philanthropy and education. However, her medical background continues to influence her work today.
She is currently the Co-founder and Co-CEO of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI), an organization dedicated to solving major global challenges in science, education, and justice.
In addition to her work at CZI, she founded The Primary School, an innovative educational institution that integrates healthcare and education for underserved children.
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What is the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative?
The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) was founded in December 2015, shortly after the birth of the couple's first daughter, Max.
Zuckerberg and Chan pledged to donate 99% of their Facebook shares (worth approximately $45 billion at the time) to advance human potential and equality.
Key Areas of Focus:
- Science – Funding cutting-edge research to cure, prevent, or manage diseases.
- Education – Creating personalized learning experiences and improving access to education.
- Justice & Opportunity – Supporting criminal justice reform, affordable housing, and other social initiatives.
Notable Contributions:
- $75 million donation to San Francisco General Hospital (where Chan once worked as a pediatrician).
- $500 million investment in affordable housing in California.
- $300 million to support scientific research, including AI-driven health studies.
As of 2025, CZI has given away nearly $5 billion in grants and continues to be a major force in philanthropy.
Is Priscilla Chan a Licensed Doctor?
Yes! Priscilla Chan is a licensed medical doctor who completed her pediatrics residency at UCSF.
She worked as a pediatrician at San Francisco General Hospital until 2017. Although she no longer practices medicine, she remains deeply involved in healthcare through her philanthropic work.
Her experiences as a doctor—especially treating underserved children—shaped her vision for The Primary School and many of CZI’s healthcare initiatives.
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Priscilla Chan’s Personal Life and Family
Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg are proud parents of three daughters:
- Maxima (Max) Chan Zuckerberg – born in 2015
- August Zuckerberg – born in 2017
- Aurelia Zuckerberg – born in 2023
The couple is known for their commitment to family time despite their busy schedules. Zuckerberg has spoken about how they prioritize "100 minutes of alone time" together each week and regular date nights.
In 2015, when Chan was pregnant with their first child, the couple opened up about their struggles with infertility and revealed that they had experienced three miscarriages before successfully conceiving. Their openness helped to reduce stigma around pregnancy loss.
Priscilla Chan’s Low-Key Lifestyle
Despite her influence, Chan prefers to stay out of the spotlight. Unlike many billionaire spouses, she avoids Hollywood events and maintains a relatively private life.
She is rarely active on social media, and when she does make public appearances, it is usually in support of CZI’s work or other philanthropic causes.
Her dedication to charity work, education, and science has made her one of the most impactful yet underrated figures in philanthropy today.
Priscilla Chan is more than just Mark Zuckerberg’s wife—she is a doctor, educator, and philanthropist who is using her influence and resources to create lasting change. From founding The Primary School to leading CZI, she is dedicated to solving some of the world's most pressing challenges.
As we move into 2025, Chan continues to push forward with ambitious projects in education, medicine, and social justice, proving that her impact is just as significant as her husband's.
