Priscilla Chan

Priscilla Chan
Born	(1985-02-24) February 24, 1985 Braintree, Massachusetts, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Pediatrician, philanthropist
Known for	Co-founder of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative
Spouse	Mark Zuckerberg (m. 2012)

Priscilla Chan (born February 24, 1985) is an American pediatrician and philanthropist. Since May 2012, she has been married to Mark Zuckerberg, the co-founder and CEO of Meta Platforms. In December 2015, the couple established the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, committing to donate 99% of their Meta shares, which were valued at $45 billion at that time, toward philanthropic and venture capital endeavors.

Early life and education

Chan was born in Braintree, Massachusetts and grew up in Quincy, Massachusetts. She is the daughter of ethnically Chinese refugees from Vietnam. Raised speaking Cantonese, she often assisted her grandparents as an interpreter while her parents were at work. Her father shifted careers from owning a restaurant to managing a wholesale fish business. Chan graduated as valedictorian from Quincy High School, where she led the robotics team and served as captain of the tennis team. Additionally, she earned the title of "Class Genius."

As a first-generation college attendee, Chan attributes much of her academic drive to public school educators who inspired her potential. She received a full scholarship to attend Harvard University, graduating in 2007 with a bachelor's degree in biology. Although she initially considered transferring schools, her volunteer experiences with underprivileged children motivated her to pursue a medical career. Before enrolling at the University of California, San Francisco medical school in 2008, she spent a year teaching science at the private Harker School.

Chan completed her MD in 2012 and finished her pediatric residency by 2015. She practiced pediatrics at San Francisco General Hospital until 2017, after which she devoted herself fully to philanthropic work through the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative.

Philanthropy

Together, Zuckerberg and Chan have committed approximately $4.6 billion to various charitable causes, including a $75 million contribution to San Francisco General Hospital, where Chan previously worked. In 2013, they donated 18 million Facebook shares—valued at more than $970 million—to the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, making them the leading philanthropists in the United States for that year. They also pledged $120 million toward public schools throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.

On December 1, 2015, they declared their intention to transfer 99% of their Facebook shares—then valued at $45 billion—to the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI), a limited liability company dedicated to advancing health and education.

In 2016, Chan and CZI launched The Primary School, a nonprofit offering free K–12 education alongside prenatal care, early childhood learning, and primary healthcare services in East Palo Alto and nearby communities. Chan held the position of emeritus board chair. The school received donations totaling about $8 million in 2022 and nearly $4 million in 2023. However, due to funding challenges, CZI announced in April 2025 that The Primary School would close its East Palo Alto and San Leandro campuses following the 2025-2026 academic year. Chan was not present at meetings regarding this decision, leaving parents uncertain about upcoming options. Alongside this announcement, CZI committed $50 million over five years to support programs focused on parent engagement, early childhood education, and healthcare across East Palo Alto, Belle Haven, and East Bay communities.

In her role overseeing CZI’s daily operations, Chan concentrates on education, healthcare, and scientific research—fields closely related to her expertise—and is recognized for significantly shaping Zuckerberg’s philanthropic vision. Her innovative leadership earned her a nomination for the San Francisco Chronicle’s Visionary of the Year award in 2017.

Despite their efforts, CZI has encountered criticism for attempting to solve problems partially linked to social media platforms owned by Zuckerberg.

Personal life

Chan first encountered Mark Zuckerberg at a Harvard fraternity gathering in 2003. The couple wed on May 19, 2012, coinciding with the day following Facebook's initial public offering. They are parents to three daughters, born in 2015, 2017, and 2023. Originally practicing Buddhism, Chan embraced Judaism by the year 2023.

In 2024, Zuckerberg shared on Instagram a 7-foot statue of Chan, crafted in green and silver hues, which attracted significant media coverage and sparked discussion due to its distinctive appearance.