Mark Zuckerberg turns cowboy, internet has mixed reactions

In a surprising twist to his multi-faceted career, Mark Zuckerberg, co-founder and CEO of Meta, has added “cowboy” to his list of titles as he ventures into livestock farming at his expansive ranch in Hawaii.

Zuckerberg unveiling his latest agricultural endeavor on social media, wrote that he is now taking on cattle farming at Ko’olau Ranch on Kauai. In an Instagram post featuring himself alongside a plate of marbled steak, the billionaire revealed his ambitious goal to create some of the world’s highest-quality beef.

The livestock, consisting of wagyu and angus breeds, Zuckerberg said will be raised on a diet incorporating macadamia meal and an unexpected addition – beer produced on the ranch. Wagyu cattle, a Japanese breed renowned for its marbling, are occasionally given beer as an appetite stimulant.

Investing over $100 million in the initial 700-acre estate in 2014, Zuckerberg expanded his holdings in 2021 with an additional 600 acres, according to Mansion Global. The estate, now totaling approximately 1,500 acres, encompasses a public beach and is the site of ongoing construction for a substantial compound, including a 5,000-square-foot underground bunker, as reported by Wired in December.

However, not everyone is onboard with Zuckerberg’s new venture. Beef being a heavily contested topic, given the burden of livestock farming on the environment, saw Zuckerberg attract harsh criticism. Many netizens, especially vegans took the opportunity to criticise the tech mogul, calling him a hypocrite. 

While Zuckerberg is claiming to take care of his cattle, he will ultimately bring them on his dinner table to eat, they pointed out. “That is an absolutely ridiculous waste of money, land and resources,” one Instagram user wrote.