{"id":140939,"date":"2026-05-27T16:07:46","date_gmt":"2026-05-27T19:07:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ubirataonline.com.br\/zuckerbergs-superyacht-lands-in-seattle-as-meta-announces-big-local-layoff\/"},"modified":"2026-05-27T16:07:50","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T19:07:50","slug":"zuckerbergs-superyacht-lands-in-seattle-as-meta-announces-big-local-layoff","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ubirataonline.com.br\/en\/zuckerbergs-superyacht-lands-in-seattle-as-meta-announces-big-local-layoff\/","title":{"rendered":"Zuckerberg\u2019s superyacht lands in Seattle as Meta announces big local layoff"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Hours after news of Meta\u2019s 1,400 job cuts in King County<\/a> broke Tuesday, CEO Mark Zuckerberg\u2019s 390-foot megayacht quietly floated into Seattle.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The $300 million vessel called Launchpad wasn\u2019t exactly greeted by a welcoming committee. GeekWire<\/a> reports that the yacht drew crowds \u2014 and insults \u2014 as it traveled from Shilshole Bay through the Locks toward Lake Union.<\/p>\n

The yacht, to put it lightly, is a behemoth. But you know what they say: The bigger a man\u2019s yacht, the bigger his bank account.<\/p>\n

The famous Facebook founder reportedly purchased the yacht in early 2024. According to the Superyacht Times, Launchpad has a steel hull and an aluminum superstructure. Powered by four heavy-duty engines, the luxury vessel has a top speed of 24 knots. (In other words, the fancy boat is very strong and fast.)<\/p>\n

Zuckerberg did not confirm his yacht arrived Tuesday in Seattle. And technically, he\u2019s never confirmed that he\u2019s Launchpad\u2019s owner.<\/p>\n

Zuckerberg did not appear to be onboard, according to GeekWire. Private jet trackers show he\u2019s possibly in Monterey, Calif. His Instagram shows him working out in a camouflage vest in an ominously dark gym <\/a>that doesn\u2019t scream \u201cyacht vacation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

That didn\u2019t stop Seattleites from criticizing the boat, however, as a display of wealth amid a time of hardship for Meta employees<\/a> in the tech-driven city.<\/p>\n

While Meta is headquartered in Menlo Park, Calif., the company maintains a significant presence in the Seattle area, once boasting a local head count of 8,800 employees.<\/p>\n

If that head count is still accurate, Meta laid off about 1 in 6 of its King County employees Tuesday. Those affected include 259 employees across two Seattle offices, 699 workers at a Bellevue office and 206 at a Redmond office, plus 231 remote workers statewide. Engineering and product manager roles were hit the hardest.<\/p>\n

The yacht remained in Seattle on Wednesday morning. But schemes to make the boat leave \u2014 including throwing tomatoes and summoning orcas \u2014 continue to swirl online.<\/p>\n

Several bystanders told The Seattle Times they believed the vessel\u2019s arrival was distasteful amid the layoffs at Meta.<\/p>\n

On Wednesday, security guards allowed yacht workers in and out of a gate to a dock, but kept a watchful eye on the few stragglers ogling at the vessel.<\/p>\n

Bicycle riders zipped past, hurling expletives at the yacht.<\/p>\n

But the dozen or so workers on board didn\u2019t seem bothered. At one point, they sang along to \u201cDon\u2019t Stop Believin\u2019\u201d by Journey while polishing and spraying Launchpad.<\/p>\n

Meta did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Representatives for Zuckerberg could not be reached.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n