Meta’s massive deal proves Zuckerberg and execs aren’t exempt from IRL work

A costly office presence

Meta wants employees in the office, and it wants Zuckerberg there as well. He had told the board he was considering a move in response to a proposed California billionaire tax.

The stock arrangement would let Zuckerberg sell shares to obtain $20 billion in immediate liquidity without giving up control of Meta, according to the filing. The committee said it wanted to avoid similar challenges for the company in the future.

Why leaders work alongside staff

Zuckerberg is directing Meta’s AI push, giving his presence added significance as the company argues for employees to work in person. The approach reflects a broader belief behind return-to-office policies: that people, including senior leaders, do their best work together physically.

Cole Rubin, cofounder of sports technology company FanFeed, said executives working alongside employees send a message. Rubin told Business Insider that seeing leaders work long hours can make employees less likely to question their own hours, and that having decision-makers present can help people feel heard. Rubin also said that understanding what is happening emotionally requires people to meet and discuss issues in person.

Other leaders and research

A 2025 study by Boston College and Arizona State found that companies with long-distance CEOs performed worse on average than those whose leaders worked on-site. The study also found lower valuations and worse insider reviews at companies with long-distance leaders.