4
min read
July 28, 2023

Does Mark Zuckerberg Have Autism?

There has been speculation about whether Mark Zuckerberg exhibits certain behaviors associated with autism. It's important to avoid making assumptions and recognize that neurodiversity is a natural variation in human cognition. Learn more in this article.

Written by the apricott team

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Mark Zuckerberg
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When it comes to autism and other developmental disorders, it helps immensely to simply discuss them in public forums.

Banishing rumors and misconceptions makes autism less scary and helps enlighten those who may be curious if their own children have it.

Some celebrities who have come forward as being autistic include Elon Musk and Dan Aykroyd.

One way to bring awareness to such disorders is for public figures to talk about their experiences with them.

Some celebrities who have come forward as being autistic include Elon Musk and Dan Aykroyd.

But many may wonder if Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg is autistic.

Is Mark Zuckerberg on the Spectrum?

People with autism experience it differently, so it may not manifest the same symptoms in certain people as others.

And ever since Mark Zuckerberg has become a public figure, some of his behavior has some people asking whether he’s autistic to a degree.

What is Autism?

Autism, also referred to as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), can relate to a number of conditions characterized as speech issues, repetitive behaviors, and challenges with social skills.

Individuals with autism may struggle with social situations. They may still maintain a high IQ but have difficult understanding social cues or adapting to varying social situations.

It encompasses a range of strengths and challenges, with many people with autism experiencing the world differently. Some may simply think differently while others are significantly challenged.

Signs Showing Zuckerberg May Have Autism

Individuals with autism may struggle with social situations. They may still maintain a high IQ but have difficult understanding social cues or adapting to varying social situations.

Many have noticed how Mark Zuckerberg has difficulties in certain social situations.

An interview he did with “60 Minutes” saw him have trouble answering questions, with the reporter even saying, “We were warned that he can be awkward and reluctant to talk about himself.”

Does Mark Zuckerberg Have Autism?

Mark Zuckerberg has never stated whether he has autism, so we can’t state definitively if he has it. That’s between him and his doctors.

The autism rumors surrounding Zuckerberg appear to have manifested from Jesse Eisenberg’s portrayal of Meta’s founder in the 2010 film “The Social Network.” In the movie, he has trouble connecting emotionally to others and appears apathetic to the concerns of others. Again, this isn’t an official diagnosis, and some people just genuinely have trouble connecting with people.

For the time being, we simply don’t know.

Does Mark Zuckerberg Have Asperger’s?

Another rumor surrounding the Facebook founder is that he has Asperger’s.

This is another developmental disorder people seem to think he has again due to the portrayal of the tech billionaire in “The Social Network.”

What is Asperger’s?

Asperger’s is a diagnosis within the autism spectrum. It’s typically distinguished from autism by the person having stronger verbal skills and intellectual ability.

Some of the strengths of Asperger’s can include remarkable focus and persistence while downsides can include hyposensitivities to tastes, sounds, and lights.

However, it’s worth noting the term “Asperger’s syndrome” has largely fallen out of fashion in the medical community.

The term was retired in 2013 with the fifth edition of the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, otherwise known as the DSM-5.

It’s no longer acceptable as an official diagnosis and is instead grouped together with being part of the autism spectrum.

Signs Showing Zuckerberg May Have Asperger’s

Many of the symptoms pointing toward an Asperger’s diagnosis for Mark Zuckerberg are the same for ASD.

He tends to exhibit social awkwardness while still maintaining an exceptional IQ.

Norman N Holland Ph.D. wrote for Psychology Today about how Zuckerberg’s portrayal in “The Social Network” could point toward Asperger’s, writing, “It seemed perfectly clear to me when I saw the movie that Zuckerberg, again, as portrayed, was a classic case of Asperger's.”

Does Mark Have Asperger’s?

Again, Mark Zuckerberg has never come forward stating an Asperger’s diagnosis.

Therefore, it would be irresponsible to determine for ourselves whether he does or not.

Many of the symptoms pointing toward an Asperger’s diagnosis for Mark Zuckerberg are the same for ASD. He tends to exhibit social awkwardness while still maintaining an exceptional IQ.

That’s something for him to uncover and come forward with if he so chooses.

Social awkwardness is not synonymous with ASD. For example, many people have trouble maintaining eye contact with others, but that alone doesn’t signify autism or Asperger’s.

Only specific tests can determine what a person truly has, and one shouldn’t assume based on traits that may not mean anything.

Related Questions

What is Mark Zuckerberg’s IQ?

IQ tests measure reasoning and problem-solving skills. It’s merely one metric to determine someone’s intelligence, with many giving the test far more credence than perhaps it deserves.

Still, Mark Zuckerberg is estimated to have an IQ of roughly 152, which is considered genius level. Granted, it’s unknown if Zuckerberg has taken an IQ test and what his score may actually be, but this is what many have theorized based on other factors.

References:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/is-your-brain-culture/201011/the-social-network-aspergers-and-your-brain

https://www.distractify.com/p/mark-zuckerberg-autistic

https://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism

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