Tech

Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates squeezed into a mini-version of the Meta CEO's Harvard dorm for his 40th birthday bash

Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg
Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg Beck Diefenbach/Reuters
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Mark Zuckerberg's 40th birthday bash gave us a glimpse of an alternate universe where Zuck and Bill Gates are college roommates.

Zuckerberg showcased the party in a Tuesday Instagram post. The slideshow shows him in mini-replicas of some of his former cribs — including the Harvard dorm room where he launched Facebook.

Gates, in a black hoodie, blue-gray gym shorts, and tennis shoes, was crouched on a little red sofa next to him.

"Grateful for my first 40 years! Priscilla threw me a little party and recreated a bunch of places I lived in the early days," Zuckerberg wrote in his Instagram caption.

Zuckerberg's wife, Priscilla Chan, also recreated her husband's childhood bedroom, his first apartment, and a pizzeria where Zuckerberg said he "basically lived in college."

The Meta CEO attended Harvard University between 2002 and 2004. He dropped out before he finished his schooling soon after he founded Facebook.

Gates's story is similar: He attended Harvard between 1973 and 1975 but dropped out to start Microsoft.

At the party, Zuck was dripped out in a chain necklace.

Zuckerberg has recently changed his style, opting for more plain tees and gold chains. The look has drawn comparisons to "mob chic" trends and rapper swag.

He also sported a black shirt that read "Carthago delenda est" in old English lettering. The Latin message translates to "Carthage must be destroyed" and was famously uttered by Cato the Elder.

It's unclear if Zuckerberg wanted anything to be destroyed at his birthday party, but he reportedly uttered this phrase on the day Google Plus was launched in 2016.

Zuckerberg's birthday post ended with a video message from his closest family and friends set to "In Da Club" by 50 Cent. Some friends sent sweet and heartfelt well wishes, while others opted to roast the tech billionaire.

Representatives for Zuckerberg and Gates did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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Hannah Getahun was a reporter for Business Insider's West Coast team covering just about everything, including national politics, social justice, pop culture, science, and technology. She graduated from California State University, Long Beach with a bachelor's degree in journalism and a minor in environmental science and policy. Before joining Insider, she interned at CalMatters writing health and environment stories.Story highlights: Beyoncé wore statement shades throughout the Renaissance World Tour and played a part in making them cool againThe photographer who captured people occupying subway tracks for a Black man killed in the 1980s says history came 'full circle' after protesters did the same for Jordan Neely'I would die': People with disabilities say abortion bans could have fatal consequencesOfficer response in Jayland Walker shooting was 'overkill,' use-of-force expert says: 'The police officers involved determined that his life wasn't worthy to be preserved.'She helped raise $2 million for abortion funds by calling out Matt Gaetz: Meet Olivia Julianna, a Gen Z activist who has inspired copycat fundraisersAmerican car culture is changing thanks to younger generations. But Gen Z and Millennials see vehicle ownership much differently.It's not just you: Cybercriminals are also using ChatGPT to make their jobs easierOrca whales were discovered with a toilet paper chemical in their livers and skeletal muscles. It's just the 'tip of the iceberg' for one of the most contaminated marine mammals in the world.