From Harvard oil futures to the wealthiest man in Singapore: the Eduardo Saverin story
Before he helped launch Facebook, Eduardo Saverin was already a savvy investor, turning a fascination with meteorology into a $300,000 profit from oil futures while still an undergraduate. Today, the Brazilian-born entrepreneur stands as Singapore’s richest resident, having pivoted from social media to global venture capital and high-stakes sports ownership.
Born in São Paulo in 1982 to a family with deep business roots, Saverin moved to Miami in 1993. His early aptitude for finance was evident at Harvard, where he led the Harvard Investment Association. It was there, during his junior year, that he met Mark Zuckerberg. The two launched Facebook in 2004, each initially contributing $1,000 to the venture before later committing an additional $18,000. Saverin served as the company's chief financial officer and business manager during its formative stages.
The partnership eventually fractured. In 2012, leaked emails revealed internal tensions regarding ownership stakes and operational disagreements. This culminated in a legal battle involving a 2005 stock-purchase agreement and allegations of misused funds. The dispute was settled out of court in 2009, with Saverin retaining his title as a co-founder. That same year, he moved to Singapore and renounced his U.S. citizenship, a move widely speculated to be motivated by tax planning.
Since his departure from Facebook's daily operations, Saverin has redefined his career through B Capital, a venture capital firm he co-founded with Raj Ganguly. His investment portfolio continues to expand; in 2020, he backed the startup accelerator Antler, and by 2026, he joined a consortium to acquire a 38% stake in Liverpool F.C. Beyond business, he and his wife, Elaine Andriejanssen, established a major private foundation in 2023 to support education, healthcare, and wildlife conservation.
Saverin’s life has also entered the cultural zeitgeist, most notably through his portrayal by Andrew Garfield in the film The Social Network. While the film dramatized his early years, the reality of his trajectory—from a student predicting hurricane patterns to managing a multi-billion dollar fortune—highlights a consistent focus on high-stakes capital allocation. As of September 2026, his net worth is estimated at $42.9 billion, cementing his status as the wealthiest Brazilian and a significant figure in the global investment landscape.
Source: Eduardo Saverin
