Summary

  • Zuckerberg owns a Gulfstream G650ER jet registered as N68885, with two Rolls-Royce BR725 engines.
  • N68885 is highly active, taking 42 flights in Q1 2024, and frequenting airports in California.
  • The Gulfstream G650ER, a popular private jet choice, boasts impressive performance specs and a large cabin.
  • (120 characters each)

Mark Zuckerberg is one of the most famous businessmen and celebrities in the world. Zuckerberg, who was born in May 1984 in White Plains, New York, is known for creating one of the world’s most popular websites, Facebook. Zuckerberg founded Facebook while he was attending Harvard University, before dropping out and eventually taking the company public. This made him the world’s youngest self-made billionaire, as he became a billionaire at just 23 years old. At the time of this writing, Zuckerberg is the fourth-richest person in the world, owning a net worth of over $150 billion.

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Currently, Zuckerberg is the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and controlling shareholder at Meta Platforms, which was formerly Facebook. He is responsible for ensuring the day-to-day operations at the large company go smoothly. Because of this, Zuckerberg may be required to travel for business and attend events across the world.

Zuckerberg travels frequently to ensure his responsibilities as a CEO are fulfilled. With these constant obligations, commercial operations are not necessarily the best decision. Because of this, Zuckerberg utilizes a business jet to shuttle himself, his executives, and close friends across the world. Let’s take a closer look at the private jet that Zuckerberg operates and what makes it so special.

Zuckerberg’s personal business jet

Currently, Mark Zuckerberg operates a Gulfstream G650ER, an ultra-long-range business jet. This jet is registered as N68885, per JetSpy. This specific aircraft was originally manufactured in 2021. It was purchased by a trust, which is based out of Cheyenne, Wyoming, that is linked to Zuckerberg in December 2021. This aircraft utilizes two Rolls-Royce BR725 engines, which provide nearly 17,000 pounds of force of thrust each.

Gulfstream G650 shutterstock_2434523891

Photo: Kevin Porter I Shutterstock 

Per JetSpy, Zuckerberg’s private jet is quite active. In the first quarter of 2024, N68885 registered a total of 42 flights. Per JetSpy, the most frequently traveled airports that N68885 flies to in 2024 are:

  • Moffett Federal Airfield (NUQ) in Mountain View, California
  • Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC) in San Jose, California
  • Monterey Regional Airport (MRY) in Monterey, California

In 2023, the aircraft flew a total of 108 times for over 220 total flight hours. This equates to over 1,060 metric tons of carbon emissions using over 110,000 gallons of fuel. Per Business Insider, Meta Platforms footed the bill for the majority of Zuckerberg’s flights in 2022. This totaled over $2.3 million and was a 55% increase in private jet activity since 2019.

History of the Gulfstream G650ER

The G650 series of aircraft has become a popular private jet choice for celebrities and wealthy businessmen across the world. The program was first launched by Gulfstream in early 2005. However, it was not unveiled until March 2008. The following year, the Gulfstream G650 flew for the first time. After 1,800 hours of flight testing, the G650 was awarded its type certificate by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in September 2012.

A private Gulfstream G650ER jet shown moments before landing at the Los Angeles International Airport.

Photo: Angel DiBilio | Shutterstock

Several years later, Gulfstream began developing an upgraded variant of the G650. At the annual European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) convention, Gulfstream unveiled the new aircraft, which was designated as the Gulfstream G650ER. The newly upgraded aircraft increases the original G650’s range due to an expanded fuel capacity. It also allowed existing G650s to be converted to the upgraded variant by installing additional fuel tanks in the wings.

The G650ER was officially certified in October 2014 and deliveries of the aircraft began later that year. The G650ER was Gulfstream’s largest and fastest business jet for several years, until the G700 was certified earlier this year. Nearly 600 total variants of the Gulfstream G650 and G650ER have been manufactured since its introduction, and the family of aircraft recently surpassed one million total flight hours.

Roman Abramovich's Gulfstream G650ER taking off.

Photo: Michael Derrer Fuchs | Shutterstock

The aircraft also set several speed records during flight testing and as it was entered into service. Gulfstream stated,

“With more than 500 aircraft in service and 125-plus world speed records, the G650 and G650ER are among the most trusted business jets in the world.”

Notable design features of the Gulfstream G650

As previously mentioned, the Gulfstream G650 was once the largest and fastest Gulfstream business jet. It was surpassed earlier this year after the Gulfstream G700 was certified and entered into service. Gulfstream designed the aircraft as a clean-sheet aircraft, which was one of the company’s first types of projects in recent years.

G650ER landing in malta

Photo: InsectWorld | Shutterstock

Gulfstream designed the G650’s wings with a sweep of 36 degrees, which is larger than any previous Gulfstream aircraft. This wing is also utilized on the G700 and G800, and uses large, sweeping winglets. Additionally, all control surfaces are fly-by-wire flight controls.

The aircraft is powered by two Rolls-Royce BR725 turbofan engines. This helps the aircraft reach its impressive top speed, as well as requires a landing distance of less than 6,300 feet for the G650ER. The G650ER has the following performance specifications:

Capacity

19 passengers

Length

99 feet nine inches

Height

25 feet eight inches

Wingspan

99 feet seven inches

Maximum takeoff weight (MTOW)

103,600 pounds

Range

7,500 nautical miles (8,600 miles)

Cruise speed

Mach 0.85 (561 miles per hour)

Maximum speed

Mach 0.925 (611 miles per hour)

Flight ceiling

51,000

The G650ER also has a large cabin that stretches nearly 47 feet. It has a cabin height of over six feet and a cabin width of eight feet. This allows up to three interior zones that can be fitted with different seating configurations.

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