Why Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, worth over $200 billion, is raising Wagyu and Angus cattle on his Hawaii ranch and giving his cows macadamia nuts and beer

When tech billionaire Mark Zuckerberg is not busy running Meta, the CEO has found an unusual way to keep himself busy. He is raising Wagyu and Angus cattle, feeding them macadamia nuts and beer with an ambitious goal to create what he calls the “highest-quality beef in the world.”

The Mark Zuckerberg ranch in Hawaii has become the setting for this unusual experiment, where the cattle are reportedly given macadamia nuts and even beer as part of their diet, according to Fortune.

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Mark Zuckerberg cattle project is all about the perfect steak

Speaking on the Idea Generation podcast, Mark Zuckerberg explained that one of his projects on his ranch involves trying to produce exceptional beef.

“On the ranch, one of my projects is, I’m trying to create the highest-quality beef in the world,” Zuckerberg said. “It’s like this is very low stakes, right. It’s like, I’m not selling it, but it’s like, I’m very into the genetics of the cattle.”

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The comment was enough to highlight what makes the Mark Zuckerberg cattle project so unusual. He isn't trying to launch another company like Facebook or turn his cattle into a major business. Instead, the Meta CEO appears fascinated by cattle genetics, nutrition and the possibility of producing exceptionally high-quality beef.

The Zuckerberg cattle project reportedly began around 2024 and focuses on Wagyu cattle and Angus cattle, two breeds associated with premium beef.

Zuckerberg's cows eat macadamia nuts and beer

One of the strangest details about the Mark Zuckerberg cattle project is what the cows eat.

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A portion of the Mark Zuckerberg ranch acreage is reportedly used to grow macadamia trees. The nutrient-dense nuts are roasted and fed to the cattle as a calorie-rich part of their diet, helping the animals add mass.

But Zuckerberg also feeds beer to its cattle. Yes, you read that right. Zuckerberg has said he brews beer for the cows and lets them choose between room-temperature water and cold beer.

The unusual diet has turned Mark Zuckerberg's cattle hobby into a curious billionaire side projects. But behind the novelty is Zuckerberg's interest in optimizing the animals through genetics and nutrition.

Zuckerberg previously noted in 2024 that each cow eats between 5,000 and 10,000 pounds of food each year.

Mark Zuckerberg's Hawaii ranch is massive

The Mark Zuckerberg ranch, known as Ko'olau Ranch, has been assembled over years. Zuckerberg began purchasing land on Hawaii's Kauai island in 2014, eventually creating a property reportedly worth around $300 million.

The Mark Zuckerberg Hawaii ranch has attracted considerable attention because of its size and secrecy. The ranch has described two mansions, guest houses, a gym, a tennis court and a tunnel leading to an underground shelter.

The ranch has also generated controversy because of its reported location near a Native Hawaiian burial site.

Now, alongside the luxury facilities, the Mark Zuckerberg ranch is also home to his cattle experiment.

And Zuckerberg has made clear that his appetite for unusual projects isn't going away.

“I’m never gonna stop, like it doesn’t matter how important or whatever the thing is,” Zuckerberg said. “It’s like, yeah, I’ll do some projects that don’t matter that much.”

Why does Mark Zuckerberg raise cattle?

Perhaps the most interesting part of the Mark Zuckerberg cattle story is why the Meta CEO is doing it. For Zuckerberg, working on completely different projects is a way of balancing his intense focus on Meta.

“You need to find some balance of different things to work on, because I think when you work on one thing too hard, you can burn it, right? And you can burn the people,” he said.

Zuckerberg has admitted that he can become “obsessive” about his work. His cattle ranch, therefore, gives him something completely different to focus on.

His two older daughters have also helped plant trees and care for the family's animals. Zuckerberg said one of his daughters appears to share his inclination toward creative projects.

“There’s just stuff that you want to put into the world, and that’s how I’m wired,” he said.

He also explained why stepping away from one pursuit can be important for creativity.

“So I think it’s important to get time to recharge and relax and make sure that you’re talking to different people, so you have good, varied perspectives, because if you go too deep on one thing for too long, you can kind of dry out the creative energy.”

His other hobbies have included windsurfing and bow hunting, while other billionaires have their own elaborate pursuits.