Zuckerberg-Linked 400-Foot Yacht Draws Seattle Backlash as Meta Cuts 1,400 Washington Jobs
Updated
Updated · KING5.com · May 28
Zuckerberg-Linked 400-Foot Yacht Draws Seattle Backlash as Meta Cuts 1,400 Washington Jobs
6 articles · Updated · KING5.com · May 28
Launchpad, a nearly 400-foot superyacht linked to Mark Zuckerberg, arrived in Seattle on Tuesday and remained moored Wednesday, drawing crowds along South Lake Union and criticism over its timing.
Meta had just confirmed about 1,400 layoffs in Washington state, including 699 jobs in Bellevue, 259 in Seattle, 206 in Redmond and 231 remote positions statewide.
Seattle residents who came after seeing Reddit posts and online photos called the vessel insensitive and ostentatious, though some treated it as a tourist attraction and photographed crews cleaning it.
Marine tracking data shows the yacht has visited Seattle-area waters several times this year, while there was no public confirmation Zuckerberg was in Seattle or aboard.
Seattle University economist Nick Huntington-Klein said the cuts could ripple through the regional economy, especially in Bellevue, because lost high-paying tech jobs can quickly hit restaurants, retail and other local businesses.
With a $300M yacht in Seattle, what is Meta's real message to its laid-off employees?
As Meta's new AI generates billions, why are 1,400 Washington tech jobs being eliminated?
Is Meta's AI-driven job replacement the new reality for all tech workers?