Zuckerberg's $300M superyacht passes through Seattle's Ballard locks right when Meta cuts 1,400 local jobs
MyNorthwest.com • • business
Key Points:
- Meta announced a massive layoff of 8,000 employees, including 1,395 positions based in King County, Washington, as part of a company-wide effort to cut 10% of its workforce and invest heavily in AI.
- The layoffs, set to begin July 22, affect employees in Seattle, Bellevue, Redmond, and remote roles statewide, with an internal memo circulated last month to prepare staff for the cuts.
- Coinciding with the layoffs, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s $300 million, 387-foot superyacht, the Launchpad, was seen traveling through Seattle’s Ballard locks, drawing public attention amid the job cuts.
- Media commentators highlighted the contrast between the layoffs and Zuckerberg’s luxury yacht, suggesting the timing appeared insensitive despite company statements that the events were coincidental.
- Meta employs approximately 8,000 people in the Puget Sound region and previously laid off 499 Seattle-area workers in 2026 as part of earlier workforce reductions.