2016

Mark Zuckerberg

Mark Zuckerberg (31) is the first recipient of the newly established Axel Springer Award. Mark is the CEO of Facebook, which he founded in 2004. He is responsible for setting the overall direction and product strategy for the company. He leads the design of Facebook’s service and development of its core technology and infrastructure. Mark attended Harvard University and studied computer science before moving the company to Palo Alto, California.
Mark Zuckerberg

"FACEBOOK FOUNDER MARK ZUCKERBERG RECEIVES AXEL SPRINGER AWARD IN BERLIN"

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Bill Gates’ Video Message for Mark Zuckerberg

Bill Gates congratulated Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg on launching the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative: "Mark and Priscilla are leading the way for a new generation of philanthropists. This generation is applying its entrepreneurial spirit, talents and energy to achieving goals once thought impossible: inventing new medicines, reducing poverty and hunger, and making sure every child has an education."

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Special Newspaper

Instead of a typical award trophy, a joint editorial team by B.Z., Berlin’s largest newspaper, and Business Insider Germany produced a special newspaper about the Award, which was given to Zuckerberg as a gift. Besides numerous pictures from the event, the publication – which carried the look of Business Insider – also featured a profile of Mark Zuckerberg, written by Henry Blodget, editor-in-chief of Business Insider. The newspaper was distributed among the guests of the event during the evening.

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Photos of the Evening

The 200 guests who joined the award ceremony experienced unique perspectives on the life and work of the awardee, who attended the event in person, together with his wife Priscilla.

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“We are presenting the award to Mark Zuckerberg because with Facebook, he has created the most significant communication medium in a generation. Facebook has transformed and enriched our culture, while also posing new challenges. Anyone, at any time, can talk about whatever they want to a wide audience. But how is this power to be used responsibly? Mark Zuckerberg is intensively engaging with this issue. Facebook has become an important distribution channel for the media industry. And the company is developing new options for treating creatives and their publishers fairly. The aim of our award is to encourage Mark to continue down this road, regardless of any opposition he might face.”

Mathias Döpfner
Mathias Döpfner CEO Axel Springer SE

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“Mission to Mars” – Elon Musk on hand to receive Axel Springer Award

Multimedia award show recognizing the visionary’s life and work / “Don’t Doubt Ur Vibe” in remix by DJ Sven Väth as a souvenir To mark the Axel Springer Award ceremony on December 1, 2020, the Ernst Cramer conference room on the 19th floor of the Axel Springer Building was transformed into a spaceship. “An Evening […]

“Great visions and the indomitable will to achieve them”: The Axel Springer Award goes to Elon Musk

The award ceremony with Elon Musk will be held on December 1, 2020 at the Axel Springer headquarters in Berlin    This year’s Axel Springer award honors Elon Musk. Through his inventive and innovative spirit, Elon has revolutionized several industries, from electric vehicles and battery storage to space travel. Elon will accept the award on December 1, 2020, at the Axel Springer headquarters in Berlin. […]

“With courage and a clear attitude”: Shoshana Zuboff receives the 2019 Axel Springer Award

Laudation by Ursula von der Leyen / Awards ceremony in the Axel Springer Journalists Club in Berlin Shoshana Zuboff, the US economics scholar and author (“The Age of Surveillance Capitalism”), received the 2019 Axel Springer Award on the evening of November 7, 2019. The long-standing critic of a data-driven internet economy accepted the prize in person […]

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