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Mark Zuckerberg Faces Off at the Felt—And Wins
UFC’s Mackenzie Dern Recalls Her Poker Loss to the Billionaire Tech Mogul
He's one of the richest people on the planet, the co-architect behind the social media empire we all know. But even with a net worth brushing up against $200 billion, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg isn’t above pulling up a chair for some casual poker action.
That’s exactly what he did in Las Vegas recently, playing in a low-stakes private game at the Wynn. And among the players was none other than UFC fighter Mackenzie Dern, who spoke with PokerNews during last week's Celebrity Poker Tour event.
Dern, a 15-5 UFC vet known for her submission skills, found herself in a poker showdown with the Facebook co-founder—and the result wasn’t in her favor.
“He beat me with a straight,” she said. “I had two pair, so yeah—he definitely knows how to play.”
A clip of the hand made the rounds online: Zuckerberg, sitting at a $2/$5 no-limit hold'em table, dragged in a sizable pot—small potatoes for a man who earns millions per hour, but a brag-worthy win in any poker circle. His hole cards weren’t clearly shown, but Dern’s big ace got snapped off in what she described as a "cooler."
The hand took place on March 8, following the UFC 313 card at T-Mobile Arena. A night of fights turned into a friendly poker night, and that's where Zuck surprised a few players at the table.
“He takes risks,” Dern said. “He’s kind of dangerous to play against because he’s not worried about losing the money. But he definitely has some skill.”
While poker pros rely on bankroll management, Zuckerberg’s financial safety net gives him room to play loose. Still, Dern insists it wasn’t just about the money—Zuck’s instincts were on point.
As it turns out, the two already had a bit of history. Dern shared that Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla are big fans of the UFC, even renting out an entire event she headlined to watch her fight.
“They’re a really down-to-earth couple,” she said. “She likes watching me fight, and I really appreciate that. I’m glad they enjoy my style—it’s like gladiators, you know?”
Dern ended up finishing fourth in the CPT event last week, but she may not be done with poker just yet. With Zuckerberg proving he can hold his own at the table, don’t be surprised if the rematch happens sooner rather than later—and maybe next time, the UFC star gets her revenge.
Source: https://www.pokernews.com/news/2025/05/mark-zuckerberg-facebook-poker-las-vegas-48538.htm
UFC’s Mackenzie Dern Recalls Her Poker Loss to the Billionaire Tech Mogul
He's one of the richest people on the planet, the co-architect behind the social media empire we all know. But even with a net worth brushing up against $200 billion, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg isn’t above pulling up a chair for some casual poker action.
That’s exactly what he did in Las Vegas recently, playing in a low-stakes private game at the Wynn. And among the players was none other than UFC fighter Mackenzie Dern, who spoke with PokerNews during last week's Celebrity Poker Tour event.
Dern, a 15-5 UFC vet known for her submission skills, found herself in a poker showdown with the Facebook co-founder—and the result wasn’t in her favor.
“He beat me with a straight,” she said. “I had two pair, so yeah—he definitely knows how to play.”
A clip of the hand made the rounds online: Zuckerberg, sitting at a $2/$5 no-limit hold'em table, dragged in a sizable pot—small potatoes for a man who earns millions per hour, but a brag-worthy win in any poker circle. His hole cards weren’t clearly shown, but Dern’s big ace got snapped off in what she described as a "cooler."
The hand took place on March 8, following the UFC 313 card at T-Mobile Arena. A night of fights turned into a friendly poker night, and that's where Zuck surprised a few players at the table.
“He takes risks,” Dern said. “He’s kind of dangerous to play against because he’s not worried about losing the money. But he definitely has some skill.”
While poker pros rely on bankroll management, Zuckerberg’s financial safety net gives him room to play loose. Still, Dern insists it wasn’t just about the money—Zuck’s instincts were on point.
As it turns out, the two already had a bit of history. Dern shared that Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla are big fans of the UFC, even renting out an entire event she headlined to watch her fight.
“They’re a really down-to-earth couple,” she said. “She likes watching me fight, and I really appreciate that. I’m glad they enjoy my style—it’s like gladiators, you know?”
Dern ended up finishing fourth in the CPT event last week, but she may not be done with poker just yet. With Zuckerberg proving he can hold his own at the table, don’t be surprised if the rematch happens sooner rather than later—and maybe next time, the UFC star gets her revenge.
Source: https://www.pokernews.com/news/2025/05/mark-zuckerberg-facebook-poker-las-vegas-48538.htm
