Following the birth of their baby daughter, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan have announced they will donate over 99 per cent of their shares in the social network, worth approximately $45bn, to a new philanthropic project.
The couple shared the news on Zuckerberg's Facebook page, saying they are "so happy" to welcome baby Max into the world.
They co-wrote a message to their firstborn about the world they hope she grows up in, saying: "It's a world where our generation can advance human potential and promote equality".
They said that over the course of their lives they wanted to help "others in improving this world for the next generation".
The new charitable project will be jointly controlled by the husband and wife, with Zuckerberg saying he would sell or hand over up to $1bn in shares over the next three years. He intends to remain Facebook CEO for "many, many years to come".
Zuckerberg's full post, which featured the image above and a link to read his letter to his daughter, reads: "Priscilla and I are so happy to welcome our daughter Max into this world! For her birth, we wrote a letter to her about the world we hope she grows up in.
"It's a world where our generation can advance human potential and promote equality -- by curing disease, personalizing learning, harnessing clean energy, connecting people, building strong communities, reducing poverty, providing equal rights and spreading understanding across nations.
"We are committed to doing our small part to help create this world for all children. We will give 99% of our Facebook shares -- currently about $45 billion -- during our lives to join many others in improving this world for the next generation.
"Thank you to everyone in this community for all your love and support during the pregnancy. You've given us hope that together we can build this world for Max and all children."
Zuckerberg also took the opportunity to discuss disease treatment and prevention, promoting equality and their ideas about how to make the world a better place.
They finished off the letter by thanking the Facebook community and saying to their daughter, "Max, we love you and feel a great responsibility to leave the world a better place for you and all children. We wish you a life filled with the same love, hope and joy you give us. We can't wait to see what you bring to this world. Love, Mom and Dad."
You can read Zuckerberg's full message here.
