The adorable dogs owned by the most powerful tech executives, from Mark Zuckerberg to Elon Musk (2024)

Table of Contents
The original Instagram pups are none other than the dogs of the platform's cofounders, Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger. Systrom has a golden retriever named Dolores, but she goes by "Dolly." Her Instagram account has nearly 20,000 followers. Meanwhile, Krieger and his wife are parents to a big Bernese Mountain dog named Juno, who has a modest Instagram following of his own. The couple got Juno at March 2014 when he was an eight-week-old pup. As evident on Instagram, Juno is a big fan of celebrating #TongueOutTuesday. This is Beast, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg's excessively woolly Puli. Zuckerberg and wife Priscilla Chan adopted Beast in 2010. Their daughter Max, who was born in 2015, has grown quite attached to the pup — her first word was "dog." Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel became a pup stepdad when he married model Miranda Kerr in 2017. Kerr and her dog, named Teddy, graced the November 2017 cover of Harper's Bazaar Australia. For years, Salesforce's executive board included a four-legged friend: Koa, the dog of CEO Marc Benioff who served as "chief love officer." Salesforce launched in 1999, just one year before Koa was born. Sadly, Benioff's beloved golden retriever passed away in 2017 at the age of 17. The Salesforce CEO posted a sweet tribute on Twitter in honor of Koa. The award for best dog name goes to 23andMe CEO Anne Wojcicki, for her labradoodle named Fluffy Bunny. She also owns a labradoodle named Luna. Meanwhile, her sister, YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki, also has a dog of her own. Google CEO Sundar Pichai and his family have a fluffy two-year-old dog named Jeffree. Jeffree was given a customary Noogler hat — given to new Googlers — when Pichai first got the pup in 2017. "Will get him started on coding once we get through potty training," Pichai wrote on Twitter. The labradoodle belonging to venture capitalist Kevin Rose is somewhat of a celebrity. The dog, named Toaster, was voted San Francisco's cutest dog in 2011 in a reader poll conducted by Bay Area lifestyle website 7x7. But Toaster's claim to fame comes from a 2013 incident when he was attacked by a raccoon. The footage of Rose coming to the dog's rescue, and then throwing the raccoon down a stairwell, went viral. Tumblr founder David Karp has re-blogged numerous photos of his dog on his personal page on the blogging website. He owns a photogenic French bulldog named Clark. Until 2015, Yelp's unofficial mascot was Darwin, the dog of cofounder and CEO Jeremy Stoppelman. He was featured prominently on Yelp's website — for a while, this picture of Darwin would pop up on the 404 page when a user clicked on a broken link. Sadly, Darwin passed away in 2015 at the age of 10. "He kept me sane and everyone @yelp smiling for over 10 amazing years," Stoppelman wrote in a Twitter tribute. Tech power couple Brit and David Morin are parents to a miniature Bernese Mountain dog named Pixel, an apt name for a Silicon Valley dog. According to Pixel's Facebook page, he was born outside of Toronto. Pixel also loves design, snow, mountains, and "eating fine cheese." Game developer Zynga gets its name from the beloved dog belonging to the company's founder, Mark Pincus. The American bulldog was named Zinga, after an African warrior princess. Zinga was known for her "human-like qualities," such as sitting on chairs and barstools, and eating dinner at the table. Zinga died in 2008, a year after Zynga's founding, but she lives on as the company's namesake. Uber cofounder Travis Kalanick is father to a small puppy named Yobu. In a 2016 Facebook post, Kalanick campaigned for Yobu to be named the president of on-demand dog-walking app Wag. One of the most formal names for a dog belongs to Sir Richard Parker, a golden retriever belonging to Airbnb cofounder and CEO Brian Chesky. Billionaire philanthropists Bill and Melina Gates have two dogs — Oreo and Nilla. The Microsoft cofounder said in an Ask Me Anything session on Reddit in 2015 that he's had to resist to urge to get a third dog. Gates also mentioned in the Reddit AMA that he really loves his dogs — when they're not barking late at night, eating things they're not supposed to, and aren't going to the bathroom inside the house. On top of three kids, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and his wife, Anu, have a two-year-old dog named Winston. "We both think children should have dogs," Anu Nadella said in a 2017 interview. "There is a different sense of companionship and responsibility that comes with it — that emotional sense that there is a being waiting for you to come back." But Satya Nadella has said that Winston is "more than a family pet." The pup provides emotion support to Zain, Nadella's son who is confined to a wheelchair. "It's been such a joy," the Microsoft CEO said of having a dog in the house. For many dog owners, taking care of your four-legged friend becomes a crucial part of your daily routine. That rings true for Bumble founder and CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd. She told the New York Times that right before bedtime, she plays with her dog, Jett, so he'll calm down and go to sleep. It's no surprise that Tesla CEO Elon Musk is the owner of two dogs with unusual (but adorable) names: Gatsby and Marvin the Martian. The two dogs were even visited in 2018 by the "Dog Whisperer" himself, Cesar Millan. In an Instagram post, Millan said both Gatsby (the big dog) and Marvin the Martian (the little dog) have "a great demeanor." Who can forget about Balto, the Siberian husky that Elizabeth Holmes bought in the dying days of her blood-testing startup Theranos. She flew cross-country in September 2017 to pick up the nine-week-old puppy, and named him after a famous sled dog in Alaska. Holmes brought Balto to the Theranos headquarters and dubbed him the company's mascot. However, Balto wasn't potty-trained, and Holmes reportedly let him relieve himself wherever he wanted in the office. FAQs

Updated

2020-03-06T14:36:00Z

  • Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is the owner of an adorable fluffy dog named Beast, but he isn't the only tech executive with a furry friend.
  • Studies show that dogs can help reduce stress levels and boost productivity, so they make ideal companions for tech moguls running billion-dollar companies.
  • These are some of the most powerful dogs in Silicon Valley.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The adorable dogs owned by the most powerful tech executives, from Mark Zuckerberg to Elon Musk (2)

NEW LOOK

Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read preview

The adorable dogs owned by the most powerful tech executives, from Mark Zuckerberg to Elon Musk (3)

Thanks for signing up!

Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go.

The adorable dogs owned by the most powerful tech executives, from Mark Zuckerberg to Elon Musk (4)

Advertisem*nt

With company cultures that celebrate — and even encourage — employees bringing their dogs to work, it's no wonder that many of tech's biggest players are also parents to the cutest creatures known to man.

From Google to Facebook, dogs have taken over the hearts and Instagrams of the industry's most powerful leaders. Sure these people are setting the agenda for global business and politics, but even billionaires need a little TLC (tender loving cuddles).

And did we mention these dogs are darn cute?

Here's a round up of some of the tech industry's most powerful dogs:

Advertisem*nt

The original Instagram pups are none other than the dogs of the platform's cofounders, Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger.

The adorable dogs owned by the most powerful tech executives, from Mark Zuckerberg to Elon Musk (5)

Instagram

Advertisem*nt

Systrom has a golden retriever named Dolores, but she goes by "Dolly." Her Instagram account has nearly 20,000 followers.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!

A post shared by Dolores (@dolly) on Aug 12, 2018 at 1:12pm PDT

Meanwhile, Krieger and his wife are parents to a big Bernese Mountain dog named Juno, who has a modest Instagram following of his own.

Being a lapdog with Dad while I still fit

A post shared by Juno (@junopup) on Jun 8, 2014 at 10:21am PDT

Advertisem*nt

The couple got Juno at March 2014 when he was an eight-week-old pup. As evident on Instagram, Juno is a big fan of celebrating #TongueOutTuesday.

@junopup wishes you a happy National Dog Day!

A post shared by Mike Krieger (@mikeyk) on Aug 26, 2017 at 8:41am PDT

Advertisem*nt

This is Beast, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg's excessively woolly Puli. Zuckerberg and wife Priscilla Chan adopted Beast in 2010.

Advertisem*nt

Their daughter Max, who was born in 2015, has grown quite attached to the pup — her first word was "dog."

Max loves Beast. Her first word: dog.

A post shared by Mark Zuckerberg (@zuck) on Oct 19, 2016 at 12:10pm PDT

Advertisem*nt

Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel became a pup stepdad when he married model Miranda Kerr in 2017.

@stellarmag 📸 by @ninomunoz

A post shared by Miranda (@mirandakerr) on May 4, 2018 at 1:41pm PDT

Advertisem*nt

Kerr and her dog, named Teddy, graced the November 2017 cover of Harper's Bazaar Australia.

Advertisem*nt

For years, Salesforce's executive board included a four-legged friend: Koa, the dog of CEO Marc Benioff who served as "chief love officer." Salesforce launched in 1999, just one year before Koa was born.

—Marc Benioff (@Benioff) March 23, 2017

Sadly, Benioff's beloved golden retriever passed away in 2017 at the age of 17. The Salesforce CEO posted a sweet tribute on Twitter in honor of Koa.

—Marc Benioff (@Benioff) September 2, 2017

Advertisem*nt

The award for best dog name goes to 23andMe CEO Anne Wojcicki, for her labradoodle named Fluffy Bunny. She also owns a labradoodle named Luna.

The adorable dogs owned by the most powerful tech executives, from Mark Zuckerberg to Elon Musk (6)

Getty Images/Kimberly White

Source: Wall Street Journal

Advertisem*nt

Meanwhile, her sister, YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki, also has a dog of her own.

Happy weekend times!

A post shared by Susan Wojcicki (@susanwojcicki) on Sep 4, 2016 at 3:15pm PDT

Advertisem*nt

Google CEO Sundar Pichai and his family have a fluffy two-year-old dog named Jeffree.

Playing around with my #Pixel3 :) #Jeffree #nofilter

A post shared by Sundar Pichai (@sundarpichai) on Oct 12, 2018 at 5:05pm PDT

Jeffree was given a customary Noogler hat — given to new Googlers — when Pichai first got the pup in 2017. "Will get him started on coding once we get through potty training," Pichai wrote on Twitter.

—Sundar Pichai (@sundarpichai) March 23, 2017

Advertisem*nt

The labradoodle belonging to venture capitalist Kevin Rose is somewhat of a celebrity. The dog, named Toaster, was voted San Francisco's cutest dog in 2011 in a reader poll conducted by Bay Area lifestyle website 7x7.

Happy Valentine’s Day to my loves @daryarose, Zelda, and of course, Mr. Toast

A post shared by Kevin Rose (@kevinrose) on Feb 14, 2019 at 8:11pm PST

Source: 7x7

But Toaster's claim to fame comes from a 2013 incident when he was attacked by a raccoon. The footage of Rose coming to the dog's rescue, and then throwing the raccoon down a stairwell, went viral.

Advertisem*nt

Tumblr founder David Karp has re-blogged numerous photos of his dog on his personal page on the blogging website. He owns a photogenic French bulldog named Clark.

A post shared by David Karp (@davidkarp)

Source: David's Log

Until 2015, Yelp's unofficial mascot was Darwin, the dog of cofounder and CEO Jeremy Stoppelman. He was featured prominently on Yelp's website — for a while, this picture of Darwin would pop up on the 404 page when a user clicked on a broken link.

The adorable dogs owned by the most powerful tech executives, from Mark Zuckerberg to Elon Musk (7)

Flickr via Yelp

Source: Fast Company

Advertisem*nt

Sadly, Darwin passed away in 2015 at the age of 10. "He kept me sane and everyone @yelp smiling for over 10 amazing years," Stoppelman wrote in a Twitter tribute.

—Yelp (@Yelp) July 23, 2015

Source: Twitter

Tech power couple Brit and David Morin are parents to a miniature Bernese Mountain dog named Pixel, an apt name for a Silicon Valley dog.

Source: Pixel Morin on Facebook

Advertisem*nt

According to Pixel's Facebook page, he was born outside of Toronto. Pixel also loves design, snow, mountains, and "eating fine cheese."

A post shared by Brit Morin (@brit)

Source: Pixel Morin on Facebook

Game developer Zynga gets its name from the beloved dog belonging to the company's founder, Mark Pincus. The American bulldog was named Zinga, after an African warrior princess.

The adorable dogs owned by the most powerful tech executives, from Mark Zuckerberg to Elon Musk (8)

AP Photo/Paul Sakuma

Source: Zynga

Advertisem*nt

Zinga was known for her "human-like qualities," such as sitting on chairs and barstools, and eating dinner at the table. Zinga died in 2008, a year after Zynga's founding, but she lives on as the company's namesake.

—mark pincus (@markpinc) August 18, 2013

Source: Zynga

Uber cofounder Travis Kalanick is father to a small puppy named Yobu. In a 2016 Facebook post, Kalanick campaigned for Yobu to be named the president of on-demand dog-walking app Wag.

Advertisem*nt

One of the most formal names for a dog belongs to Sir Richard Parker, a golden retriever belonging to Airbnb cofounder and CEO Brian Chesky.

Sir Richard Parker @airbnb.

A post shared by Brian Chesky (@bchesky) on May 10, 2015 at 10:08am PDT

Advertisem*nt

Advertisem*nt

Billionaire philanthropists Bill and Melina Gates have two dogs — Oreo and Nilla. The Microsoft cofounder said in an Ask Me Anything session on Reddit in 2015 that he's had to resist to urge to get a third dog.

Source: Reddit

Gates also mentioned in the Reddit AMA that he really loves his dogs — when they're not barking late at night, eating things they're not supposed to, and aren't going to the bathroom inside the house.

The adorable dogs owned by the most powerful tech executives, from Mark Zuckerberg to Elon Musk (9)

Thierry Chesnot/Getty Images

Source: Reddit

Advertisem*nt

On top of three kids, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and his wife, Anu, have a two-year-old dog named Winston. "We both think children should have dogs," Anu Nadella said in a 2017 interview. "There is a different sense of companionship and responsibility that comes with it — that emotional sense that there is a being waiting for you to come back."

The adorable dogs owned by the most powerful tech executives, from Mark Zuckerberg to Elon Musk (10)

Getty

Source: Good Housekeeping

But Satya Nadella has said that Winston is "more than a family pet." The pup provides emotion support to Zain, Nadella's son who is confined to a wheelchair. "It's been such a joy," the Microsoft CEO said of having a dog in the house.

—Microsoft Women (@MicrosoftWomen) September 27, 2017

Source: Good Housekeeping

Advertisem*nt

For many dog owners, taking care of your four-legged friend becomes a crucial part of your daily routine. That rings true for Bumble founder and CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd. She told the New York Times that right before bedtime, she plays with her dog, Jett, so he'll calm down and go to sleep.

When you go to nyc for the first time. next stop: hot dogs on the street! 🌭🗽

A post shared by Whitney Herd (@whitney) on Apr 22, 2018 at 9:26am PDT

Source: New York Times

It's no surprise that Tesla CEO Elon Musk is the owner of two dogs with unusual (but adorable) names: Gatsby and Marvin the Martian.

The adorable dogs owned by the most powerful tech executives, from Mark Zuckerberg to Elon Musk (11)

PewDiePie/YouTube

Source: Elon Musk on Twitter

Advertisem*nt

The two dogs were even visited in 2018 by the "Dog Whisperer" himself, Cesar Millan. In an Instagram post, Millan said both Gatsby (the big dog) and Marvin the Martian (the little dog) have "a great demeanor."

Gatsby & Marvin have a great demeanor 🐾@elonmusk

A post shared by Cesar Millan (@cesarsway) on Aug 15, 2018 at 9:46am PDT

Who can forget about Balto, the Siberian husky that Elizabeth Holmes bought in the dying days of her blood-testing startup Theranos. She flew cross-country in September 2017 to pick up the nine-week-old puppy, and named him after a famous sled dog in Alaska.

The adorable dogs owned by the most powerful tech executives, from Mark Zuckerberg to Elon Musk (12)

Reuters/Ilya Naymushin

Source: Vanity Fair

Advertisem*nt

Holmes brought Balto to the Theranos headquarters and dubbed him the company's mascot. However, Balto wasn't potty-trained, and Holmes reportedly let him relieve himself wherever he wanted in the office.

The adorable dogs owned by the most powerful tech executives, from Mark Zuckerberg to Elon Musk (13)

Lisa Lake/Getty Images

Source: Vanity Fair

Read next

Dogs Tech Pets

More...

Advertisem*nt

The adorable dogs owned by the most powerful tech executives, from Mark Zuckerberg to Elon Musk (2024)

FAQs

What dogs does Elon Musk own? ›

Elon Musk. SpaceX Founder-CEO Elon Musk has a pet dog named Floki, a Shiba Inu which is a type of hunting dog from Japan. In 2018, Musk also shared that he has two dogs and a cat-- a big dog named Gatsby, and a little dog named Marvin the Martian, and a cat named Schrödinger.

How many dogs does Bill Gates have? ›

Bill Gates' dogs, Oreo and Nilla.

Does Mark Zuckerberg have a pet? ›

BEAST - Meet Beast, Mark's beloved furry friend. Beast is a Puli, a type of Hungarian Sheepdog. He lives in Palo Alto with Mark and his wife, Priscilla Chan. Beast is quite the star on social media, with over 2 million followers on his Facebook fan page.

What is the name of the Facebook owner's dog? ›

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg is no ordinary guy so it's typical that his pet — a Puli (a kind of Hungarian sheepdog) — would be something special too. Beast, who has his own Facebook page, knows his way around a computer and he has received around 2,116,017 likes from fans around the world.

What is the billionaire dog's name? ›

Meet Gunther VI: The German Shepherd With A $400+ Million Net Worth. Who Was In Charge Of Managing The Money? Where Is Gunther Now? What Can We Learn From Gunther?

What dogs does Oprah own? ›

While the Pet Rich List mentions 5 pups who will inherit the money from Winfrey, it is stated on Oprah Daily that the self-made businesswoman is currently only a mother to her two springer spaniels (Sunny and Lauren) and one co*cker spaniel (Sadie).

Who owns the most dog in the world? ›

The most dogs ever owned by one person were 5,000 Mastiffs owned by Kubla Khan. The American Kennel Club, the most influential dog club in the United States, was founded in 1884. The most popular male dog names are Max and Jake. The most popular female dog names are Maggie and Molly.

Who is the top richest dog in the world? ›

1. Gunther VI
Breed:German Shepherd
Net worth:$500 million
Apr 29, 2024

Did Jeff Bezos have a dog? ›

Billionaire entrepreneur Jeff Bezos on Sunday shared a photo of his dog Luna on Instagram with the caption, "Luna's on the naughty list." The pooch seems to have been playing in the water as the photo showed a dripping, but evidently happy, Luna.

What is Zuckerberg IQ? ›

Einstein IQ: 160+, Bill Gates IQ: 150+, Elon Musk IQ: 155, Zuckerberg IQ: 152, Sunny Doel's IQ: over 160.

Does Jennifer Aniston have a pet? ›

Jennifer Aniston features dogs 'Lord Chesterfield' and 'Clyde' in new Instagram post. In Jennifer Aniston's Instagram post, her dogs look adorable while relaxing. In the second photo of the 10-part photo dump, Lord Chesterfield gives a cute side-eye as the pup rests his head on some papers.

What is the name of Abraham Lincoln's dog? ›

Fido (c. 1851 – 1865) was a yellow mixed-breed dog owned by Abraham Lincoln and kept by the family for a number of years prior to Lincoln's presidency, and became a presidential pet during Lincoln's presidency, although he remained in Springfield, Illinois.

Why can't I sell puppies on Facebook? ›

Animals: Selling animals or animal products isn't allowed on Marketplace. This includes posting about animals for adoption, except by vetted pet adoption matching services. Healthcare products: Medical and healthcare-related products aren't allowed on Marketplace (example: thermometers, first-aid kits).

What is a Meta dog? ›

metaDog is an innovative AI pet, redefining the concept of companionship. It exhibits lifelike behaviors and emotions that evolve just like a real dog.

What kind of dog does Elon Musk have Marvin? ›

In response to a post expressing love for Marvin, Elon Musk revealed that Marvin is a Havanese and his emotional support.

Who is dogs of Elon? ›

Dogs of Elon is a blockchain-based project that promotes blockchain technology through meme-based games and NFT collectibles. The project aims to form an inclusive community, whereby every user is provided with the opportunity to develop blockchain-based games, bots, or cartoons.

What kind of pets does Jeff Bezos have? ›

SpotMini - Robot Dog (Dog)

Bezos was photographed with SpotMini in March 2018, his new robot dog created by Boston Dynamics, the famed American robotics and engineering company. This electric-powered pooch can run for 90 minutes before recharging and weighs around 55 pounds (25 kg).

Does Elon allow dogs? ›

Animals are not permitted in university owned or operated buildings. Exception will be made only for service animals as indicated by the Americans with Disabilities Act or approved emotional support animals in the residence halls.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Maia Crooks Jr

Last Updated:

Views: 6523

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (43 voted)

Reviews: 82% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Maia Crooks Jr

Birthday: 1997-09-21

Address: 93119 Joseph Street, Peggyfurt, NC 11582

Phone: +2983088926881

Job: Principal Design Liaison

Hobby: Web surfing, Skiing, role-playing games, Sketching, Polo, Sewing, Genealogy

Introduction: My name is Maia Crooks Jr, I am a homely, joyous, shiny, successful, hilarious, thoughtful, joyous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.