Why the new tech bro status symbol is a high-end watch
by Luke Benedictus · Australian Financial ReviewLuke BenedictusWatch editor
Oct 22, 2026 – 5.00am
You can host one hell of a party when you’re married to the sixth-richest man in the world. Last year, Priscilla Chan – the wife of Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg – gave her social media followers a glimpse into her 40th birthday celebrations. Highlights of the lavish party included a magnificent cake shaped like a bottle of champagne in an ice bucket and Zuckerberg donning a sequinned jumpsuit to serenade his wife. Yet it was the tech tycoon’s extravagant wristwear that generated the most headlines – he sported a vintage gem-set Rolex Daytona worth more than $2 million.
It’s not the only grail watch in Zuckerberg’s expanding collection. In recent months, he has been spotted wearing Patek Philippe complications and ultra-rare pieces from revered independents such as George Daniels and F.P. Journe. Other tech oligarchs have also raised their wrist game. Software mogul Larry Ellison, the man behind Oracle, is another watch devotee, judging by his titanium Richard Mille. This year, OpenAI founder Sam Altman commissioned independent brand Vanguart to make seven bespoke pieces for staff members. Custom-made with OpenAI branding, the watches were based on Vanguart’s titanium Orb models that cost upwards of $250,000.
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Luke BenedictusWatch editorLuke Benedictus is watch editor of The Australian Financial Review. He also writes about wellness.
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