Mark Zuckerberg considered leaving California over the billionaire tax

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

Finn Gomez/Getty Images Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg considered moving out of California because of a proposed billionaire tax.

Zuckerberg would get $20 billion in "immediate liquidity" if the billionaire tax passes.

Meta made the offer to Zuckerberg to help keep him in California after he considered leaving.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg considered moving out of California because of its proposed billionaire tax, Meta disclosed in a new SEC filing on Wednesday.

Next month, Californians will vote on Proposition 40, a one-time tax on the assets of the state's billionaires.

The filing said that Zuckerberg told a special committee formed by Meta that he was considering moving.

In response, the committee concluded that it was "critically important" for Zuckerberg to keep running Meta close to its Silicon Valley headquarters — particularly to its AI division, Meta Superintelligence Labs.

It's one of several reasons the company is granting the Meta CEO a new stock class, the other being so he can stay in charge as it raises more cash for its AI initiatives.

The shares would give Zuckerberg $20 billion in "immediate liquidity" to cover the tax by selling stock without losing control of Meta, if the tax passes.

The new shares wouldn't add to Zuckerberg's net worth or increase his percentage ownership of Meta.

"The goal is to keep Mr.

Zuckerberg continuing to lead the Company from California," the filing says.

Meta declined to comment.