Mark Zuckerberg 'wants to be emperor', according to Facebook staff

Facebook insiders have told how Mark Zuckerberg quotes Greek legends to staff and 'wants to be emperor'.

In the latest indicator that he may one day run for president, Vanity Fair quotes several friends of the CEO who say he is well suited to politics and has designs for a career beyond Silicon Valley.

They say the 32-year-old is naturally drawn to leadership, with the phrase 'he wants to be emperor' apparently 'common' among his peers.

'He’s been incredibly careful about cultivating a specific type of persona over the past few years,' said one friend, suggesting Zuckerberg's move into politics is in the works.

His fascination with Greek legend also seeps into his management style. Zuckerberg is said to have once recited lines from the movie Troy to a packed room of Facebook staff.

When new employees ask why they should join the company, he apparently urges staff to tell them: 'Because people will remember your name.'

While Zuckerberg has yet to make any statement suggesting he will run for office, friends said he would most likely make a bid in 2024 when he is 40.

Earlier this year, Zuckerberg fuelled rumors he was plotting a political bid when he vowed to visit every state in the US.

Announcing his New Year's resolution on his Facebook page, he said: ' My personal challenge for 2017 is to have visited and met people in every state in the US by the end of the year.

'I've spent significant time in many states already, so I'll need to travel to about 30 states this year to complete this challenge.'

He explained he had made the decision after 'a tumultuous year'.

'My hope for this challenge is to get out and talk to more people about how they're living, working and thinking about the future.'

Zuckerberg has designs for a career beyond the technology world, said friends, and is naturally drawn to leadership. He is pictured above with President Obama hosting a town hall in 2011 and with Secretary of State John Kerry last June

At the start of the year, the 32-year-old announced his plan to meet people from every state in the US by visiting them all

He also recently added one of President Obama's senior advisers to the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, a social change initiative which he runs with his wife.

'I'm excited to work with David on this. He has great experience building movements as part of companies like Uber and as campaign manager for Barack Obama's presidential campaign,' he said, excitedly announcing the collaboration earlier this month.

Zuckerberg steered clear of sharing any personal response to the election result.

He shared a photograph of himself with his young daughter watching news coverage of the result and instead spoke about the 'change' he hoped to see instead of acknowledging either candidate specifically.

Zuckerberg reacted to the election result by sharing a photograph of himself watching it with his daughter. His caption spoke of making the world 'better' and his hopes for the future

Even in a leaked memo to staff where he defended board member Peter Thiel for his outspoken support of President-elect Donald Trump, he diplomatically encouraged open mindedness.

Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan are seen above at the White House in 2015

'There are many reasons a person might support Trump that do not involve racism, sexism, xenophobia or accepting sexual assault. I know there are strong views on the election this year both in the US and around the world. We see them play out on Facebook every day.

'We can't create a culture that says it cares about diversity and then exclude almost half the country because they back a political candidate,' the memo said.

Zuckerberg worked enthusiastically with President Obama and his administration during his eight years in office.

The pair hosted a town hall meeting together in Palo Alto in 2011.

He also welcomed Secretary of State John Kerry to Facebook's Silicon Valley headquarters for a private tour in June 2016.

On Saturday, Zuckerberg touted a virtual reality tour of The White House given by Barack and Michelle Obama.

'You can experience anything in virtual reality -- like getting a tour of the White House from the President and First Lady,' he said, uploading the footage.