Facebook’s share price dipped momentarily yesterday evening – by about a dollar to $106 following the announcement by its founder and major shareholder Mark Zuckerberg that he would donate 99% of his shareholding in the company to various charitable causes over his life time.

The price nudged back to $107 in after-hours trading when the market had digested that the sale of shares would be staggered – no more than $1bn worth over each of the next three years, and that Zuckerberg intends to retain voting control over the company and remain in place as Chief Executive for “many years to come.”

Facebook’s stock has been one of the market’s star performers having risen by more than 40% during 2015. Mr Zuckerberg and his wife donated close to a $1bn in to the Planned Parenthood organisation last year.

"Priscilla and I are so happy to welcome our daughter Max into this world!" Zuckerberg posted on his Facebook page on Tuesday.

The new dad then went on reveal plans to give away the vast majority of his Facebook shares, currently $45bn, during his lifetime "to join many others in improving this world for the next generation".

He wrote: "We are committed to doing our small part to help create this world for all children."

Zuckerberg, 31, linked his post to a letter addressed to his daughter, in which he and Priscilla wrote about the world they hope Max grows up in.

"We will do our part to make this happen, not only because we love you, but also because we have a moral responsibility to all children in the next generation," the letter said.

It goes on to lay out a mission of combating disease around the world, advancing human potential and promoting equality.

"We will give 99% of our Facebook shares - currently about $45 billion - during our lives to advance this mission," he wrote.