Mark Zuckerberg Did NOT Pull a Fast One on His Bride

There's talk that Mark Zuckerberg timed his wedding to cut his new wife out of the $20 billion he raked in Friday, when Facebook went public, but it's simply not the case.

As you know, Mark married Priscilla Chan the day after his portfolio ballooned. But here's the deal ... Under California law, if one person grows a business before marriage and sells it right at the time he or she gets hitched, the new spouse has no legal claim to the proceeds of the sale.

Disso Queen Laura Wasser, who reps almost every celeb in the throes of divorce including Britney Spears, Angelina Jolie and Maria Shriver, tells TMZ it's pretty simple: "Facebook is a separate property asset of Mr. Zuckerberg. It's like a painter who paints a painting prior to marriage and sells it shortly after marriage. Any proceeds from the sale of the painting are the artist's separate property."

Now, if Facebook continues to increase in value during their marriage, Priscilla would have a 50% interest in proceeds from the growth. But if today is any indication ... Priscilla shouldn't hold her breath -- the stock plummeted 10% today.