Facebook’s IPO: Can an average Joe buy a piece of the social network?

Mark Zuckerberg will reportedly earn $20 billion when his social networking giant finally goes public, with estimates Facebook could be worth between $75-100 billion.

Today, Ron and Don spoke to CBS MoneyWatch Editor-at-Large Jill Schlesinger, who explained the potential for a Facebook IPO and how YOU can get in on the action:

Listen to Jill Schlesinger with CBS MoneyWatch discussing the upcoming Facebook IPO

Schlesinger predicted it will be difficult for everyday investors to buy a piece of the initial offering, because the company will pick underwriters (most likely Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs), who will sell the stock to their best customers. But there’s still a way for the little guy to get in on the action: “Chances are, if you own a big large-growth US stock fund, Facebook will be in that fund. So you don’t have to go crazy trying to own it yourself,” says Schlesinger.

This IPO is exciting to financial analysts because Facebook will finally have to fully report their revenue numbers. It’s estimated their advertising revenue alone was between $3-6 billion in 2011.

Is Facebook really worth $100 billion? That remains to be seen. Schlesinger reminded Ron and Don that IPOs are a very dangerous kind of investing for individuals, because there is a huge potential for the hype to fizzle.

–Producer Libby Denkmann