Google’s CEO is now at the top of the tech food chain. In light of his success, do you know the Sundar Pichai net worth?
Pundits herald him as one of the most influential CEOs on the planet.
At the helm of Google’s central business operations, Sundar Pichai may prove these experts right.
On April 28, 2017 regulatory filing revealed Pichai’s whopping compensation for 2016.
Provided by Alphabet Inc., the astronomical figure weighs in at $199.7mn in restricted stocks. Additionally, this is a payment that most of us can barely imagine.
However, Pichai’s riches cover over his humble beginnings.
Sundar Pichai net worth: The boy genius
Although Google’s boss is a major figure in the tech world, he didn’t grow up wealthy.
In fact, he grew up in a lower middle class family in the city of Chennai, India. Pichai and his younger brother would sleep in the lounge of their two bedroom apartment.
Regardless of this limited space, this future CEO demonstrated a desire to learn. Furthermore, his knack for numbers indicated a remarkable memory that parents helped foster.
In fact, young Pichai could remember every number he’d spun into his family’s rotary phone.
Thus, computers became his outlet for this impressive gift.
For university he attended the Indian Institute of Technology of Kharagpur. There, he continued to wow with his mental gymnastics.
So much so, that after pursuing a degree in metallurgical engineering, Stanford awarded him a scholarship.
He continued his education after the prestigious university. For his MBA, he attended the Wharton School in Pennsylvania.
Sundar Pichai net worth: Computing or marketing maven?
Funnily enough, his rise as a tech titan took off in 2004, on April Fool’s day. During that time, he was hired by Google to work on its search toolbar.
Ironically, a bold move from Microsoft stimulated his meteoric career.
The software giant had created Bing, Internet Explorer’s default search engine.
In a stroke of genius, Pichai convinced computer makers to install the Google search toolbar onto their hardware ahead of time.
Consequently, this idea enabled Google to lessen the market success of their competitor.
They say that lightning never strikes the same place twice.
However, it did for Pichai, in the form of another history-changing idea.
Perhaps he was galvanised by his move to lessen the influence of Bing.
Either way, he then went to suggest that Google build its own browser completely.
Thankfully, and much to their own credit, cofounders Larry Page and Sergey Brin agreed to the idea.
Thus, Chrome is now the most widely used freeware web browser all around.
Other light bulb moments
Due to more similar brainwaves, Pichai continued to achieve.
He wrangled Android into the greater business vision of Google. He also contributed to innovations made in software and apps.
For example, he drummed up the idea to use the Chrome operating system on Google’s Chromebooks.
In 2014 he became head of the company’s product areas due to his computing and marketing insight.
Although Pichai is now in the limelight as Google’s CEO, he seems to keep a low profile on social media.
However, Google+ looks to be the exception.
In light of Trump’s immigration orders, Pichai has also spoken out against the President’s rhetoric. He stood with other Silicon Valley figures in conveying hope for a united political future.
Thus, the Sunar Pichai net worth is estimated to be over $650mn by pundits.
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