Sundar Pichai, the Indian-American business executive and CEO of Alphabet Inc., has an estimated net worth of ₹8,300 crore ($1 billion). As the head of Google’s parent company, he plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of global technology.
Sundar Pichai Net Worth In Rupees | ₹8,300 crore ($1 billion) |
Date of Birth | June 10, 1972 |
Place of Birth | Madurai, Tamil Nadu |
Nationality | Indian |
Pichai first became the CEO of Google in August 2015, taking charge during a corporate restructuring that led to the formation of Alphabet Inc. He later replaced Larry Page as Alphabet’s CEO on December 3, 2019, after both co-founders, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, stepped back from their day-to-day roles. Despite their reduced involvement, they remain the majority stakeholders and retain super-voting shares in the company.
Before his promotion to CEO, Pichai spent 11 years at Google as the product chief, leading the development of major innovations such as Google Chrome, Google Drive, Google Maps, and Chrome OS.
Sundar Pichai’s Salary
Over the years, Sundar Pichai has amassed a substantial fortune through salaries, bonuses, and stock grants. Between 2015 and 2023, his total earnings exceeded ₹10,800 crore ($1.3 billion) before taxes.
Some key highlights of his earnings include:
- 2016: ₹1,660 crore ($200 million) in total compensation.
- 2019: ₹2,320 crore ($280 million), one of his highest-paying years.
- 2022: ₹1,870 crore ($226 million) in salary, stock grants, and other benefits.
Pichai’s base salary is ₹16.6 crore ($2 million) per year, but his total compensation often exceeds ₹830 crore ($100 million) annually due to bonuses and stock options. In 2018, his total earnings reached ₹3,900 crore ($470 million).
Sundar Pichai Net Worth in Rupees
Sundar Pichai net worth in Rupees is ₹8,300 crore ($1 billion).
Google Stock Holdings and Wealth Growth
Pichai’s wealth has been significantly boosted by stock grants. In 2013, he was awarded 3,53,939 restricted shares of Alphabet stock, which fully vested in 2018. These shares had a peak value of around ₹3,570 crore ($450 million) when Alphabet’s stock price soared.
In December 2019, Sundar Pichai received another ₹1,980 crore ($240 million) in stock options, spread over three years. At the same time, his base salary increased from ₹5.4 crore ($650,000) to ₹16.6 crore ($2 million).
Early Life
Sundar Pichai was born on June 10, 1972, in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India. His father, Regunatha Pichai, was an electrical engineer at GEC, while his mother, Lakshmi, worked as a stenographer.
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Pichai completed his schooling at Jawahar Vidyalaya Senior Secondary School before joining IIT Kharagpur, where he earned a degree in Metallurgical Engineering.
After moving to the United States, he obtained a Master’s in Materials Science and Engineering from Stanford University and later completed an MBA from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.
From Engineer to Google CEO
Sundar Pichai started his career as a materials engineer, working at Applied Materials before moving to McKinsey & Company as a management consultant.
In 2004, he joined Google, where he played a major role in developing key products such as:
- Google Chrome
- Chrome OS
- Google Drive
- Google Maps and Gmail
Pichai’s leadership and vision helped him rise through the ranks, and by 2015, he was appointed CEO of Google. Later in 2019, he took over as CEO of Alphabet Inc.
Antitrust Controversies
Pichai has faced several controversies during his tenure as CEO. In 2017, he made headlines for firing an employee who wrote a memo criticizing Google’s diversity policies.
In 2018, he was questioned by the United States House Judiciary Committee about Google’s privacy policies and potential political bias. He defended Google’s data collection practices, stating that users have the option to opt out of data tracking.
In 2020, Pichai, along with Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, and Tim Cook, testified before the U.S. House Antitrust Subcommittee regarding concerns over Big Tech monopolies. Later that year, he was also subpoenaed by the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce to discuss Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.
Awards and Recognition
Sundar Pichai has received numerous accolades for his contributions to the tech industry. Some of his major honors include:
- Named in TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in 2016 and 2020.
- Awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2022, India’s third-highest civilian honor.
Personal Life
Pichai is married to Anjali Pichai, whom he met while studying at IIT Kharagpur. The couple has two children and lives in Los Altos Hills, California, on a property worth ₹10,800 crore ($1.3 billion).
In his free time, Pichai enjoys playing cricket and football and has often spoken about his love for the game of cricket from his childhood in India.