Susan Wojcicki was born on July 5, 1968, in Santa Clara County, California. She grew up in the Palo Alto area, in a family that highly valued education. Her mother, Esther Wojcicki, is a well-known educator, and her father, Stanley Wojcicki, is a physics professor at Stanford University. Susan has two sisters: Janet, an epidemiologist, and Anne, who is the co-founder of 23andMe.
Full Name | Susan Diane Wojcicki |
Date of Birth | July 5, 1968 |
Place of Birth | Santa Clara County, California, United States |
Nationality | American |
Education | Harvard University (BA), University of California, Santa Cruz (MS), UCLA Anderson School of Management (MBA) |
Occupation | Business Executive, Former CEO of YouTube |
Years Active | 1998–present |
Spouse | Dennis Troper (m. 1998) |
Children | 5 |
Net Worth | $765 million (2024) |
Key Achievements | First marketing manager at Google, Developer of Google AdSense, Acquisition of YouTube, CEO of YouTube |
Susan attended Gunn High School in Palo Alto and later pursued higher education at Harvard University, where she graduated with honors in history and literature in 1990. She then earned a Master of Science degree in economics from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and an MBA from the UCLA Anderson School of Management.
Career
Google: Early Involvement
Susan Wojcicki’s career began in earnest when she joined Google in 1999 as its first marketing manager. Interestingly, she rented her garage in Menlo Park to Google’s co-founders, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, in 1998, making her an integral part of Google’s early days. She was instrumental in the development and marketing of several key products, including Google Images and Google Books.
AdSense and YouTube
Susan played a critical role in the creation of Google AdSense, an advertising platform that became one of Google’s most important revenue streams. Her success with AdSense led to her promotion to Senior Vice President of Advertising & Commerce.
In 2006, Wojcicki advocated for the acquisition of YouTube, which was then a growing video-sharing platform. The acquisition proved to be one of Google’s best strategic moves, and in 2014, Susan was appointed as the CEO of YouTube.
As CEO of YouTube
During her tenure as CEO, Susan Wojcicki focused on expanding YouTube’s monetization strategies and ensuring the platform’s compliance with increasing regulatory demands. She introduced several initiatives, including YouTube Red (now YouTube Premium), and expanded the platform’s ad revenue model. Under her leadership, YouTube grew to over 2 billion logged-in users each month. Susan also prioritized content moderation, balancing free speech with the need to curb misinformation and harmful content.
Resignation
In February 2023, Susan Wojcicki stepped down from her role as CEO of YouTube, after nearly a decade in the position. Her departure marked the end of an era for YouTube and Google.
Personal Life
Susan Wojcicki married Dennis Troper in 1998, and the couple has five children. Despite her demanding career, Susan is known for advocating for work-life balance, often discussing the challenges and strategies of being a working mother in the tech industry. She is also a staunch supporter of various educational and philanthropic initiatives.
Net Worth
As of 2024, Susan Wojcicki’s estimated net worth is approximately $765 million. Her wealth primarily comes from her stock holdings and earnings at Google and YouTube.
Year | Net Worth | Source of Income |
---|---|---|
2024 | $765 million | Stock holdings, salary from Google and YouTube |
2023 | $730 million | Stock holdings, salary from Google and YouTube |
2022 | $710 million | Stock holdings, salary from Google and YouTube |
2021 | $680 million | Stock holdings, salary from Google and YouTube |
2020 | $650 million | Stock holdings, salary from Google and YouTube |
This comprehensive overview covers Susan Wojcicki’s biography, career, personal life, and financial details, providing a full picture of her accomplishments and contributions to the tech industry.