Introduction
Larry Page 👨💼 is an American entrepreneur and computer scientist best known as one of the co-founders of Google along with Sergey Brin. Page served as CEO of Google from 2011 to 2015. As of July 2023, Larry Page’s net worth stands at $93 billion.
Early Life and Education 🎓
Larry Page was born on March 26, 1973 in Lansing, Michigan. His father Carl Page was a computer science professor at Michigan State University. Page’s mother was Gloria, a teacher.
Page studied computer engineering at the University of Michigan, where he met Sergey Brin. Together they later developed the idea behind Google – a search engine that would rank websites based on their popularity.
Co-Founding Google 🖥️
After graduating from the University of Michigan in 1995, Page enrolled in Stanford University to pursue a PhD in computer science. It was here that Page met Sergey Brin, who was also a PhD student.
In 1996, Page and Brin began collaborating on a search engine called BackRub. It analyzed backlinks to estimate the importance of a website. Later, they renamed this search engine to Google – inspired by the mathematical term “googol”.
Google Inc. was formed in 1998, with Page and Brin as co-founders. The company’s first office was a garage that served as their workspace and data center.
Google raised $1 million from investors and Sun co-founder Andy Bechtolsheim. The company focused on improving its search technology and began serving search results for Yahoo!.
Becoming Google CEO 👔
In 2001, Page took over as Google’s CEO while Brin served as president of technology. Under their leadership, Google began rapidly expanding beyond just a search engine.
Some key developments at Google under Page’s tenure as CEO:
- Launch of Gmail (2004) 📧
- Acquisition of YouTube (2006) 📹
- Development of Android mobile operating system (2008) 🤖
- Introduction of Chrome web browser (2008) 🌐
In 2011, Page again became CEO of Google while Eric Schmidt took over as executive chairman. That year Google also launched its social network Google+.
Stepping Down as Alphabet CEO 🛑
In 2015, Google formed a new parent company called Alphabet, with Google as its main subsidiary. Larry Page became CEO of Alphabet.
Under this new structure, Page handed over responsibility for day-to-day operations at Google to Sundar Pichai. Page aimed to focus more on innovation and long-term projects at Alphabet.
In December 2019, Page stepped down as the CEO of Alphabet. He was succeeded by Sundar Pichai, who already served as CEO of Google.
Page and Brin remain actively involved as co-founders, board members, and shareholders. They still hold over 50% of voting shares in Alphabet.
Larry Page’s Net Worth in 2023 💰
As of July 2023, Larry Page’s net worth is estimated at $93 billion. The vast majority of his wealth comes from his holdings in Alphabet/Google.
Page owns about 6% of Alphabet shares, which translates to a net worth of over $60 billion just from the company stock alone. The rest of his fortune comes from other investments and assets.
In 2022, Page’s net worth grew by about $15 billion as Alphabet stock surged. This made Page the 6th richest person in the world at one point in 2022.
Philanthropy and Investments 💸
Along with Brin, Page has donated billions to charity over the years. They set up the philanthropic organization Google.org in 2004. Page and Brin have funded various causes including renewable energy, biotech research, and disease eradication.
Page has invested in several tech companies outside of Google as an angel investor. Some of his investments include flying car startups and Planetary Resources – an asteroid mining venture.
In 2005, Page acquired an $800 million super yacht called ‘Senses’ which features a helicopter landing pad.
Larry Page FAQs ❓
What is Larry Page’s current role at Alphabet?
Page stepped down as CEO of Alphabet in 2019 but remains a board member and controlling shareholder. He does not have an active executive role.
Why did Page and Brin choose the name Google?
The name Google came from a play on the mathematical term “googol,” meaning the number 1 followed by 100 zeros. This reflected their mission to organize the immense amount of information on the web.
Is Larry Page married?
Yes, Page has been married to Lucinda Southworth since 2007. They have two children together.
Where is Larry Page now?
Page stays out of the limelight since stepping down as Alphabet CEO. He reportedly lives on a secluded estate in Northern California focusing on his health, family, and personal projects.
What health issues does Larry Page have?
Page suffers from vocal cord paralysis which has affected his ability to speak loudly. He also has Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, an autoimmune disease.
How does Larry Page spend his money?
Aside from donations and investments, Page spends on real estate (he owns multiple properties in California) and eco-friendly cars like Tesla. Page also owns the world’s largest sailing yacht.
What is Page’s educational background?
Larry Page holds a Bachelor of Science in computer engineering from the University of Michigan and a Master of Science from Stanford University.
Conclusion
Larry Page is one of the most influential technology entrepreneurs of the 21st century. Along with Sergey Brin, he pioneered the concept of ranking web pages by links which became the core of Google Search. Page led Google’s rapid expansion into a tech conglomerate now known as Alphabet. Although he has stepped back from daily management, Page remains a powerful figure in Silicon Valley with a net worth of over $90 billion.
