Sergey Brin is an American entrepreneur best known as the co-founder of Google, along with Larry Page. He served as the president of Google's parent company, Alphabet Inc., until December 2019. Although Brin stepped down from this role, he and Page continue to hold positions at Alphabet as co-founders, controlling shareholders, and board members. As of March 2024, Brin is estimated to be the 10th wealthiest individual globally, with a net worth of approximately $119 billion, according to Bloomberg Billionaires Index and Forbes.
August 21, 1973: Sergey Brin's Birth
Sergey Brin was born on August 21, 1973.
1977: Decision to Emigrate
In 1977, after returning from a mathematics conference in Warsaw, Poland, Sergey Brin's father, Mikhail Brin, announced the family's decision to emigrate.
September 1978: Brin Family Applies for Exit Visa
The Brin family formally applied for an exit visa to emigrate from the Soviet Union in September 1978. Consequently, Sergey's father was fired from his job, and his mother had to leave her job as well.
May 1979: Brin Family Granted Exit Visas
After waiting for eight months, the Brin family was granted their official exit visas in May 1979, allowing them to leave the country.
October 25, 1979: Arrival in the United States
The Brin family arrived in the United States on October 25, 1979, after living briefly in Vienna and Paris.
September 1990: Enrollment at the University of Maryland
Sergey Brin enrolled at the University of Maryland in September 1990.
1993: Graduation from the University of Maryland and Internship at Wolfram Research
In 1993, Sergey Brin graduated from the University of Maryland with a Bachelor of Science in computer science with honors in computer science and mathematics at 19. He also interned at Wolfram Research, the developers of Mathematica, in the same year.
1995: Master's Degree in Computer Science
Sergey Brin received his Master's degree in computer science from Stanford University in 1995.
August 1996: Initial Version of Google Launched on Stanford Website
The initial version of Google was made available on the Stanford website in August 1996.
1997: BackRub's State Description
In early 1997, the BackRub page, the precursor to Google, described its state, outlining its rudimentary functions and characteristics as a search engine.
1998: Google Recognized in Top 100 Websites and Search Engines
In 1998, PC Magazine praised Google by including it in the Top 100 Websites and Search Engines.
1998: Realization of Project's Potential
In mid-1998, Sergey Brin and Larry Page recognized the significant potential of their search engine project as it reached 10,000 searches per day.
1999: Google Receives Technical Excellence Award
PC Magazine awarded Google the Technical Excellence Award for Innovation in Web Application Development in 1999.
2000: Google Wins Webby Award and People's Voice Award
Google earned a Webby Award and a People's Voice Award for technical achievement in 2000.
2001: Google Wins Multiple Search Engine Watch Awards
Google was awarded Outstanding Search Service, Best Image Search Engine, Best Design, Most Webmaster Friendly Search Engine, and Best Search Feature at the Search Engine Watch Awards in 2001.
May 2007: Marriage to Anne Wojcicki
Sergey Brin married biotech analyst and entrepreneur Anne Wojcicki in the Bahamas in May 2007.
June 2008: Investment in Space Adventures
Sergey Brin invested $4.5 million in Space Adventures, a Virginia-based space tourism company, in June 2008.
2008: On Leave from PhD Studies
As of 2008, Sergey Brin was on leave from his PhD studies at Stanford University.
2008: Birth of Son
Sergey Brin and Anne Wojcicki's son was born in late 2008.
2008: Donation to Support Parkinson's Research
In 2008, Sergey Brin decided to donate to the University of Maryland School of Medicine to fund research on Parkinson's disease, a condition his mother was diagnosed with.
2009: Donation to Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society
In 2009, Sergey Brin and Anne Wojcicki donated $1 million to support the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society.
2011: Birth of Daughter
Sergey Brin and Anne Wojcicki's daughter was born in late 2011.
August 2013: Separation from Anne Wojcicki
In August 2013, it was announced that Sergey Brin and Anne Wojcicki were living separately following Brin's extramarital affair.
2014: Closure of The Brin Wojcicki Foundation
Sergey Brin and Anne Wojcicki jointly ran The Brin Wojcicki Foundation until 2014 when it closed.
June 2015: Divorce from Anne Wojcicki
Sergey Brin and Anne Wojcicki finalized their divorce in June 2015.
November 7, 2018: Marriage to Nicole Shanahan
Sergey Brin married legal tech founder Nicole Shanahan on November 7, 2018.
2018: Birth of Daughter
Sergey Brin and Nicole Shanahan's daughter was born in late 2018.
December 3, 2019: Stepping Down from Alphabet Presidency
Sergey Brin stepped down as president of Alphabet Inc., Google's parent company, on December 3, 2019.
December 15, 2021: Separation from Nicole Shanahan
Sergey Brin and Nicole Shanahan separated on December 15, 2021.
January 4, 2022: Filing for Divorce from Nicole Shanahan
Sergey Brin filed for divorce from Nicole Shanahan on January 4, 2022.
October 2023: Pathfinder 1 Receives Flight Testing Clearance
In October 2023, LTA Research & Exploration LLC, an airship maker company backed by Sergey Brin, saw its 124-meter long flagship, Pathfinder 1, become the largest airship since the Hindenburg to obtain clearance for flight testing.
2023: Divorce from Nicole Shanahan Finalized
Sergey Brin's divorce from Nicole Shanahan was finalized in the summer of 2023.
March 2024: Brin's Ranking as 10th Richest Person
As of March 2024, Brin is ranked as the 10th richest person globally with an estimated net worth of $119 billion, according to Bloomberg Billionaires Index and Forbes.