History of Sergey Brin in Timeline

Sergey Brin is an American computer scientist and businessman best known for co-founding Google with Larry Page. He served as president of Google's parent company, Alphabet Inc., until December 2019. He remains a co-founder, controlling shareholder, and board member at Alphabet. As of December 2024, Brin is ranked as one of the wealthiest individuals globally.

Sections (2)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education

1948: Eugenia Brin's birth

In 1948, Eugenia Brin, Sergey Brin's mother, was born. She graduated from Moscow State University (MSU).

Others born on this day/year

August 21, 1973: Sergey Brin's Birth

On August 21, 1973, Sergey Mikhailovich Brin was born in Moscow, Soviet Union. He is an American computer scientist and businessman and co-founder of Google.

Others born on this day/year

1977: Decision to emigrate

In 1977, after Mikhail Brin returned from a mathematics conference in Warsaw, Poland, he announced the family's decision to emigrate from the Soviet Union.

September 1978: Application for exit visa

In September 1978, the Brin family formally applied for their exit visa from the Soviet Union. As a result, Sergey's father was promptly fired from his job.

May 1979: Granted exit visas

In May 1979, the Brin family was granted official exit visas and allowed to leave the Soviet Union after waiting for eight months.

October 25, 1979: Arrival in the United States

On October 25, 1979, the Brin family arrived in the United States after living in Vienna and Paris while Mikhail Brin secured a teaching position at the University of Maryland.

September 1990: Enrolled in the University of Maryland

In September 1990, Sergey Brin enrolled in the University of Maryland.

September 1993: Enrolled at Stanford University

In September 1993, Sergey Brin enrolled in Stanford University to pursue a PhD in computer science. There, he met Larry Page, with whom he would later create Google.

1993: Graduation and Internship

In 1993, Sergey Brin received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Maryland and also interned at Wolfram Research.

1995: Receiving M.S. in Computer Science

In 1995, Sergey Brin received an M.S. in computer science from Stanford University.

August 1996: Initial version of Google on Stanford website

In August 1996, the initial version of Google was made available on the Stanford Web site. Page and Brin used Page's basic HTML programming skills to set up a simple search page for users, as they did not have a web page developer to create anything visually elaborate.

1998: Google in Top 100 Web Sites and Search Engines

In 1998, PC Magazine praised Google in the Top 100 Web Sites and Search Engines.

1999: Technical Excellence Award

In 1999, PC Magazine awarded Google the Technical Excellence Award for Innovation in Web Application Development.

2000: Webby Award

In 2000, Google earned a Webby Award and a People's Voice Award for technical achievement.

2001: Search Engine Watch Awards

In 2001, 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.

May 2007: Marriage to Anne Wojcicki

In May 2007, Sergey Brin married biotech analyst and entrepreneur Anne Wojcicki in the Bahamas.

June 2008: Investment in Space Adventures

In June 2008, Sergey Brin invested $4.5 million in Space Adventures, a space tourism company based in Virginia.

2008: On leave from PhD studies

As of 2008, Sergey Brin was on leave from his PhD studies at Stanford.

2008: Donation to Parkinson's research

In 2008, Sergey Brin decided to make a donation to the University of Maryland School of Medicine, where his mother received treatment for Parkinson's disease. According to Forbes, Brin has donated over $1 billion to fund research on the disease.

2008: Birth of Son

In late 2008, Sergey Brin and Anne Wojcicki had a son.

2009: Donation to Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society

In 2009, Sergey Brin and Anne Wojcicki gave $1 million to support the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society.

2011: Birth of Daughter

In late 2011, Sergey Brin and Anne Wojcicki had a daughter.

August 2013: Separation from Anne Wojcicki

In August 2013, it was announced that Sergey Brin and Anne Wojcicki were living separately after Brin had an extramarital affair with a Google Glass colleague.

2014: End of Joint Management of The Brin Wojcicki Foundation

Until 2014, Sergey Brin and Anne Wojcicki jointly ran The Brin Wojcicki Foundation. After this, Brin used the Sergey Brin Family Foundation and a donor-advised fund for his philanthropic giving.

June 2015: Divorce from Anne Wojcicki finalized

In June 2015, Sergey Brin and Anne Wojcicki finalized their divorce.

November 7, 2018: Marriage to Nicole Shanahan

On November 7, 2018, Sergey Brin married Nicole Shanahan, a legal tech founder.

December 3, 2019: Stepping down from Alphabet Inc.

On December 3, 2019, Sergey Brin stepped down from his role as the president of Google's parent company, Alphabet Inc. He remained at Alphabet as co-founder, controlling shareholder, and board member.

December 15, 2021: Separation from Nicole Shanahan

On December 15, 2021, Sergey Brin and Nicole Shanahan separated.

January 4, 2022: Filed for divorce from Nicole Shanahan

On January 4, 2022, Sergey Brin filed for divorce from Nicole Shanahan.

October 2023: Clearance for flight testing of Pathfinder 1

In October 2023, LTA's 124-meter long flagship, Pathfinder 1, became the largest airship since the Hindenburg to receive clearance for flight testing, permitted over the boundaries of Moffett Field and neighboring Palo Alto Airport’s airspaces, at a height of up to 460 meters. Brin is a backer of LTA Research & Exploration LLC, an airship maker company.

2023: Divorce from Nicole Shanahan finalized

In summer 2023, the divorce between Sergey Brin and Nicole Shanahan was finalized.

2024: Eugenia Brin's death

In 2024, Eugenia Brin, Sergey Brin's mother, passed away.

March 2025: Brin's Net Worth

As of March 2025, Sergey Brin was the 9th-richest person in the world, with an estimated net worth of $164 billion according to Bloomberg Billionaires Index and Forbes.