Anne Wojcicki, a prominent American businesswoman and entrepreneur, has a net worth of $150 million as of 2024. She is best known for co-founding the biotechnology company 23andMe in 2006, where she serves as the CEO.
23andMe is a personal genomics and biotechnology company that allows consumers to explore their genetic information, ancestry, and health traits through DNA testing.
The company became widely recognized for making genetic testing accessible to the public, and in 2008, Time magazine even named their personal genome test “Invention of the Year.”
Her innovative work in the field of genetics has earned her numerous accolades, including being named “The Most Daring CEO” by Fast Company in 2013, and ranking on Forbes’ lists of the richest self-made women and most powerful women globally in recent years.
Wojcicki’s entrepreneurial journey began with her educational background in biology.
She graduated from Yale University in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science degree and worked as a health care investment analyst before venturing into the field of biotechnology.
Her frustration with the lack of attention to the potential of genetic research on Wall Street led her to co-found 23andMe with Linda Avey and Paul Cusenza.
Initially, the company focused on providing customers with information about their ancestry and genetic predispositions to certain health conditions.
Over time, the company expanded its offerings and partnered with major pharmaceutical companies, including a significant partnership with GlaxoSmithKline in 2018, which included a $300 million investment in exchange for exclusive rights to use 23andMe’s genetic data for drug development.
While 23andMe had a rocky financial history, including a notable merger with Richard Branson’s VG Acquisition Corp in 2021 that raised $600 million, the company’s stock price saw a sharp decline in 2022 and early 2024.
Despite these challenges, Wojcicki’s leadership and the company’s ongoing work in genetic research and health have kept her at the forefront of the biotech industry.
In addition to her business ventures, Wojcicki’s personal life has attracted media attention.
She was married to Sergey Brin, the co-founder of Google, from 2007 to 2015, and the couple has two children together.
Though they divorced in 2015, Wojcicki and Brin continued to work together on philanthropic projects through their shared foundation, The Brin Wojcicki Foundation.
She has also been in the public eye due to her brief relationship with former baseball player Alex Rodriguez in 2016.
Wojcicki’s net worth reflects not only her success as a businesswoman but also her role in revolutionizing personal genomics and her position as a leading figure in the tech and biotech industries.
Her achievements, both in her career and philanthropic endeavors, have solidified her as one of the most influential women in Silicon Valley and a significant figure in the world of biotechnology.