Most people know Sergey Brin as the man who helped invent Google, but the story behind the search engine co-founder is full of details that often get blurred. From his Jewish roots in Moscow to a personal life that has included two marriages and public spats with other tech billionaires, sorting fact from rumor can be harder than ranking web pages.

Net worth: $105 billion (2023) ·
Age: 52 (born August 21, 1973) ·
Religion: Jewish ·
Marital status: Divorced from Anne Wojcicki ·
Children: 2 ·
Company: Co‑founder of Google

Quick snapshot

1Personal Life
2Career
  • Co-founder of Google (Britannica Money)
  • President of Alphabet (until 2019) (Wikipedia)
  • Board member of Alphabet (Wikipedia)
3Wealth
  • Net worth: ~$105B (Wikipedia)
  • Not richer than Jeff Bezos (Wikipedia)
  • Major shareholder in Alphabet (Britannica Money)
4Public Image
  • Donates to Democratic causes (Wikipedia)
  • Strained friendship with Elon Musk (Wikipedia)
  • Maintains low profile (Biography.com)

Sergey Brin’s life at a glance shows a clear pattern: a Russian-born, Jewish-raised computer scientist who built the world’s most used search engine, amassed a nine-figure fortune, and navigated two high-profile marriages. Here are the verified details.

Fact Detail
Full name Sergey Mikhailovich Brin
Born August 21, 1973, Moscow, Russia
Education University of Maryland (BS), Stanford University (MS)
Net worth $105 billion (2023, Forbes)
Religion Jewish
Spouse Anne Wojcicki (m. 2007–2015)

What religion is Sergey Brin?

Sergey Brin was born to a Jewish family in Moscow, and his religious identity has been a topic of public curiosity. According to Britannica Money, Brin is of Jewish descent, though his family described their Jewishness as ethnic rather than religious. Moment Magazine reports that his family “were not very religious.” Brin himself has said he is not religious, per Wikipedia.

Are Google founders Jews?

Both Sergey Brin and Larry Page are of Jewish descent. Page’s mother is Jewish and his father is of German descent; Brin’s paternal grandparents were Jewish. Britannica Money notes Brin’s Jewish upbringing.

Is Google’s founder Russian?

Yes, Sergey Brin was born in Moscow, Russia, then part of the Soviet Union, and moved to the United States at age 6. Biography.com confirms his Russian origins.

Bottom line: Sergey Brin is Jewish by ethnicity and family background, but he does not actively practice religion. His Russian birth is undisputed.

The implication: Brin’s religious identity is ethnic rather than practiced, and his Russian birthplace is a settled fact.

Does Sergey Brin support Trump?

Political donation records offer the clearest window into Brin’s leanings. Wikipedia shows he has donated primarily to Democratic candidates and causes. He has publicly criticized Trump administration policies on immigration and climate change. There is no record of him endorsing Donald Trump.

What political donations has Sergey Brin made?

According to Wikipedia, Brin contributed to Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign and supported Democratic congressional candidates. In 2020, he donated to Joe Biden’s campaign. His political action committee also gave to environmental and civil rights groups.

Is Sergey Brin richer than Jeff Bezos?

As of 2023, Wikipedia lists Sergey Brin’s net worth at approximately $105 billion. Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon, is consistently ranked higher on global wealth indexes, with estimates placing his wealth around $200 billion. While exact figures fluctuate, Brin is not richer than Bezos.

What is Sergey Brin’s net worth?

Brin’s net worth is largely tied to his stake in Alphabet. EBSCO Research Starters notes his fortune has grown alongside Google’s dominance. In September 2024, Bloomberg (via Wikipedia) estimated it at $135 billion.

Why this matters

Brin’s wealth places him among the top 20 billionaires globally, but he remains behind Bezos and Musk. For investors watching Alphabet’s stock, Brin’s net worth is a direct proxy for the company’s market performance.

The catch: Despite his immense fortune, Brin trails the very top of the billionaire rankings.

How many wives does Sergey Brin have?

Sergey Brin has been married twice. His first marriage was to Anne Wojcicki, co-founder of 23andMe, in 2007. They separated in 2013 and divorced in 2015. His second marriage was to Nicole Shanahan, an attorney, in 2018; they separated in 2021 and divorced in 2023.

Who is Sergey Brin’s wife?

As of 2025, Brin is not married. His most recent marriage was to Nicole Shanahan, whom he married on November 7, 2018 (Wikipedia). The couple filed for divorce on January 4, 2022, and the divorce was finalized in summer 2023.

Does Sergey Brin have children?

Yes, Biography.com biography confirms he has two children with Anne Wojcicki: a son born in 2008 and a daughter born in 2011.

The pattern: Brin’s marital history shows two high-profile divorces within a decade, but both were amicable with shared custody of his children.

Are Elon Musk and Sergey Brin friends?

The relationship between Sergey Brin and Elon Musk has been a subject of media speculation. They were once friends and neighbors; Brin even invested in Tesla. However, a reported altercation at a party in 2022 strained their relationship. Brin sold his stake in Tesla after the incident, according to Wikipedia.

What is the relationship between Sergey Brin and Larry Page?

Brin and Larry Page have maintained a close partnership since co-founding Google in 1998. They remain on the board of Alphabet and are among its largest shareholders. Britannica Money describes their collaboration as “one of the most successful partnerships in tech history.”

Bottom line: Brin’s friendship with Musk appears to have ended after a 2022 dispute, but his bond with Page remains intact.

The implication: Brin’s most important professional relationship continues, while a personal friendship has fractured.

Clarity check

Confirmed facts

  • Brin is Jewish and of Russian descent (Wikipedia)
  • Net worth exceeds $100 billion (Wikipedia)
  • He divorced Anne Wojcicki in 2015 (Wikipedia)
  • He and Elon Musk had a falling out in 2022 (Wikipedia)

What’s unclear

  • Exact nature of the Musk altercation
  • Current political views beyond donation records
  • Whether he is still involved in daily operations at Alphabet

Perspectives

Sergey Brin was born in Moscow, Russia, to a Jewish family.

Wikipedia

Sergey Brin is worth $105 billion as of 2023.

Forbes (via Wikipedia)

Sergey Brin’s life story is a mix of brilliant engineering, immense wealth, and personal chapters that capture public attention. The verified facts show a man who built a global technology empire while navigating relationships, religion, and political giving in a way that’s both transparent and intriguingly private. For anyone trying to understand the man behind Google, the data is clear: his Jewish identity is ethnic, his fortune is staggering, and his personal life has been more complicated than his search algorithm.

För en djupare inblick i Sergey Brins religiösa bakgrund och politiska donationer kan du läsa en separat artikel som sammanställer dessa aspekter.

Frequently asked questions

What is Sergey Brin’s educational background?

Brin earned a BS in mathematics and computer science from the University of Maryland and an MS in computer science from Stanford University.

Does Sergey Brin still work at Google?

He stepped down as president of Alphabet in 2019 but remains a board member and controlling shareholder.

Where does Sergey Brin live?

Brin resides in Los Altos, California, and also owns properties in New York and Hawaii.

How did Sergey Brin meet Larry Page?

They met at Stanford University in 1995 while both were PhD students in computer science.

What is Sergey Brin’s role at Alphabet?

He is a board member and co-founder, with significant voting control through special shares.

Does Sergey Brin have any siblings?

No, he is an only child. His parents are both mathematicians.

What awards has Sergey Brin received?

He has received the Marconi Prize, the Computer History Museum Fellow Award, and was elected to the National Academy of Engineering.