Want stratospheric wealth? Think beyond entrepreneurship. Thyrocare founder Dr. A. Velumani, who is worth a whopping Rs 5,000 crore, recently shared his insight on wealth building. Citing the example of Alphabet boss Sundar Pichai, who is touted to be the world’s highest-paid CEO, the billionaire urged followers to not put all their eggs in the entrepreneurial basket if they wanted wealth.
“99% of employers do not get this much even turnover. Zero risk compared to taking up an entrepreneurial journey. Leadership gets paid. Be an employer or employee. Forget the myth that being an employer only gets success, wealth, or happiness. I am not discouraging…” Read his post.
For the unversed, Pichai is said to rake in a whopping Rs 1663 crores per year. He is reported to earn Rs 5-6 crores on a daily basis.
Sundar Pichai’s Paycheck in 2024: A Shift in Numbers, Not Influence
In 2024, Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Alphabet Inc., brought in a total remuneration of $10.72 million, a sharp decline compared to the staggering $226 million he earned in 2022. While the drop may seem surprising at first glance, it stems from a specific and expected reason: the absence of a major stock package.
Pichai had previously received a three-year equity grant—a substantial set of stock options awarded once every 36 months—which heavily inflated his earnings in 2022. Since that bonus wasn’t due again this year, the total payout appears considerably smaller. Nonetheless, his fixed salary remained stable at $2 million, just as in previous years. The remainder of his compensation was comprised of stock-related gains and additional executive benefits.
One noticeable increase in spending came from security expenses. Alphabet, the parent company of Google, allocated $8.27 million toward Pichai’s personal safety and travel security in 2024. This marked a 22% rise from the $6.78 million spent in 2023. The company attributed this growth primarily to his frequent and widespread international travel throughout the year, which required heightened protective measures.
Pichai’s story is one of humble beginnings and extraordinary achievement. Born in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, he spent his childhood in a middle-class family. His father, Regunatha Pichai, worked as an electrical engineer and also ran a small-scale business making electrical components. His mother, Lakshmi, served as a stenographer, contributing to the household in her own way. Pichai began his education at Jawahar Vidyalaya Senior Secondary School in Ashok Nagar, Chennai, and later moved on to Vana Vani School, located on the IIT Madras campus.
For his undergraduate studies, he chose metallurgical engineering at the prestigious IIT Kharagpur. Driven by academic ambition, he later relocated to the United States to pursue a Master’s degree in materials science and engineering at Stanford University. He further advanced his education with an MBA from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, where he was recognized as both a Siebel Scholar and a Palmer Scholar, two honors awarded for exceptional academic performance.
Even though his latest earnings are lower, Pichai’s financial stature remains robust. According to Forbes, as of April 4, 2025, his net worth is estimated at $1.1 billion, placing him among the most influential tech leaders in the world, not just in terms of innovation, but also in personal wealth.
“99% of employers do not get this much even turnover. Zero risk compared to taking up an entrepreneurial journey. Leadership gets paid. Be an employer or employee. Forget the myth that being an employer only gets success, wealth, or happiness. I am not discouraging…” Read his post.
For the unversed, Pichai is said to rake in a whopping Rs 1663 crores per year. He is reported to earn Rs 5-6 crores on a daily basis.
99% of Employers do not get this much even turnover. Zero risk compared to taking up entrepreneurial journey.
— Dr. A. Velumani.PhD. (@velumania) May 18, 2025
Leadership gets paid. Be an employer or employee,
Forget the myth that being an employer only gets success or wealth or happiness.
I am not discouraging. Wish to bring… pic.twitter.com/ZADQJRRKLd
Sundar Pichai’s Paycheck in 2024: A Shift in Numbers, Not Influence
In 2024, Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Alphabet Inc., brought in a total remuneration of $10.72 million, a sharp decline compared to the staggering $226 million he earned in 2022. While the drop may seem surprising at first glance, it stems from a specific and expected reason: the absence of a major stock package.
Pichai had previously received a three-year equity grant—a substantial set of stock options awarded once every 36 months—which heavily inflated his earnings in 2022. Since that bonus wasn’t due again this year, the total payout appears considerably smaller. Nonetheless, his fixed salary remained stable at $2 million, just as in previous years. The remainder of his compensation was comprised of stock-related gains and additional executive benefits.
One noticeable increase in spending came from security expenses. Alphabet, the parent company of Google, allocated $8.27 million toward Pichai’s personal safety and travel security in 2024. This marked a 22% rise from the $6.78 million spent in 2023. The company attributed this growth primarily to his frequent and widespread international travel throughout the year, which required heightened protective measures.
Pichai’s story is one of humble beginnings and extraordinary achievement. Born in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, he spent his childhood in a middle-class family. His father, Regunatha Pichai, worked as an electrical engineer and also ran a small-scale business making electrical components. His mother, Lakshmi, served as a stenographer, contributing to the household in her own way. Pichai began his education at Jawahar Vidyalaya Senior Secondary School in Ashok Nagar, Chennai, and later moved on to Vana Vani School, located on the IIT Madras campus.
For his undergraduate studies, he chose metallurgical engineering at the prestigious IIT Kharagpur. Driven by academic ambition, he later relocated to the United States to pursue a Master’s degree in materials science and engineering at Stanford University. He further advanced his education with an MBA from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, where he was recognized as both a Siebel Scholar and a Palmer Scholar, two honors awarded for exceptional academic performance.
Even though his latest earnings are lower, Pichai’s financial stature remains robust. According to Forbes, as of April 4, 2025, his net worth is estimated at $1.1 billion, placing him among the most influential tech leaders in the world, not just in terms of innovation, but also in personal wealth.
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