Sergey Mikhailovich Brin (born August 21, 1973) is an American computer scientist and businessman who co-founded Google with Larry Page. He served as president of Google's parent company, Alphabet Inc., until stepping down in 2019, and remains a co-founder, controlling shareholder, and board member. As of August 2026, his estimated net worth is US$264.9 billion, making him one of the richest people in the world. In 2023, Brin came out of retirement to contribute to Artificial intelligence research at Alphabet.
Born into a Russian-Jewish family in Moscow, Soviet Union, Brin immigrated to the United States at age six. He earned a bachelor's degree in computer science and mathematics from the University of Maryland, College Park, and later pursued a PhD in computer science at Stanford University, where he met Larry Page. Together they developed a web search engine that became Google, initially operating from Susan Wojcicki's garage in Menlo Park, California.
Early life and education
Brin was born in Moscow on August 21, 1973, to Mikhail and Eugenia Brin, both graduates of Moscow State University. His father was a mathematics professor, and his mother was a researcher. Due to antisemitism in the Soviet Union, the family applied for exit visas in 1978, leading to his father's dismissal and his mother losing her job. After eight months of uncertainty, they received permission to emigrate in May 1979. The family lived in Vienna and Paris before arriving in the United States on October 25, 1979, with assistance from the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society.
Brin attended Eleanor Roosevelt High School and enrolled at the University of Maryland in September 1990. He received a Bachelor of Science in computer science with honors in 1993, also earning high honors in mathematics. He interned at Wolfram Research, developers of Mathematica, that same year. Brin began graduate studies at Stanford University on a National Science Foundation fellowship, earning a Master of Science in computer science in 1995. As of 2008, he was on leave from his PhD studies.
Development of Google
At Stanford orientation, Brin met Larry Page. Despite initial disagreements, they became close collaborators. Brin focused on data mining systems, while Page explored inferring importance from citations. Together they authored "The Anatomy of a Large-Scale Hypertextual Web Search Engine" and developed the PageRank algorithm, which analyzed backlinks to rank web pages. They built a prototype using spare computer parts in Page's dorm room, later converting Brin's room into an office. By August 1996, the initial version of Google was available on Stanford's website.
The search engine, initially called Backrub, was written in Java and Python and ran on Sun Ultras and Intel Pentiums with Linux. By early 1997, it had indexed over 75 million URLs. The project's popularity strained Stanford's infrastructure, but Page and Brin realized its potential when searches reached 10,000 per day. In mid-1998, they discontinued their studies to launch Google, operating from Susan Wojcicki's garage.
Leadership at Alphabet and AI involvement
Brin served as president of Alphabet Inc., Google's parent company, from its creation in 2015 until stepping down in 2019. He and Page remain co-founders, controlling shareholders, and board members. During his tenure, Brin oversaw various projects, including Waymo and other moonshot initiatives.
In 2023, Brin returned to active involvement in AI research at Alphabet, focusing on Google DeepMind and related efforts. His return coincided with the rapid advancement of large language models and generative AI. Brin's interest in AI extends to investments in companies like OpenAI and Anthropic, though his primary focus remains on Alphabet's AI initiatives.
Personal life and legacy
Brin is a centibillionaire, with an estimated net worth of US$264.9 billion as of August 2026. He has been recognized for his contributions to technology and entrepreneurship. Brin's work on search engines laid the foundation for modern web navigation, and his early insights into machine learning and neural networks have influenced the development of deep learning technologies.
Brin's legacy includes not only Google's dominance in search but also his role in advancing AI research. His return to Alphabet in 2023 signals a continued commitment to innovation in artificial intelligence. He remains an influential figure in the tech industry, with his decisions shaping the future of AI and computing.