Anne Wojcicki’s story is one of bold ideas, big bets, and the brutal ups and downs of Silicon Valley. You’ve probably heard her name as the co-founder of 23andMe or maybe as the ex-wife of Google co-founder Sergey Brin. But Anne is so much more than the headlines — she’s a biotech trailblazer, a former Wall Street insider, and someone who took one of the most ambitious swings in the world of consumer genetics.
As of 2025, Anne Wojcicki is 51 years old and has a net worth of approximately $150 million. But rewind just a few years, and that number looked very, very different.
A Stanford Start and the Spark of Curiosity
Anne Wojcicki was born on July 28, 1973, right in the heart of innovation—Palo Alto, California. Her parents were academic powerhouses: her mother Esther, a journalist and educator, and her father Stanley, a physicist at Stanford. Growing up on the Stanford campus with her two older sisters, Susan and Janet, Anne was surrounded by intellect and drive. (You might recognize Susan as the former CEO of YouTube and Janet as a respected anthropologist and epidemiologist.)
Anne was a competitive ice skater, a varsity hockey player at Yale, and the editor of her high school newspaper. Not your average résumé. She graduated from Yale in 1996 with a degree in biology, already on the path to a science-based future. But that road would take a few unexpected turns.
Wall Street to DNA
After college, Anne headed into the world of healthcare investment, working as an analyst overseeing biotech portfolios. But something didn’t sit right. Watching the way Wall Street treated healthcare — more like a money game than a mission to help people — Anne decided to make a change.
In 2006, she co-founded 23andMe, a personal genetics company, with the vision of giving everyday people access to their DNA. Alongside co-founders Linda Avey and Paul Cusenza, Anne wanted to turn genetic testing into something personal, empowering, and even fun.
And it worked.
23andMe was groundbreaking. In 2008, Time magazine called it the “Invention of the Year.” Customers could spit into a tube, mail it in, and get a peek into their ancestry, health risks, and genetic traits — all from the comfort of home. It was futuristic, affordable, and sparked a huge conversation about personal health data.
The Google Connection
Of course, Anne’s personal life also made headlines. Her sister Susan famously rented out her garage in the late ’90s to two Stanford students—Sergey Brin and Larry Page—who were building a little company called Google. Anne and Sergey eventually met, hit it off, and got married in 2007.
The power couple had two children together, Benji (born in 2008) and Chloe (born in 2011). They also co-managed the Brin Wojcicki Foundation, giving millions to science and social causes, including a $50 million donation challenge for Parkinson’s research.
But by 2013, the couple separated, and their divorce was finalized in 2015. Even after splitting, Anne and Sergey remained collaborative philanthropists.
The Rise (and Rise) of 23andMe
Anne wasn’t just riding on coattails. Under her leadership, 23andMe became a biotech sensation. In 2018, she inked a major deal with GlaxoSmithKline, which invested $300 million in the company. The partnership gave GSK access to 23andMe’s massive database (with customer consent) to develop new drugs — a bold but controversial move.
Then in 2021, 23andMe went public through a merger with Richard Branson’s VG Acquisition Corp. The company raised almost $600 million and peaked at a valuation of $6 billion. At that point, Anne owned around 9% of the company — meaning her paper net worth shot up to a whopping $540 million.
It looked like Anne had truly joined the elite class of Silicon Valley billionaires. But the celebration didn’t last.
The Fall from $6 Billion to Bankruptcy
Despite all the promise, 23andMe never turned a profit. The company began to stumble as competition rose, privacy concerns grew, and the public’s interest in personal genomics started to fade.
By 2022, the cracks were showing — multiple rounds of layoffs and divestments hinted at bigger problems. And then came the crash.
Between 2021 and early 2024, the company’s stock dropped a jaw-dropping 99%. What was once a $6 billion behemoth was now worth mere millions.
On March 24, 2025, the inevitable happened: 23andMe filed for bankruptcy. Anne Wojcicki stepped down as CEO. The company’s valuation? Just $20 million. That once-impressive 9% stake? Now worth about $1.8 million.
It was a massive fall from grace, and a reminder of just how volatile the startup world can be — even for its most visionary founders.
Life Beyond the Lab
Even as her company struggled, Anne remained an influential voice in science and innovation. She was named “The Most Daring CEO” by Fast Company in 2013 and appeared on Forbes‘ “Global Game Changers” and “Self-Made Women” lists.
In 2021, she joined the board of the UK-based online car retailer Cazoo, proving she wasn’t done making bold moves. She’s also a member of the “Xconomists,” a curated group of leaders across science, tech, and business.
And yes — in case you’re wondering — she briefly dated baseball superstar Alex Rodriguez in 2016. The relationship made headlines, but like many high-profile romances, it didn’t last.
A Cautionary Tale — and an Inspiring One
Anne Wojcicki’s journey is a wild mix of ambition, innovation, love, success, and heartbreak — both personal and professional.
She built a company that changed how we think about our DNA, created tools that empowered millions of people, and stood at the forefront of one of the most exciting scientific revolutions of our time. Sure, it didn’t end the way she — or anyone — hoped. But that doesn’t erase the impact she’s had.
Today, at 51, with a net worth of $150 million, Anne Wojcicki is still one of the most fascinating figures in tech and biotech. Her story is proof that even when things don’t go as planned, bold thinking and fearless leadership can leave a lasting legacy.
And who knows? Anne’s next chapter might just be her most daring one yet.