Anne Wojcicki, 51, is a name that’s long been associated with innovation in biotech. Best known as the co-founder and former CEO of 23andMe, her net worth once soared to a staggering $540 million. But as of 2025, her estimated net worth has dropped to around $150 million—a result of one of the most dramatic valuation swings in the world of startups. So what exactly happened? And how did Anne Wojcicki go from Wall Street to Silicon Valley royalty to navigating a company’s bankruptcy?
Who Is Anne Wojcicki and How Did She Get Here?
Born on July 28, 1973, in Palo Alto, California, Anne Wojcicki was destined for an academic and tech-centered life. Her mother, Esther, is an acclaimed journalist and educator, and her father, Stanley, a physicist at Stanford University. She grew up on the Stanford campus, surrounded by curiosity, learning, and innovation.
Anne studied biology at Yale University, where she also played varsity ice hockey—proof that she’s always been a bit of a maverick. Post-college, she worked as a healthcare investment analyst, but Wall Street’s cold approach to health led her to pursue something more impactful.
In 2006, Anne co-founded 23andMe, aiming to put the power of genetic knowledge in the hands of everyday people.
What Made 23andMe So Revolutionary?
Back in 2008, Time Magazine named 23andMe’s personal genome test “Invention of the Year.” That was huge. For the first time, people could send in a DNA sample and get detailed insights into their ancestry and inherited traits. It was personal science delivered to your doorstep.
Anne’s vision extended beyond just knowing where your ancestors came from. She wanted to help people understand their health, risks for genetic diseases, and even participate in drug discovery. This vision led to big partnerships, including a $300 million deal with pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline in 2018.
How High Did 23andMe Fly—and How Far Did It Fall?
23andMe’s journey to the public markets in 2021 was filled with excitement. The company merged with Richard Branson’s VG Acquisition Corp, and at its peak, its valuation hit $6 billion. Anne held a 9% stake, putting her paper net worth around $540 million. Things looked promising.
But the dream didn’t last. The company had never turned a profit and began to struggle. Between 2022 and 2024, it endured multiple rounds of layoffs, sold off parts of the business, and saw its stock plummet by 99%.
By March 24, 2025, the company officially filed for bankruptcy. Its market cap had dwindled to $20 million, and Anne Wojcicki resigned as CEO. Her once-massive stake was now worth just $1.8 million. It was a crushing moment for a company that had once promised to change the future of healthcare.
What Was Anne Wojcicki’s Role in the Google Story?
Anne may never have worked at Google, but her story is closely tied to the tech giant. Her sister Susan Wojcicki (former CEO of YouTube) famously rented her Menlo Park garage to two Stanford students—Larry Page and Sergey Brin—who launched Google from there.
Through Susan, Anne met Sergey Brin, Google’s co-founder. The two married in 2007 and had two children. Though they separated in 2013 and finalized their divorce in 2015, they remained active co-founders of The Brin Wojcicki Foundation, which supported causes like Parkinson’s research and Wikipedia.
What Is Anne Wojcicki Doing Now?
After stepping down from 23andMe, Anne hasn’t faded into the background. While she’s kept a relatively low profile post-bankruptcy, her passion for health, science, and innovation remains strong. She sits on several boards, including the online car retailer Cazoo, and is part of the elite “Xconomists,” a group of forward-thinking leaders in tech and science.
Even though 23andMe stumbled, her legacy as a trailblazer in personal genomics is intact. Few people have taken as bold a risk as Anne did in trying to democratize DNA testing. And while the business didn’t survive the brutal realities of the public market, the impact it had on consumer genetics is undeniable.
What About Her Personal Life?
Anne’s personal life has also made headlines. Beyond her marriage to Sergey Brin, she briefly dated baseball star Alex Rodriguez in 2016. But through all the media attention, Anne has remained focused on her mission of making science accessible.
She’s a dedicated mother of two and has continued philanthropic efforts through her foundation. Her career might have seen dramatic highs and lows, but her commitment to using science for good has never wavered.
What Can We Learn From Anne Wojcicki’s Story?
Anne Wojcicki’s journey is a case study in ambition, risk, and resilience. She had a vision for a better, more informed world—one where people took charge of their health through data. She built something that didn’t just make headlines—it changed how people think about DNA.
But her story is also a reminder that innovation is messy. The same bold bets that can lead to billion-dollar valuations can also come crashing down. Yet, through it all, Anne has kept her head high, staying curious, involved, and ready for what comes next.
Final Thought: Anne Wojcicki may no longer lead a billion-dollar company, but she still leads with passion, purpose, and a belief in science. And that’s worth far more than a stock price.
