Anne Wojcicki, the biotech entrepreneur behind 23andMe, has long been recognized as a pioneer in personal genetics and healthcare innovation. Once celebrated as a visionary in Silicon Valley, Wojcicki’s financial standing has undergone a dramatic transformation over the past few years. As of 2025, her estimated net worth is $150 million, a steep decline from the peak of her wealth when her equity stake in 23andMe alone was once worth over $540 million.
Despite the ups and downs, Anne’s influence as a scientist, business leader, and advocate for accessible healthcare remains strong. Let’s take a closer look at her journey—from her early days growing up on the Stanford campus to the fall of 23andMe, and the legacy she’s still building.
Early Life and Education: A Foundation of Excellence
Born on July 28, 1973, in Palo Alto, California, Anne E. Wojcicki was raised in an intellectually rich and driven household. Her mother, Esther Wojcicki, is a journalist and educator, while her father, Stanley Wojcicki, was a renowned physics professor at Stanford University. Anne grew up alongside her two accomplished sisters:
- Susan Wojcicki, former CEO of YouTube
- Janet Wojcicki, an epidemiologist and anthropologist
Anne attended Gunn High School, where she was not only a strong student but also an athlete and the editor of the school newspaper. She went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Yale University in 1996, and was a standout on the varsity women’s ice hockey team. Her research experience includes stints at the National Institutes of Health and UC San Diego, setting the stage for a career rooted in science and health innovation.
Early Career and Wall Street Shift
Before launching 23andMe, Wojcicki spent four years on Wall Street as a healthcare investment analyst. She worked for firms like Passport Capital and Investor AB, overseeing investments in the biotech sector. Despite her financial success, Anne became disillusioned by how the healthcare system prioritized profit over patient care. That ethical conflict fueled her pivot toward empowering consumers with direct access to their own genetic information.
Founding 23andMe: Disrupting Healthcare from the Ground Up
In 2006, Anne co-founded 23andMe with Linda Avey and Paul Cusenza. The company aimed to democratize genetic testing by offering affordable DNA kits that analyzed ancestry, health risks, and inherited traits. The idea caught fire.
In 2008, Time magazine named 23andMe’s personal genome test the “Invention of the Year.” Google invested $3.9 million in the startup, partly influenced by Anne’s then-husband, Google co-founder Sergey Brin.
Under Anne’s leadership, 23andMe reached major milestones:
- FDA approval for genetic health risk tests (2015)
- Partnership with GlaxoSmithKline, including a $300 million investment in 2018
- Became a public company in 2021 through a merger with Richard Branson’s VG Acquisition Corp
- Reached a market valuation of $6 billion, making Anne’s 9% stake briefly worth $540 million
Valuation Collapse and Bankruptcy in 2025
While 23andMe was a trailblazer, it faced a harsh market reality. By 2022, the company was unprofitable and underwent multiple rounds of layoffs. Customers became increasingly wary of data privacy concerns, and healthcare-focused investors grew skeptical.
By January 2024, 23andMe’s stock price had dropped a staggering 99%, reducing its market cap to around $20 million. The company was delisted from NASDAQ and filed for bankruptcy on March 24, 2025. Anne Wojcicki resigned the same day.
Her stake—once worth over half a billion dollars—plummeted to approximately $1.8 million, although her overall net worth remains around $150 million thanks to earlier equity sales, personal investments, and real estate assets.
Personal Life: Marriage, Family, and Public Attention
Anne married Sergey Brin in 2007. The couple had two children—Benji (born 2008) and Chloe (born 2011)—before separating in 2013 and officially divorcing in 2015. Despite the split, they continued to co-manage the Brin Wojcicki Foundation, which supported causes like:
- $50 million to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s research
- $1 million to the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society
- $500,000 to Wikipedia
In 2016, Anne briefly dated Alex Rodriguez, the former MLB star. Though the relationship didn’t last, it added to her high-profile public image.
Honors and Recognition
Anne Wojcicki’s contributions to science and entrepreneurship have been widely recognized:
- Fast Company named her “Most Daring CEO” (2013)
- Featured on Forbes’ “Global Game Changers” list (2017)
- Ranked #25 on Forbes’ “Richest Self-Made Women in America” list (2021)
- Ranked #90 on Forbes’ “World’s Most Powerful Women” list (2021)
She also co-founded the Breakthrough Prize, which awards scientific innovation in the life sciences, physics, and mathematics.
Legacy and What’s Next for Anne Wojcicki
Despite the downfall of 23andMe, Anne Wojcicki remains a symbol of bold innovation and fearless entrepreneurship. Her mission—to give people control over their health and data—set a new standard in biotech, even if the business model ultimately struggled.
At 51 years old, Wojcicki still sits at the intersection of science, technology, and social impact. While her next steps remain unclear post-23andMe, it’s likely that her passion for health equity, genetic research, and women in STEM will shape whatever comes next.
Final Thoughts
Anne Wojcicki’s journey is a study in vision, risk, and resilience. From a Stanford-campus childhood to becoming a Silicon Valley trailblazer, her career has seen soaring highs and sobering lows. With a current net worth of $150 million in 2025, she may no longer helm a billion-dollar unicorn, but her influence on the healthcare industry and her commitment to human-centered science remain undeniable.
