Sergey Brin
His family fled Soviet antisemitism when he was six; Google was incorporated to cash a $100K check.
Sergey Brin was born in 1973 in Moscow, USSR. Sergey Brin's background is described as Russian Jewish; emigrated to the US at six. Growing up, the family was middle class — his mathematician father was blocked from a physics career by Soviet antisemitism; both parents rebuilt academic careers in Maryland. His family fled Soviet antisemitism when he was six; Google was incorporated to cash a $100K check.
- Born
- 1973 · Moscow, USSR
- Roots
- Russian Jewish; emigrated to the US at six
- Family
- Middle class
- His mathematician father was blocked from a physics career by Soviet antisemitism; both parents rebuilt academic careers in Maryland.
- Education
- University of Maryland → Stanford (PhD program, on leave ever since)
- Started with
- $100K check
- Andy Bechtolsheim's 1998 check, written to a company that did not yet exist.
- Affiliations & societies
- None documented.
- Information only — claims like these are often unverifiable and may be wrong.
The pathway
- 1979 · age 6Exit visa
The family leaves the USSR after a year in limbo; his father had taught himself to reapply as a mathematician.
- 1995 · age 21Meets Larry Page
They argue through a Stanford orientation tour and end up research partners.
- 1996 · age 23BackRub
The link-ranking crawler runs on Stanford's servers until it strains the network.
- 1998 · age 25Google incorporates$100K
In Susan Wojcicki's garage — partly so the Bechtolsheim check could be deposited.
- 2004 · age 31IPO$23B valuation
- 2019 · age 46Steps back
Remains a board member and controlling shareholder of Alphabet.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Sergey Brin from?
Sergey Brin was born in 1973 in Moscow, USSR. Their background is described as Russian Jewish; emigrated to the US at six.
When was Sergey Brin born?
Sergey Brin was born in 1973, in Moscow, USSR.
What is Sergey Brin's background or ethnicity?
Sergey Brin's roots are described as Russian Jewish; emigrated to the US at six. These are broad categories drawn from public sources, not statements about how the person identifies.
Where did Sergey Brin go to school?
Sergey Brin's education: University of Maryland → Stanford (PhD program, on leave ever since).
What was Sergey Brin's family background growing up?
At birth the family was middle class. His mathematician father was blocked from a physics career by Soviet antisemitism; both parents rebuilt academic careers in Maryland.
How did Sergey Brin get started?
Sergey Brin started with $100K check. Andy Bechtolsheim's 1998 check, written to a company that did not yet exist.
Sources
Compiled from these references and contemporaneous press reporting. Figures are approximate; verify before relying on them.