From Himalayan Village to Billionaire: Who is Jay Chaudhry Indian-Origin Tech Titan Ranks Among America’s Top 10 Wealthiest Immigrants
New York: Jay Chaudhry, an Indian-American cybersecurity pioneer, has secured the eighth spot on Forbes’ list of the 125 richest foreign-born US residents, cementing his status as one of America’s wealthiest immigrants.
Who is Jay Chaudhry?
As the CEO of Zscaler, a leading cybersecurity firm he founded in 2008, Chaudhry took the company public on Nasdaq in March 2018. Born in a small Himalayan village in India, where electricity and running water were absent during his childhood, he moved to the US in 1980 for graduate studies. Initially based in the Bay Area, he now resides in Nevada.
Education and Early Life
A graduate of IIT (BHU) Varanasi, formerly IT-BHU, Chaudhry earned his B.Tech before pursuing advanced degrees at the University of Cincinnati, including master’s in electronic and computer engineering, and industrial engineering and management. He also studied at Harvard Business School, sharpening his business acumen.
Net Worth and Business Ventures
Forbes estimates Chaudhry’s net worth at $17.9 billion, with his family owning roughly 40% of Zscaler. A serial entrepreneur, he launched his first cybersecurity venture, SecureIT, in 1996 with his wife, Jyoti, after they quit their jobs and invested their savings. Over the years, he founded multiple tech firms, several of which were acquired by larger companies.
Forbes’ Immigrant Billionaires List
The Forbes ranking highlights three immigrants among America’s 10 richest individuals, led by South Africa-born Elon Musk, the world’s wealthiest person. Other notable names include Russian-born Google co-founder Sergey Brin, Taiwan-born Nvidia co-founder Jensen Huang, and Hungary-born businessman Thomas Peterffy, who rank second, third, and fourth, respectively. The top 10 also features Miriam Adelson & family, Rupert Murdoch & family, Peter Thiel, Jan Koum, and John Tu.
Chaudhry’s remarkable journey from a remote Indian village to a cybersecurity mogul underscores his place among global tech elites.