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Billionaire Profile
Ali Ghodsi
Global Rank
#535

Image: Steve Jurvetson from Menlo Park, USA | CC BY 2.0 | via Wikimedia Commons

Ali Ghodsi

CEO, Data analytics
San Francisco, California
Real-Time Net Worth
$7.59B
Estimated based on Data analytics stock value as of September 10, 2026
0% (24h)
Age
47
Source
Data analytics
Industry
Technology
Citizenship
United States

Biography

Ali Ghodsi is the co-founder and CEO of Databricks, a leading data and AI company. His source of wealth stems from his role in Databricks, a data analytics and AI platform. Ghodsi's career began in academia, earning a Ph.D. in Computer Science from KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden. He co-founded Databricks in 2013, helping build the Apache Spark analytics engine, and has since led the company through significant growth, pioneering the data lakehouse architecture. As of March 2026, Databricks' valuation is at $134 billion. Ghodsi's leadership has been recognized for its impact on the tech industry, with Databricks serving more than 12,000 customers.

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Data Updated
Sep 10, 2026
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Wealth Over Time

Net Worth History

YearNet Worth
2026$7.59B
2025$5.50B
2024$5.50B

Portfolio Holdings

Databricks

Databricks

technology
Market Cap
$134B
Stock Price
$196.31
Revenue
$5.40B
San Francisco, CA
8,226 employees
Founded 2013

In-Depth Profile

Early Life and Education

Ali Ghodsi was born in Tehran, Iran, in 1978. Due to the political climate, his family immigrated to Sweden in 1984 when he was five years old. Ghodsi excelled academically, earning a Master of Science in Computer Engineering and an MBA in Logistics and Strategic Marketing from Mid Sweden University. He later received a Ph.D. in Computer Science from KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm in 2006.

Rise to Success

After earning his Ph.D., Ghodsi became a researcher and assistant professor at KTH. In 2009, he joined UC Berkeley as a visiting scholar. At Berkeley, he worked on projects in distributed systems and helped start the Apache Mesos and Apache Spark projects. In 2013, Ghodsi co-founded Databricks along with six other UC Berkeley researchers. He became the CEO of Databricks in 2016.

Key Business Strategies

Under Ghodsi's leadership, Databricks has grown to a $134 billion valuation as of February 2026. The company has focused on developing the data lakehouse architecture, which combines the best features of data lakes and data warehouses. Databricks has also prioritized open-source contributions and strategic partnerships, including collaborations with Microsoft, Google, and Amazon. The company has surpassed a $4 billion revenue run-rate and has positive free cash flow.

Philanthropy

Specific philanthropic amounts were not found in the search results.

Career Milestones

2006

Ph.D.

Completed his Ph.D. in Computer Science at KTH Royal Institute of Technology.

2009

Visiting Scholar

Joined UC Berkeley as a visiting scholar.

2013

Co-founded Databricks

Co-founded Databricks, a data and AI company.

2016

CEO of Databricks

Became the CEO of Databricks.

Philanthropy & Social Impact

Not Available

$XB

Philanthropic initiatives could not be found.

Business Philosophy & Leadership

Notable Quotes

"“I grew up in a war. If you're seeing people die on the streets as a kid, you know anything can change at any given time.”"

Leadership Principles

Visionary Leadership

Ghodsi leads Databricks with a clear vision of democratizing data and AI.

Innovation

He emphasizes continuous innovation in big data processing and machine learning.

Adaptability

He has demonstrated adaptability by leading Databricks through various challenges and market changes.

Open-Source Advocacy

Ghodsi believes in the power of open-source technology to drive adoption and innovation.

Controversies & Challenges

No controversies found

No significant controversies were found in the search results.

Billionaires Connected to Ali Ghodsi

Peers in Technology

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Adjacent Global Ranks

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Ali Ghodsi's net worth in 2026?
As of 2026, Ali Ghodsi's estimated net worth is $7.585 billion, ranking #535 among the world's billionaires. The estimate is based on publicly available shareholding data and market prices, updated daily.
How did Ali Ghodsi make their money?
Ali Ghodsi's wealth primarily comes from Data analytics, most notably through Data analytics.
Where is Ali Ghodsi from?
Ali Ghodsi is from United States.
How old is Ali Ghodsi?
Ali Ghodsi is 47 years old.

Sources & References

  1. Ali Ghodsi — Forbes profile — Forbes