sergey brin yachts

Sergey Brin’s Famous “Fly Fleet”

Sergey Brin, the co-founder of Google, is known for his love of luxury yachts and watersports vehicles. He is passionate about spending time on the water with friends and family and has made that passion a reality through his Fly Fleet.

The fleet consists of three main vessels – Dragonfly, Butterfly, and Firefly. Below, we will explore the details of the Fly Fleet and compare it to Larry Page’s approach to superyachts.

The Fly Fleet

Sergey Brin owns the Fly Fleet and has three main vessels. Dragonfly is the largest vessel in the fleet, measuring 73 meters in length. It is designed to accommodate up to 16 guests and has six levels, including a helipad. Butterfly, the second largest vessel, is 40 meters long and can accommodate up to 10 guests.

It has five levels, including a sundeck with a hot tub. Firefly is a smaller vessel in the fleet primarily used by Brin for watersports. It has two levels and a diving platform, and a jet ski.

The Fly Fleet Maintenance Team

To maintain the Fly Fleet, Sergey Brin has a 50-person maintenance team spread out around the world. The team is responsible for keeping the vessels in top condition and seaworthy.

Consistent maintenance is crucial for superyacht owners to keep the vessels in optimal condition. The Fly Fleet maintenance team follows a strict schedule of regular maintenance and inspections.

Downsizing to a Collection of Smaller Vessels

In contrast to Sergey Brin, Larry Page, the other co-founder of Google, took a different approach to superyachts. Page owned a 194-foot superyacht called Senses, which he sold in 2019. Instead of purchasing another superyacht, Page downsized to a collection of smaller vessels.

His new collection consists of a sailboat, a scientific research vessel, and a zero-emissions yacht. This decision allows Page more flexibility to explore different waters and reduces his carbon footprint.

The main reason for Larry Page’s downsizing decision is not clear. However, there are potential reasons why he may have chosen to do so. It could be to reduce costs, as a superyacht’s maintenance and running costs can be significant. It could also be to have more flexibility in where and how he explores the waters.

The Fly Fleet, owned by Sergey Brin and Larry Page’s downsizing approach to superyachts, showcases different approaches to luxury yacht ownership. The Fly Fleet is a collection of larger vessels maintained by a dedicated team, while Larry Page’s collection comprises smaller crafts.

Although there is no right or wrong approach, it is interesting to explore the different approaches of these two billionaires. The luxury yacht industry continues to evolve, and it will be exciting to see what new developments will arise.

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Why Jeff Bezos’s Yacht is Making Waves in the Yachting World

Discovering the best jet skis for your aquatic adventures, are you dreaming of the sea explore the best yachts for sale, counting down: the 8 most awaited luxury cruise ships set to sail in 2024.

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Inside Google Founder Sergey Brin’s Luxury Yacht Collection: the Fly Fleet

• Sailing Boats

In a silent harbor in California’s Redwood City, 30 miles south of San Francisco, there normally sits a gleaming 40-meter yacht traveling the flag of the Marshall Islands.

The sleek, silver-and-white vessel sits amongst a smattering of other higher-conclusion cruisers, but this boat is a bit various: Butterfly, as the yacht is acknowledged, is owned by the world’s 13th-richest human being, Google’s cofounder Sergey Brin.

Butterfly is just not the tech mogul’s only oceangoing financial commitment. Brin has quietly gathered a fleet of luxurious yachts and h2o-athletics motor vehicles that individuals in his inner circle call the “Fly Fleet,” a new Insider investigation into the article-Google lives of the 49-12 months-outdated and his fellow Google founder, Larry Site, found.

The blossoming armada is just a person part of how he’s trying to keep busy since stepping back again from Google’s mum or dad enterprise, Alphabet, in 2019 — alongside with a string of significant-flying functions, an energy to develop a new technology of zeppelins, and hundreds of tens of millions of pounds in philanthropic donations.

Along with Butterfly, which frequently docks in Redwood Metropolis, California, Brin maintains a developing flotilla of yachts, jet skis, and skiffs.

According to persons near to Brin, the Fly Fleet consists of a few key vessels and a coterie of modest craft and water-athletics gear. First, you will find Dragonfly — a 73-meter flagship yacht that characteristics a helipad and movie theater and that was as soon as explained by Boat Global as the “fastest, most gasoline-effective extended-assortment cruising superyacht on the drinking water.”

You can find also the 40-meter Butterfly, which is normally moored in the Bay Space, can slumber up to eight guests, and was developed by Danish Yachts .

In accordance to associates of Brin, Butterfly’s crew customers frequently invest their afternoon downtime kitesurfing in the bay off Redwood Metropolis and have gotten associated in the regional local community, from helping out with scientific exploration to providing swimming lessons to youngsters.

Rounding out the key trio is a lesser enjoyment craft termed Firefly, the cheapest profile of the three vessels.

To retain the fleet, together with a total flotilla of jet skis, dinghies, kiteboards, and other sporting activities vessels that Brin splashes all-around on, the Google founder employs a 50-particular person staff close to the globe, led by the grasp mariner Mike Gregory.

To retain the fleet, Brin employs a 50-individual workforce close to the globe, led by the master mariner Mike Gregory.

Several of Brin’s more compact water-sports toys — as properly as Page’s — have been equipped by Kai Principles, a startup that builds superior-tech aquatic motor vehicles, together with foilboards and a kite-propelled boat. Centered in Alameda, California, the enterprise is run by the entire world-champion windsurfer Don Montague, who cofounded a wind-power corporation referred to as Makani, which Google acquired in 2013 and afterwards shut down.

Brin is believed to have place dollars into the enterprise — and Kai employees have aided out with producing jobs for Page’s now defunct traveling-automobile startup Kittyhawk, two people today common with the arrangement said.

Page is taking a distinctive solution to boating, sources claimed. Though he spends much of his time at his selection of tropical islands close to the world, he has marketed his superyacht Senses and downsized to an assortment of lesser vessels.

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Google cofounder Sergey Brin's 'air yachts' have been approved for flight

• Oops! Something went wrong. Please try again later. More content below

Sergey Brin's airship company LTA Research recently received flight clearance for its vessel Pathfinder 1.

That means the company can now test the massive airship in designated airspaces in the Bay Area.

Brin launched the company in 2016 and plans to use his airships to deliver humanitarian aid.

Google cofounder Sergey Brin's airship is ready to take flight.

LTA Research, Brin's company that aims to deliver humanitarian aid through "lighter than air" blimp-like vehicles, announced this week that its Pathfinder 1 vessel received its airworthiness certificate. The company received the certificate on September 6, a spokesperson for the FAA subsequently told to Insider by email.

The Pathfinder 1, LTA's crown jewel, is a massive airship that's nearly 400 feet long and close to 66 feet wide at its broadest point. Airships are lighter than airplanes and typically don't require jet engines.

The airworthiness certificate allows the Pathfinder 1 to begin test flights at Moffett Field — a NASA airfield run by Google in the Bay Area — and Palo Alto airport's airspaces at heights of up to 1,500 feet. Eventually, it will move to the former Goodyear Airdock airship hangar in Akron, Ohio, where the company is already working on building an even larger vessel, the almost 600-foot Pathfinder 3, according to IEEE Spectrum.

When it does eventually take the skies, the Pathfinder 1 — propelled by 12 electric motors and the lift of 13 helium bags — will be used to deliver food and other basic necessities to remote areas of the world.

"We believe lighter than air technology has the capacity to speed up humanitarian aid by reaching remote locations with little infrastructure, and to lower carbon emissions for air and cargo transportation," LTA's CEO Alan Weston told the Financial Times in June 2022. Weston — an Australian aeronautics expert with a penchant for extreme sports — worked as a program director at NASA before he was tapped by Brin to helm LTA.

LTA's airships could one day carry up to 200 tons of cargo each — nearly ten times the amount a Boeing 737 can carry — Weston told Bloomberg in May. That, along with the fact that they don't require a runway or much infrastructure, is why the company hopes the vessels will play a key role in disaster relief.

"If runways, roads, and ports are damaged, LTA's airships can still deliver what communities need. If cellphone towers are knocked out, airships can hover and provide service," the company notes on its website .

The vehicle could also serve as a luxurious intercontinental "air yacht" for Brin's friends and family, as The Guardian once described it. Which means it might end up being an airborne addition to Brin's collection of luxury yachts and water-sports vehicles that those in his inner circle have dubbed "Fly Feet."

Over the years, Brin, who founded LTA Research in 2016, has been closely involved with the company, regularly visiting its facilities in the Bay Area to discuss progress and meet with Weston. It's not clear exactly how much Brin, who is worth $105 billion, per Bloomberg, has funneled into the venture, but factory floor workers said it could be more than $250 million, Bloomberg reported.

Read the original article on Business Insider

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The Luxury Boats Owned By Some of the Wealthiest People in Tech, from a Yacht So Big It Has Its Own Support Boat to Superyachts with Swimming Pools and Basketball Courts Tech billionaires like Jeff Bezos, Oracle cofounder Larry Ellison, and Google cofounders Sergey Brin and Larry Page have all purchased mini vacation hubs at sea.

By Grace Kay and Sindhu Sundar Jul 3, 2023

Key Takeaways

• Many billionaires like Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson enjoy spending their time on luxurious yachts.
• The boats are decked out with amenities that many Americans can only dream of.
• Here are some of the billionaires in tech who own private yachts.

This article originally appeared on Business Insider .

A regular Jane celebrating a personal renaissance after a long-term relationship might commemorate the new era with an ankle tattoo of a spiritual saying. When you're a billionaire, you could do it instead with a $500 million megayacht .

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos made waves in May riding around the roughly 127-meter "Koru," a Māori term that may signify a fresh start, with his reported fiancée Lauren Sanchez. (In 2019, Bezos finalized his divorce from MacKenzie Scott, whom he was married to for 25 years).

Beyond the private planes occupying the hangars of billionaires, yachts have come to symbolize the highly private sites of leisure and networking reserved for the ultra-wealthy .

Tech billionaires like Bezos, Oracle cofounder Larry Ellison, and Google cofounders Sergey Brin and Larry Page have all purchased their own mini vacation hubs at sea, decking their boats with amenities like gyms, spas, pools, nightclubs, and movie theaters.

For those wishing to experience life aboard these multi-million-dollar yachts, some are available to rent out for a few nights or weeks at a time. Late Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen's yacht can be booked for $2.2 million per week or more, according Bloomberg .

Chartering yachts owned by billionaires like Alphabet cofounder Sergey Brin has previously cost customers anywhere from $773,000 a week to $1.2 million .

It remains to be seen how these vessels will fare against the apparent Orca uprising.

Take a look at some of the yachts that have been owned by tech billionaires.

A mystery buyer bought a 414-foot superyacht that was once owned by late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen for $278 million. Allen had the boat, which was named "Octopus," built in 2003 for $200 million. Since the tech billionaire's death in 2018, the boat had been listed for as much as $325 million.

Octopus in Canary Wharf, London, in 2012. Ki Price/Reuters Source: SuperYacht Times

The wealthy can book the yacht for a weekly rate of $2.2 million or more, through the luxury company Camper & Nicholsons, Bloomberg reported last year.

414ft luxury yacht 'Octopus' owned by Microsoft co-founder, Paul Allen, is moored to fuel up at Ege Ports in Kusadasi district of Aydin, Turkey on April 27, 2015. Ibrahim Uzun/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Sources: Bloomberg; Insider .

Amazon founder Bezos' $500 million megayacht, the roughly 127-meter "Koru," sparked attention in May for its artistic decor. A sculpture of a woman on the boat appeared to observers to be the likeness of Bezos' reported fiancée Sanchez, who was also seen that month on the yacht sporting a large ring.

Jeff Bezos was spotted aboard his megayacht "Koru" in May. Lift Aircraft.

Even before its completion, "Koru" drew the ire of Dutch people vowing to hurl eggs at the boat if it would require a historic bridge in Rotterdam to be taken apart to let it through. An egg crisis was averted however, as the company making the ship found a less-irksome alternative.

View of the Koningshaven Bridge, known as De Hef in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Peter Dejong/AP

Bezos has long been interested in yachts. In 2019, he was spotted aboard entertainment mogul David Geffen's superyacht.

David Geffen's superyacht Flickr via BI

Oracle cofounder Larry Ellison owns a 288-foot yacht named Musashi that he acquired in 2013. The yacht has several amenities, including an elevator, swimming pool, movie theater, and both an indoor and outdoor gym.

rulenumberone2/Flickr, Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Source: Yacht Bible

Ellison has owned several superyachts over the years, including the Katana, the Ronin, and the Rising Sun.

Courtesy of Lurssen Source: Forbes .

The Oracle cofounder also has a knack for competitive yacht racing, and helped to found and back a racing team, called Oracle Team USA, in 2000. The team has found success and won several prestigious titles over the years.

Xaume Olleros/Getty Images Sport Source: Telegraph

Ellison previously owned a bigger, 454-foot yacht called Rising Sun, which was designed specifically for the CEO in 2005. That yacht reportedly has 82 rooms, a movie theater, a wine cellar, and a basketball court. However, Ellison sold off the Rising Sun to Geffen for a reported $300 million.

Kimberly White/Getty Images Source: Forbes , Boat International

Ellison's boat, Musashi, is a sister ship to the yacht of another billionaire, former Sears CEO Eddie Lampert. However, the yacht, named Fountainhead, is often mistaken for belonging to billionaire investor Mark Cuban. "The guy who owns the boat tells everyone that it's mine," Cuban told Page Six in 2016. "It's so crazy ... I don't even own a boat."

Mark Cuban. Steve Marcus/Reuters

Source: Page Six

Ellison's yacht reportedly influenced the decision of late Apple CEO Steve Jobs to get a boat himself. However, Jobs never set foot on the boat — the yacht was commissioned in 2008, but wasn't completed until 2012, a year after his death.

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Source: Business Insider

When Jobs died in 2011, his yacht — along with his $14.1 billion fortune — was inherited by his wife, Laurene Powell Jobs, founder and president of a social-impact nonprofit called the Emerson Collective. The 256-foot yacht is named Venus, and is worth $130 million.

AP Photo/Peter Dejong Source: Business Insider

Google's billionaire cofounders, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, are known to splurge. An Insider feature in December documented some of the trappings of their luxury, including planes and yachts.

Sergey Brin (left) and Larry Page. Getty / Michael Nagle

Source: Insider .

Page owned a yacht named Senses, a $45 million, 194-foot boat that he bought in 2011 from a New Zealand businessman. He's since sold the yacht, Insider reported in 2021, a vessel that had a private beach club with a Jacuzzi and sun beds, both indoor and outdoor dining areas, and a helicopter pad. It's unclear what other sea vessels he owns, though Insider has previously reported he might have another yacht.

Ari Helminen/Flickr, Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Sources: Boat International; Insider .

Brin meanwhile owns a number of yachts and vessels including the 73-meter Dragonfly, and the 40-meter Butterfly, Insider reported in January.

Abell Point Marina/YouTube Source: Insider .

Dragonfly, the $80 million boat that has a movie-theater, shares a name with Google's once-secret project to launch a censored search engine in China. Google said in 2019 it had officially terminated the project.

Eric Risberg/Associated Press Source: Insider , Forbes .

The former Google CEO picked up the Alfa Nero yacht for nearly $68 million in an auction in June, according to a Bloomberg report. The yacht had apparently been left amid Russia's war in Ukraine, according to the report.

Eric Schmidt REUTERS/Brian Snyder Source: Bloomberg .

For Skype cofounder Niklas Zennstrom, his interest in yachts skews toward racing and competitive sailing. Zennstrom has gone through a succession of boats all named Ran.

Co-Founder and CEO of Skype Technologies, United Kingdom Niklas Zennstroem listens during a plenary entitled 'Digital 2.0:Powering a Creative Economy' at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, AP Photo/Michel Euler

Source: CNN

The Ran VII yacht is among the most advanced of Zennstrom's boats. The racing yacht uses electrical power, which Zennstrom has said makes it "lighter, less drag, quieter, and most importantly it is environmentally friendly."

Carkeek Design Partners/YouTube Source: CNN

The 40-foot yacht has been meant to compete in regattas through the racing team owned by Zennstrom and his wife, Catherine. The Ran racing team launched in 2008, and has won some prestigious regattas.

The Ran racing team. Carkeek Design Partners/YouTube Source: CNN

Barry Diller, chairman of digital media company IAC, co-owns a $70 million yacht with his wife, fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg.

Diane von Furstenberg, left, and Barry Diller. Scott Olson/Getty Images Source: Business Insider

The sailing yacht, named Eos, is 350 feet long with six bedrooms. The power couple has hosted many celebrities over the years — a few that have been spotted aboard Eos include model Karlie Kloss, actor Bradley Cooper, journalist Anderson Cooper, and singer Harry Styles.

snowwahine/YouTube Source: W Magazine

For Jim Clark, the cofounder of Netscape, one yacht hasn't been enough. Clark has owned boats for more than 30 years, and in 2012, he put up two of his sailing yachts for sale.

Jim Clark, right. Cameron Spencer/Getty Images Source: Business Insider

Clark listed the boats for a combined $113 million: the 136-foot Hanuman for $18 million, and the 295-foot Athena for $95 million. However, Clark has yet to offload Athena. Clark also previously owned a 155-foot yacht named Hyperion, and currently also owns a sloop called Hanuman.

The yacht Athena. Fosnez / Wikimedia Commons Source: Boat International , Forbes

Charles Simonyi worked at Microsoft until 2002, and oversaw the creation of Microsoft Office software. A few years before he left, Simonyi decided to purchase a yacht. He told the designer that wanted his yacht to be "home away from [his] home in Seattle."

Reuters/Sergei Remezov Source: Boat International

The product of that conversation in 1999 is Simonyi's yacht named Skat, meaning "treasure" in Danish. The yacht measures 233 feet long, and is unique with its nontraditional design and gray color. Skat features a matching gray helicopter, a gym, and motorcycles.

Christopher Hunt/Getty Images Source: Yacht Charter Fleet

Opulent British billionaire Richard Branson owned a yacht until he sold it in September 2018. The 105-foot catamaran sold for $3 million, significantly lower than the $9.6 million price Branson listed the boat for in 2014.

Anthony Harvey/Getty Images, Virgin Source: Business Insider

Branson, the founder of Virgin Group, bought the boat in 2009. He named it Necker Belle, a nod to his private Caribbean island, Necker Island.

Necker Island Source: Business Insider

Additional reporting by Paige Leskin.

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The insanely successful life of Google cofounder Sergey Brin

Google just pressed the reset button, completely overhauling its corporate structure through the formation of a brand new parent company called Alphabet. 

This change comes nearly 20 years after cofounders Larry Page and Sergey Brin first launched Google from a dorm room in Stanford.

It's been a wild ride for both of them since, but Brin's history is especially intriguing. 

Learn more about the man behind the world's most popular search engine:

With the announcement of Alphabet, Brin got a title upgrade, transitioning from overseeing the moonshot factory Google X as "director of special projects" to being president of the new parent company.

All told, Brin is worth about $34.3 billion, according to Forbes.

Source: Forbes

But Brin comes from humble beginnings. He was born to parents Michael and Eugenia Brin in the Soviet Union during the summer of 1973.

At the time, his father Michael dreamed of being an astrophysicist, but anti-Semitism in Soviet Russia coupled with his Jewish background kept him from those ambitions and even made it hard for him to find work as a mathematician — he ended up working as an economist for a government planning agency, crunching numbers for Soviet propaganda. The family managed to get exit visas and flee the USSR when Sergey was six, but his family's stressful, troubled experience left the Google cofounder with a lasting appreciation for democracy and freedom.

Source: In The Plex 

(Here he is "hanging out" with whistle-blower Edward Snowden at a 2014 TED conference.)

Source: TechCrunch

The Brins ended up in Maryland, and Sergey's parents enrolled him in a Montessori school that emphasized independence and fostering creativity (Google cofounder Larry Page also went to a Montessori school, as did Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos).

Brin first re-visted moscow when he was 17 on a class trip led by his father. "thank you for taking us all out of russia," he told michael brin solemnly. spurred by a blossoming defiant streak, he threw pebbles at a police car, almost getting in serious trouble when the officers inside noticed..

Source: Moment Mag

Eventually, Brin earned his bachelor's in mathematics and computer science at the University of Maryland, and then flew west to Stanford to get his PhD. There, his love of high-adrenaline exercise flourished, as he tried out skating, skiing, gymnastics, and even trapeze.

Source: Founders of Google and  Moment Mag

At Stanford, Brin met Larry Page in 1995. The two became close friends, geeking out about computer science. They started collaborating on a search engine they initially called BackRub.

They registered the domain Google.com in September 1997 with the mission to organize the world's information. The rest is history.

Both Brin and Page are "burners," meaning they're devout fans of Burning Man, the free-wheeling art festival in the middle of the Nevada desert. They created the first Google Doodle ever in 1998 to let people know they weren't around to do damage control if the site broke. They eventually only approved the hire of former CEO Eric Schmidt after they heard he loved Burning Man, too.

Even as the two cofounders started building what would become a multi-billion dollar company, Brin has remained loud-and-proud about his fitness obsession, counting workout clothes and Vibram barefoot shoes as his typical wardrobe and frequently zipping around on rollerblades, doing yoga stretches during meetings, or walking around on his hands for fun.

Source: Business Insider 

Brin also has a wild sense of humor according to early Google employee Douglas Edwards. "He conducted job interviews once dressed as a cow," Edwards told Fast Company. As an April Fools' joke, he once told pregnant Google employees that he would be offering birthing classes.

Source: Fast Company

As Google ballooned from simply a search engine to a huge company with dozens of diverse projects, Brin has been the mastermind for some of the most ambitious, including self-driving cars, smart contact lenses, and Google Glass.

Source: The New Yorker 

For a long time, you couldn't spot Brin *without* the computerized glasses. The New York Times reports that Brin may have played a big role in the product's rocky launch, rushing it into the world before it was ready for public scrutiny.

Source: The New York Times 

Meanwhile, Brin married Anne Wojcicki — CEO of genetics company 23andMe and sister of early Google employee Susan Wojcicki — in 2007.

Their wedding entailed inviting guests to a secret location in the Bahamas and they both wore bathing suits for the ceremony, which took place on a sandbar. They have two children together.

Source: Vanity Fair 

Over the years, the techie couple has donated hundreds of millions of dollars to charity, including at least $160 million to Parkinson's research. It's a cause that's particularly important for Brin. The neurodegenerative disease runs in his family — both his great aunt and mother had it — and a test through 23andMe revealed that Brin has a genetic mutation that makes him predisposed.

Source: Inside Philanthropy

To lower his chances of getting Parkinson's, Brin started exercising even more intensely and drinking green tea twice a day. Thanks to his health regime and scientific progress, he estimated in 2010 that he now has only a ~10% chance of getting the disease.

Source: Wired

But not all of Brin's lavish wealth goes to charitable causes. As of 2011, he, Page, and Schmidt had collectively purchased eight private jets. He owns real estate in New York City's hip West Village and Los Altos in California.

Source: The Mercury News  and Zillow

He has actually invested quite a bit of money in Los Altos, principally through a real estate investment firm called Passerelle Investment Co which has helped mom-and-pop, kid-friendly stores and cafes spring up or stay in business.

Source: Wall Street Journal 

Brin also employs at least 47 people to manage his personal affairs— including a yacht captain, personal shopper, and a former Navy SEAL — through a company called Bayshore Global Management.

Source: Bloomberg  and New Zealand Herald

Brin hasn't had the kind of smooth-sailing in his love-life as he did in starting a career though. Unfortunately, he and Wojicki's marriage hit the rocks when Brin allegedly had an affair with a fellow Google employee in 2013. The couple officially finalized a divorce in June 2015, after eight years of marriage.

Source: Vanity Fair  and Business Insider 

"Obviously everyone wants to be successful, but I want to be looked back on as being very innovative, very trusted and ethical," Brin has said. "And ultimately making a big difference in the world."

Source: Vanity Fair  and ABC News

Those who have known him attest to the fact that he truly does believe in using knowledge and power for the greater good. The Economist once called him the Enlightenment Man for his dedication to using reason and science to solve huge world problems.

Source: The Economist

Brin admitted on stage at the 2014 Code Conference that he should never have worked on the company's now-dismantled social network Google+ because he's not very social and, actually, "kind of a weirdo."

But, certainly a rich one, at any rate. After Google delivered a bang-up Q1 earnings report, the stock had its largest one-day rally ever, and both Brin and Page added about $4 billion to their fortunes.

Now that he's president of Alphabet, he'll likely keep spouting innovative ideas to help steer the company. "We are still trying to do things other people think are crazy but we are super excited about," Page wrote about he and Brin's mission in the Alphabet announcement.

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A Google Co-Founder Is Building a Massive 400-Foot Airship for Humanitarian Missions

Pathfinder 1 spans 400 feet and could hit the skies by 2023., rachel cormack.

Digital Editor

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Luxury blimps appear to be in the midst of a revival, but Sergey Brin wants to ensure they’re bigger and better than before.

The Google co-founder, now worth more than $90 billion, has been quietly working away on a massive new airship that will be the longest to hit the skies in almost a century.

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LTA Research has enlisted Kilwell Fibrelab to create the airship’s lightweight frame.  LTA Research

Christened Pathfinder 1, the new airship is a far cry from the zeppelins of 100 years ago. It is expected to measure 400 feet from tip to tail, while a third iteration dubbed Pathfinder 3 will stretch about 600 feet. That means the proposed Pathfinder models will be the biggest airship built in the country since 1931 when Goodyear completed the 785-foot USS Macon and USS Akron for the US Navy.

In terms of construction, the Pathfinder’s “deep ring” internal structure will be made of Kilwell Fibrelab ’s lightweight polymer tubing that will be reinforced with carbon fiber. It’s this rigid framework that distinguishes the airship from a blimp. The sturdy skeleton will be wrapped in a hard-wearing outer covering that will make the balloon plenty durable.

Completed in 1931, the USS Akron measured 785-feet. 

Like the Macon and Akron before it, the Pathfinder models will run on lighter-than-air helium. It’s non-combustible and far safer than the dangerously flammable hydrogen that was used in the ill-fated, 804-foot Hindenburg . The all-electric propulsion system, meanwhile, will be powered initially by batteries but could run on hydrogen fuel cells in the future. The latter will see the airship produce zero emissions.

Completed in 1931, the USS Macon measured 785-feet. 

Again like the Macon and Akron , the Pathfinder will be built at the gigantic Akron Airdock. LTA is actually in the process of acquiring this 364,000-square-foot facility, as well as recruiting a crew for the new endeavor. The company says the airships will be primarily used to bring humanitarian aid (food and supplies) to remote areas that are difficult to access via traditional aircraft and vehicles.

Rachel Cormack is a digital editor at Robb Report. She cut her teeth writing for HuffPost, Concrete Playground, and several other online publications in Australia, before moving to New York at the…

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9 Surprising Facts About Sergey Brin

Written by Ashley Dewitt

Modified & Updated: 28 May 2024

Reviewed by Jessica Corbett

Sergey Brin is a name that has become synonymous with innovation and success in the tech industry. As the co-founder of Google, he has played a pivotal role in transforming the way we interact with information online. While most people are familiar with his accomplishments and the impact of Google, there are some lesser-known facts about Sergey Brin that may surprise you. From his early life to his philanthropic endeavors, Brin’s journey is filled with interesting tidbits that shed light on his character and his contributions to the world. In this article, we will explore nine surprising facts about Sergey Brin that highlight his multifaceted nature and make him even more fascinating. So, let’s dive in and discover some lesser-known aspects of this tech pioneer.

Key Takeaways:

• Sergey Brin, co-founder of Google, was born in Moscow, Russia, and pursued his education at Stanford University, where he met Larry Page, leading to the creation of Google.
• Sergey Brin, with a net worth of over $100 billion, is not only a tech genius but also a philanthropist, space exploration enthusiast, extreme sports lover, and advocate for alternative energy sources.

Sergey Brin was born in Moscow, Russia.

Did you know that Sergey Brin was actually born in Moscow, Russia? He was born on August 21, 1973, to Jewish parents who emigrated from the Soviet Union in This international upbringing played a significant role in shaping Brin’s perspective and contributed to his success in the global tech arena.

Sergey Brin pursued his higher education at Stanford University.

After immigrating to the United States, Sergey Brin enrolled at Stanford University, where he met Larry Page. Little did they know that their friendship would lead to the creation of one of the most influential companies of all time, Google. Brin pursued a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science and later earned a Master’s degree in the same field.

Sergey Brin co-founded Google in a garage.

It’s difficult to imagine that the ubiquitous search engine Google was once founded in a humble garage, but it’s true! Sergey Brin and Larry Page started working on what would eventually become Google in Susan Wojcicki’s garage in September This garage holds a special place in tech history as the birthplace of one of the world’s most dominant companies.

Sergey Brin is known for his philanthropic endeavors.

Beyond his professional success , Sergey Brin is actively involved in philanthropy. He and his ex-wife, Anne Wojcicki , launched the Brin Wojcicki Foundation in 2012, which focuses on various charitable initiatives, particularly in the fields of global health and education. Their philanthropic efforts have made a significant impact on numerous communities around the world.

Sergey Brin is passionate about space exploration.

Sergey Brin has a deep passion for space exploration. He is a co-founder of Planetary Resources, a company dedicated to mining asteroids for valuable resources, and is also involved in the Breakthrough Starshot project, which aims to send small spacecraft to other star systems. Brin’s enthusiasm for pushing the boundaries of science and technology extends beyond our planet.

Sergey Brin has a net worth of over $100 billion.

Thanks to the success of Google , Sergey Brin has amassed an impressive net worth. As of [current year], his net worth is estimated to be over $100 billion, making him one of the wealthiest individuals in the world. However, despite his immense wealth, Brin has remained relatively modest and down-to-earth.

Sergey Brin has a love for extreme sports.

When he’s not revolutionizing the tech world, Sergey Brin enjoys indulging in adrenaline-pumping activities. He is an avid kiteboarder and has been photographed kiteboarding in exotic locations. This love for extreme sports is a testament to his adventurous and energetic spirit.

Sergey Brin is passionate about alternative energy sources.

Being an advocate for sustainable living, Sergey Brin is heavily invested in exploring alternative energy sources . He has personally invested in various green technology projects and supports research and development efforts in renewable energy. Brin recognizes the importance of finding environmentally friendly solutions to the world’s energy needs.

Sergey Brin is a private individual.

Despite his high-profile status in the tech industry, Sergey Brin prefers to keep his personal life out of the spotlight. He rarely gives interviews and tends to maintain a low public profile. This privacy serves as a sharp contrast to the global impact his brainchild, Google, has had on the world.

In conclusion, Sergey Brin’s journey from Moscow to Silicon Valley is filled with remarkable achievements, surprising undertakings, and a constant drive for innovation. His contributions to the tech industry have reshaped the way we access information and communicate. Through his philanthropy, passion for space exploration, and commitment to sustainability, Sergey Brin continues to make a lasting impact on the world.

In conclusion, Sergey Brin is undoubtedly an enigmatic figure in the tech world. From his humble beginnings in Russia to co-founding one of the most influential companies in the world, his journey is truly remarkable. These surprising facts about Sergey Brin shed light on his exceptional achievements and contributions to the field of technology. Not only is he a visionary entrepreneur, but he has also made significant advancements in artificial intelligence, search engine technology , and philanthropy. As a key player in the success of Google, Sergey Brin continues to inspire and shape the future of innovation. His unwavering determination, intelligence, and passion are a testament to his remarkable impact on the world. Sergey Brin’s story is a reminder that with hard work and ingenuity, anyone can make their dreams a reality.

Q: How did Sergey Brin co-found Google?

A: Sergey Brin, along with Larry Page , co-founded Google in 1998 while they were Ph.D. students at Stanford University. Together, they developed a search engine that revolutionized how information was organized and retrieved on the internet.

Q: What is Sergey Brin’s net worth?

A: As of 2021, Sergey Brin’s net worth is estimated to be around $88 billion, making him one of the wealthiest individuals in the world.

Q: How has Sergey Brin contributed to artificial intelligence?

A: Sergey Brin has made significant contributions to the field of artificial intelligence through various initiatives at Google. He has been involved in the development of technologies like Google Brain and DeepMind, which have pushed the boundaries of AI research and applications.

Q: What philanthropic initiatives is Sergey Brin involved in?

A: Sergey Brin is actively involved in philanthropic efforts through organizations like the Brin Wojcicki Foundation, which focuses on supporting global health, education, and scientific research. He has also made substantial donations to various causes and charities.

Q: What is Sergey Brin’s educational background?

A: Sergey Brin holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Computer Science from the University of Maryland, College Park , and a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Stanford University.

After learning about Sergey Brin's remarkable journey, why not continue your exploration of the tech world? Uncover the captivating facts about Google , the company he co-founded. For movie buffs, embark on a thrilling adventure into the realm of artificial intelligence in films . And if you're curious about the financial side of the tech industry, delve into the mind-blowing facts surrounding Silicon Valley Bank , a prominent institution in the heart of innovation.

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Asia’s Family Office Frenzy Comes With Plenty of Imposters

A rapidly growing wealth management industry is spurring a rise in allegations of fake family offices from Singapore to Hong Kong, forcing many in the sector to go “full CSI” to weed out imposters.

Illustration: Mengxin Li

As Edoardo Collevecchio was getting ready to speak at a conference in Singapore, he recognized the family office that employed a fellow panelist. But as they exchanged small talk, Collevecchio noticed something was off — the executive couldn’t answer basic questions about his firm and didn’t even recognize the name of an owner.

It soon became clear the ‘executive’ had never worked for the family office directly, and had misrepresented his status. An awkward snip later, the panel went ahead — minus one speaker.