In the competitive world of tech companies, CEO salaries often make headlines. And this time, it’s Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai who’s caught everyone’s attention, not for a record-breaking paycheck, but for quite the opposite. Pichai’s earnings in 2024 took a noticeable dip, but that doesn’t mean the company’s investment in him has gone down.
While his official paycheque may have shrunk, Alphabet has been pouring big money into something else– his personal security. The message is clear: Pichai continues to be absolutely crucial to the company, whether he’s in the boardroom or on the move.
Alphabet’s 2025 Proxy Statement gives a clear picture– it’s not just about a change in how Sundar Pichai is being paid, but also about how much importance the company is giving to his safety in today’s uncertain times.
Compensation takes a hit
Sundar Pichai’s compensation is $10.72 million in 2024– a big drop from the $226 million he took home in 2022. But there’s a clear reason for the gap: he didn’t get the massive triennial stock award that’s only given once every three years, which had pushed up his earlier pay. That said, his base salary stayed the same at $2 million. The rest of his earnings came from stock-related income and other company perks.
Security expenses rise to $8.27 million
Even though Pichai’s pay went down, Alphabet’s spending on his security went up. In 2024, the company spent $8.27 million on his personal protection– a 22% jump from the $6.78 million spent in 2023. Alphabet said the increase was mainly because of Pichai’s heavy travel schedule throughout the year.
Alphabet’s statement outlined the range of security measures provided for Sundar Pichai in 2024, which included “residential security and consultation fees, security monitoring services, car and driver services, and personal security during all travel.” Explaining the reason behind the increased spending, the company said, “We believe these arrangements and costs are reasonable, appropriate, necessary, and in the best interests of Alphabet and its stockholders, as they mitigate risks to our business.”
Alphabet also made it clear that these expenses are strictly tied to work, stating, “We do not consider these additional security arrangements to be a personal benefit to Sundar because they arise from the nature of his employment responsibilities.”
From a modest start in India to global leadership
Sundar Pichai was born in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, and grew up in a modest household. His father, Regunatha Pichai, was an electrical engineer and also ran a small unit that made electrical parts. His mother, Lakshmi, worked as a stenographer.
He studied at Jawahar Vidyalaya Senior Secondary School in Ashok Nagar, Chennai, and later at Vana Vani School inside the IIT Madras campus. He went on to study metallurgical engineering at IIT Kharagpur.
Pichai then moved to the U.S. for higher studies, earning a Master’s degree in materials science and engineering from Stanford University. He later completed his MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he was named both a Siebel Scholar and a Palmer Scholar for his academic excellence.
Net worth as of May 2025
Despite the decrease in his annual pay, Sundar Pichai’s financial standing remains significant. According to Forbes’ data, his net worth as of April 4, 2025, is $1.1 billion.
Alphabet’s latest filing shows a change in how it pays executives, moving away from large stock grants and focusing more on stability and security for top leaders. Even though Pichai’s earnings in 2024 were much lower than before, the company’s increased spending on his security shows how important he still is to the company.
Image credits: X
While his official paycheque may have shrunk, Alphabet has been pouring big money into something else– his personal security. The message is clear: Pichai continues to be absolutely crucial to the company, whether he’s in the boardroom or on the move.
Alphabet’s 2025 Proxy Statement gives a clear picture– it’s not just about a change in how Sundar Pichai is being paid, but also about how much importance the company is giving to his safety in today’s uncertain times.
Compensation takes a hit
Sundar Pichai’s compensation is $10.72 million in 2024– a big drop from the $226 million he took home in 2022. But there’s a clear reason for the gap: he didn’t get the massive triennial stock award that’s only given once every three years, which had pushed up his earlier pay. That said, his base salary stayed the same at $2 million. The rest of his earnings came from stock-related income and other company perks.
Security expenses rise to $8.27 million
Even though Pichai’s pay went down, Alphabet’s spending on his security went up. In 2024, the company spent $8.27 million on his personal protection– a 22% jump from the $6.78 million spent in 2023. Alphabet said the increase was mainly because of Pichai’s heavy travel schedule throughout the year.
Alphabet’s statement outlined the range of security measures provided for Sundar Pichai in 2024, which included “residential security and consultation fees, security monitoring services, car and driver services, and personal security during all travel.” Explaining the reason behind the increased spending, the company said, “We believe these arrangements and costs are reasonable, appropriate, necessary, and in the best interests of Alphabet and its stockholders, as they mitigate risks to our business.”
Alphabet also made it clear that these expenses are strictly tied to work, stating, “We do not consider these additional security arrangements to be a personal benefit to Sundar because they arise from the nature of his employment responsibilities.”
From a modest start in India to global leadership
Sundar Pichai was born in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, and grew up in a modest household. His father, Regunatha Pichai, was an electrical engineer and also ran a small unit that made electrical parts. His mother, Lakshmi, worked as a stenographer.
He studied at Jawahar Vidyalaya Senior Secondary School in Ashok Nagar, Chennai, and later at Vana Vani School inside the IIT Madras campus. He went on to study metallurgical engineering at IIT Kharagpur.
Pichai then moved to the U.S. for higher studies, earning a Master’s degree in materials science and engineering from Stanford University. He later completed his MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he was named both a Siebel Scholar and a Palmer Scholar for his academic excellence.
Net worth as of May 2025
Despite the decrease in his annual pay, Sundar Pichai’s financial standing remains significant. According to Forbes’ data, his net worth as of April 4, 2025, is $1.1 billion.
Alphabet’s latest filing shows a change in how it pays executives, moving away from large stock grants and focusing more on stability and security for top leaders. Even though Pichai’s earnings in 2024 were much lower than before, the company’s increased spending on his security shows how important he still is to the company.
Image credits: X
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