SOURCE : NEW18 NEWS
Last Updated:June 16, 2025, 17:29 IST
Due to financial constraints, Nikesh applied to no-fee colleges. With a scholarship from Northeastern and just $100, he left home in 1990 to pursue studies in the US
According to the Wall Street Journal, in 2023, Arora received a compensation package of $151.4 million. (News18 Hindi)
In a remarkable tale of determination and skill, Nikesh Arora, hailing from an ordinary family in Ghaziabad, has become the world’s highest-paid CEO. His extraordinary journey, characterised by relentless hard work, has seen him surpass the earnings of renowned tech leaders Mark Zuckerberg and Sundar Pichai.
According to the Wall Street Journal, in 2023, Arora received a compensation package of $151.4 million (approximately Rs 1,300 crore). Arora currently serves as the CEO of the cybersecurity firm Alto Networks. His salary eclipsed that of Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, who earned $24.4 million, and Google CEO Sundar Pichai, who received $8.8 million during the same period.
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Nikesh Arora’s rise is all the more remarkable considering his humble beginnings. Arora, who always excelled in studies, earned an engineering degree from IIT BHU before moving to the US. Due to financial constraints, he couldn’t afford admission to his preferred colleges there. So, he applied to universities that charged no fees. Eventually, Northeastern University in Boston offered him a scholarship. With just 100 dollars—worth only Rs 1,700 in 1990—he left home and reached the US.
The early 1990s were challenging times for Indian talent abroad, and Arora faced numerous rejections, with 400 companies turning down his job applications. However, his persistence paid off when he secured a trainee position at Fidelity Investment in 1992.
Arora’s dedication and talent saw him rise to the position of Vice President at Fidelity Technology. He further expanded his qualifications by completing courses such as MS and CFA.
Arora’s career took a significant leap when he joined Google shortly after its IPO in 2004. During his tenure, the company’s revenue skyrocketed from $2 billion to $60 billion. In 2014, he transitioned to SoftBank, serving as President and COO, where he honed his investment skills.
In 2018, Arora took on the role of CEO at Alto Networks. Under his leadership, the company’s market valuation soared from $18 billion to over $100 billion. Focusing on cloud security and AI, he implemented cutting-edge technologies and collaborated with companies struggling to grow independently, establishing Alto Networks as a leader in cybersecurity.
- First Published:
June 16, 2025, 17:29 IST
