Inside Sundar Pichai's career: How Google fought Twitter tooth and nail to retain its CEO

Sundar Pichai is someone that millions of people take inspiration from. The CEO of Google and Alphabet has achieved so much through hard work and determination that many aspire to be like him.

Pichai’s journey to the top was pretty interesting as many big companies fought it out to get him onboard.

Not many know that Google had a fierce battle with Twitter (now X) to recruit him. Although Pichai began working for Google in 2004, Twitter tried very hard to poach him in 2011.  

Pichai started his journey at Google in 2004, concentrating initially on the Google Toolbar's development. Today, he holds the positions of CEO at Google and Alphabet, and is a member of Alphabet's Board of Directors. Throughout his tenure, Google has prioritized the creation of innovative AI-driven products and services.

Pichai was aggressively courted by Twitter to be their next head of product.

twitter x/forbes

According to a TOI report which quoted  WSJ AllThingsDigital report from January 2011, "Sundar Pichai, the man in charge of Chrome and Chrome OS at Google, is being aggressively courted by Twitter to be its next head of product, according to sources with knowledge of the situation." 

The report further stated, "Google is fighting hard to counter the Twitter (now X) offer, so Pichai could easily stay with his current employer."

Also Read: Sundar Pichai’s Success Story: From Highest Paid CEO To ‘Rare’ Billionaire Status

Google reportedly paid a huge amount in stock grants to retain its key employees Sundar Pichai and Neal Mohan

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A TechCrunch report quoted by TOI, published a few months later, revealed, "Google may have paid as much as $150 million in stock grants to retain key product employees Sundar Pichai and Neal Mohan, say multiple sources. Both were offered the chief product role at Twitter earlier this year (cofounder Jack Dorsey eventually filled the position), but Google offered Pichai $50 million and Mohan $100 million, respectively, to stay."

Sundar Pichai was not only considered for the CEO role at Microsoft in 2014, which eventually went to Satya Nadella. In 2015, Twitter also sought to lure Pichai to become its CEO, as reported by TOI.

In August 2015, after Google underwent reorganization into Alphabet, Sundar Pichai was appointed CEO of Google. He later joined Alphabet's board of directors in July 2017 and assumed the role of CEO for both Google and Alphabet in December 2019, succeeding co-founder Larry Page.

Also Read: From Sundar Pichai To Neal Mohan: How Much Top Indian-Origin CEOs Earn

What is Google CEO Sundar Pichai Net Worth and Salary?

Google CEO Sundar Pichai | Phto: Reuters

Sundar Pichai was recognized in TIME's list of the 100 most influential people in both 2016 and 2020, solidifying his stature in the tech industry. He assumed the role of CEO at Alphabet Inc., Google's parent company, in December 2019. According to Alphabet's 2022 financial reports, Pichai's total compensation was approximately $226 million (Rs 1,846 crore), and his estimated net worth is around $1.66 billion(Rs 13, 873 crore approx).

In 2022, Elon Musk acquired Twitter for $44 billion (Rs 3.6 lakh crore) and integrated it into his newly established X Corp., renaming the platform as X the following year.