Started with only Rs 1700, IITian and tech titan Nikesh Arora rose to outearn Mark Zuckerberg and Sundar Pichai
In 2023, Nikesh Arora, CEO of Palo Alto Networks and an IIT-BHU graduate, earned more than tech giants Mark Zuckerberg and Sundar Pichai. His rise to the top followed over 400 job rejections, financial struggles, and a career spanning Fidelity Investments, Google, and SoftBank. Since joining Palo Alto in 2018, he has scaled the company from a $18 billion valuation to over $100 billion by focusing on cloud security, AI, and innovation.
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Humble Beginnings in India
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Career Struggles and Breakthrough
At Google and SoftBank
Leading Palo Alto Networks
On AI and India's Opportunity
When tech giants like Meta and Google made headlines for massive layoffs and changing leadership trends, one Indian-origin executive quietly outshone some of the biggest names in Silicon Valley. Nikesh Arora , the CEO of cybersecurity company Palo Alto Networks, earned more in 2023 than both Mark Zuckerberg and Sundar Pichai—an achievement that might surprise many unfamiliar with his journey. But behind that headline-making number lies a story of perseverance, rejection, and a steady climb from modest beginnings to one of the highest echelons in the global tech industry.When The Wall Street Journal released its 2023 rankings of the highest-paid CEOs, among the top earners was Nikesh Arora, the Indian-origin CEO of Palo Alto Networks, who secured the second spot with a total compensation of $151.43 million. His earnings significantly surpassed those of major tech leaders, including Meta's Mark Zuckerberg, who earned $24.40 million, and Google's Sundar Pichai, who received $8.8 million.In a detailed and candid conversation with Humans of Bombay, Arora opened up about the struggles and turning points that shaped his journey—from humble beginnings in Ghaziabad to leading one of the world's top cybersecurity firms.Arora's journey to the top of the tech industry began in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, where he was raised in a disciplined household shaped by his father's career in the Indian Air Force. His upbringing, marked by frequent relocations, instilled a deep sense of adaptability and integrity in him from an early age. After finishing school at The Air Force School, he pursued engineering at IIT-BHU.Despite financial limitations, Arora set his sights on the United States for further studies. With only $100 (around Rs 1700 in 1990) in hand, he applied to universities that waived application fees. Bostons' Northeastern University granted him a scholarship in 1990 and even offered him the chance to teach computer science—something he quickly had to learn to accept the offer.After graduating, Arora faced a daunting phase—rejected over 400 times by various companies. He kept every rejection letter, using them as motivation. His breakthrough came in 1992 when he landed a role at Fidelity Investments. Starting from entry-level positions, he worked his way up to become Vice President at Fidelity Technologies.He later earned both an M.S. in Finance and a CFA certification, which significantly broadened his career options. Teaching a CFA course eventually connected him to an opportunity at Google.Arora joined Google in 2004, a few months after its IPO. Over the next decade, he played a key role in growing its revenues from $2 billion to over $60 billion. Describing it as 'like being in a rocket ship,' Arora left in 2014 in search of a new challenge.That challenge came at SoftBank, where he served as President and COO. His time there brought significant learnings, including the importance of knowing when to walk away from underperforming investments—something he applied while choosing not to back WeWork. Arora eventually exited SoftBank in 2016 when CEO Masayoshi Son postponed his planned retirement.In 2018, after a sabbatical spent attempting (and failing) to improve at golf, Arora took over as CEO of Palo Alto Networks. At the time, the company was valued at $18 billion. Under his leadership, it has grown to over $100 billion, driven by a strategic push toward cloud security and artificial intelligence.Arora credits this success to early adoption of emerging technologies and a willingness to acquire or partner when internal development wasn't feasible. His focus on innovation has kept Palo Alto competitive in an increasingly complex cybersecurity landscape.Arora has spoken about how scarcity in his youth shaped his resourcefulness and approach to leadership. He sees AI as a transformative force and believes India's strength lies in adapting global technologies to local contexts. According to him, real value in AI will come from localised data and domain-specific knowledge—areas where Indian companies have a natural advantage.Arora's story—marked by rejection, resilience, and reinvention—continues to resonate, especially in India. His rise shows that success doesn't always follow a linear path. As he told Humans of Bombay, 'Nobody likes rejection… But part of growing up in India is believing in destiny. It helps you rationalise failure. Everything happens for a reason.'
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