Jay Chaudhry is one of the richest immigrants in the United States and a top name in the world of technology. He is the founder and CEO of Zscaler, a major cybersecurity company worth around $20 billion. His story is a true example of hard work, vision, and the American dream.
A Humble Beginning in India
Jay was born in a small village in the Himalayan region of India. His village had no electricity or running water. Despite growing up in such tough conditions, Jay stayed focused on his studies. He was determined to create a better life for himself.
Moving to the US for Education
In 1980, Jay moved to the United States to pursue higher education. This was a turning point in his life. He first studied at IIT-BHU in Varanasi, India, one of the top engineering colleges.
In the US, he earned two master’s degrees from the University of Cincinnati—one in electronic and computer engineering and another in industrial engineering and management. Later, he also attended Harvard Business School to improve his leadership and business skills.
Founding Zscaler: A Cybersecurity Giant
In 2008, Jay started Zscaler, a company that provides cloud-based cybersecurity services. It helps businesses protect their data and keep internet connections safe. Zscaler allows users to connect to apps securely from anywhere in the world.
Zscaler became very successful and went public in 2018. Today, it’s a leading name in internet security, with operations around the globe.
His Net Worth and Success
According to Forbes, Jay Chaudhry’s net worth is around $17.9 billion. He and his family own nearly 40% of Zscaler, keeping him deeply involved in the company’s future.
A Journey of Grit and Entrepreneurship
Jay didn’t build just one company. Back in 1996, he and his wife Jyoti quit their jobs and used their savings to start SecureIT, another cybersecurity firm. This was just the beginning. He went on to build several other tech companies, many of which were bought by big corporations. This shows his strong business skills and innovative thinking.
One of America’s Top Immigrant Billionaires
Jay Chaudhry is ranked eighth on Forbes’ list of richest immigrants in the US. He joins other famous names like:
- Elon Musk (from South Africa)
- Sergey Brin (from Russia, co-founder of Google)
- Jensen Huang (from Taiwan, co-founder of Nvidia)
- Thomas Peterffy (from Hungary, a fintech leader)
Others on the list include Miriam Adelson, Rupert Murdoch, Peter Thiel, Jan Koum, and John Tu—all showing how immigrants have played a big role in building America’s business and tech world.
