LeaderPortfolio
Ghodsi
Ali Ghodsi
Rank #738
SWEDENTechnologyData analytics

Ali Ghodsi

Net Worth
$5.547B
0% (24h)
Ali Ghodsi is the co-founder and CEO of Databricks, a leading data and AI company. His source of wealth stems from his role in Databricks, a data analytics and AI platform. Ghodsi's career began in academia, earning a Ph.D. in Computer Science from KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden. He co-founded Databricks in 2013, helping build the Apache Spark analytics engine, and has since led the company through significant growth, pioneering the data lakehouse architecture. As of March 2026, Databricks' valuation is at $134 billion. Ghodsi's leadership has been recognized for its impact on the tech industry, with Databricks serving more than 12,000 customers.

How to read Ali Ghodsi's profile

Public net-worth figures are estimates. They combine observable inputs—typically listed equity, disclosed transactions, and market prices—with editorial judgment where filings are incomplete (for example, private holdings, debt, or cross-holdings). For Ali Ghodsi, we anchor the narrative to Data analytics and Data analytics, then update the headline number as markets move. The chart on this page is meant to show trajectory, not a certified balance sheet.

When you see $5.547B alongside global rank #738, interpret it as our best synthesis of widely cited ownership and price signals—not a claim about cash on hand. Estimates can diverge from other publishers because of different treatment of options, trusts, charitable vehicles, or illiquid assets. We document the general approach in methodology and welcome corrections via corrections.

Country (SWEDEN) and career milestones on this page are curated for reader context; they should be verified against primary sources when used for research. Editorial metadata for this profile is refreshed on a rolling basis, with deeper audits at least annually (last noted cycle: 2026).

Looking for depth? When available, the dossier and timeline sections below add long-form context beyond the headline number—prioritize those modules when evaluating claims about strategy, controversies, or philanthropic commitments.

The Full Dossier

Early Life and Education

Ali Ghodsi was born in Tehran, Iran, in 1978. Due to the political climate, his family immigrated to Sweden in 1984 when he was five years old. Ghodsi excelled academically, earning a Master of Science in Computer Engineering and an MBA in Logistics and Strategic Marketing from Mid Sweden University. He later received a Ph.D. in Computer Science from KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm in 2006.

Rise to Success

After earning his Ph.D., Ghodsi became a researcher and assistant professor at KTH. In 2009, he joined UC Berkeley as a visiting scholar. At Berkeley, he worked on projects in distributed systems and helped start the Apache Mesos and Apache Spark projects. In 2013, Ghodsi co-founded Databricks along with six other UC Berkeley researchers. He became the CEO of Databricks in 2016.

Key Business Strategies

Under Ghodsi's leadership, Databricks has grown to a $134 billion valuation as of February 2026. The company has focused on developing the data lakehouse architecture, which combines the best features of data lakes and data warehouses. Databricks has also prioritized open-source contributions and strategic partnerships, including collaborations with Microsoft, Google, and Amazon. The company has surpassed a $4 billion revenue run-rate and has positive free cash flow.

Philanthropy

Specific philanthropic amounts were not found in the search results.

Career Timeline

2016

CEO of Databricks

Became the CEO of Databricks.

2013

Co-founded Databricks

Co-founded Databricks, a data and AI company.

2009

Visiting Scholar

Joined UC Berkeley as a visiting scholar.

2006

Ph.D.

Completed his Ph.D. in Computer Science at KTH Royal Institute of Technology.

Philanthropic Impact

N/A$XB

Not Available

Philanthropic initiatives could not be found.

Key Business Ventures & Holdings

CompanyStakeValue
Databricks

Net Worth History

In-Depth Analysis

Early Life and Education

Ali Ghodsi was born in Tehran, Iran, in 1978. Due to the political climate, his family immigrated to Sweden in 1984 when he was five years old. Ghodsi excelled academically, earning a Master of Science in Computer Engineering and an MBA in Logistics and Strategic Marketing from Mid Sweden University. He later received a Ph.D. in Computer Science from KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm in 2006.

Rise to Success

After earning his Ph.D., Ghodsi became a researcher and assistant professor at KTH. In 2009, he joined UC Berkeley as a visiting scholar. At Berkeley, he worked on projects in distributed systems and helped start the Apache Mesos and Apache Spark projects. In 2013, Ghodsi co-founded Databricks along with six other UC Berkeley researchers. He became the CEO of Databricks in 2016.

Key Business Strategies

Under Ghodsi's leadership, Databricks has grown to a $134 billion valuation as of February 2026. The company has focused on developing the data lakehouse architecture, which combines the best features of data lakes and data warehouses. Databricks has also prioritized open-source contributions and strategic partnerships, including collaborations with Microsoft, Google, and Amazon. The company has surpassed a $4 billion revenue run-rate and has positive free cash flow.

Philanthropy

Specific philanthropic amounts were not found in the search results.

Data Sources & Methodology

Figures for Ali Ghodsi are synthesized from the sources below and cross-checked against our net worth methodology. Estimates may lag market moves; see corrections to report discrepancies.