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Zaharia
Matei Zaharia
Rank #821
ROMANIA•Technology•Data analytics

Matei Zaharia

Net Worth
$5.031B
0% (24h)
Matei Zaharia, born in Romania and raised in Canada, is a prominent figure in the tech industry, best known as the co-founder and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Databricks. His net worth is estimated at $5.0 billion, making him one of the highest-ranked Romanians on the Forbes Billionaires list. Zaharia is the creator of Apache Spark, a widely used data processing engine. His work has revolutionized how organizations manage and analyze large datasets, driving advancements in data analytics and AI. Zaharia's career began with his academic pursuits at the University of Waterloo and the University of California, Berkeley, where he developed Spark. He is currently an Associate Professor of EECS at UC Berkeley. His contributions to the field have garnered him significant recognition and awards.

How to read Matei Zaharia'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 Matei Zaharia, 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 $5.031B alongside global rank #821, 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 (ROMANIA) 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

Matei Zaharia was born in Romania in 1984, during the final years of communist rule. His family later emigrated to Canada, settling in Waterloo, Ontario. Growing up in Waterloo, Zaharia developed a strong interest in mathematics and computers, leading him to pursue a Bachelor of Mathematics degree with a double major in Computer Science and Combinatorics & Optimization from the University of Waterloo. He excelled academically, graduating with a GPA close to a perfect score.

Rise to Success

After completing his undergraduate studies, Zaharia pursued a Ph.D. in Computer Science at the University of California, Berkeley. At Berkeley's AMPLab, he began developing Apache Spark in 2009, as a faster alternative to MapReduce. Spark quickly gained popularity and is now one of the most widely used frameworks for distributed data processing. In 2013, Zaharia co-founded Databricks with fellow researchers, commercializing the technology behind Apache Spark. Databricks has since become a leading data and AI company, valued at $134 billion as of December 2025. His work in creating Apache Spark and building Databricks has placed him at the forefront of data analytics and AI infrastructure.

Key Business Strategies

As CTO of Databricks, Zaharia has led the development of several innovative features beyond Apache Spark, including open-source projects such as Delta Lake and MLflow. Databricks's strategy focuses on simplifying and democratizing data and AI, enabling data and AI teams to solve complex problems. This strategy has led to a broad customer base, including over 60% of the Fortune 500, and strong revenue growth, with a $5.4 billion revenue run-rate in February 2026. Databricks continues to innovate, with investments in AI-powered products and the development of new tools such as Lakebase.

Philanthropy

While specific details on Zaharia's philanthropic initiatives are limited in the search results, it is known he has contributed to the development of open-source projects.

Career Timeline

2023

SIGOPS Mark Weiser Award

Awarded the ACM SIGOPS Mark Weiser Award.

2019

Presidential Early Career Award

Received the U.S. Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE).

2014

ACM Doctoral Dissertation Award

Awarded the ACM Doctoral Dissertation Award for his work on Apache Spark.

2013

Co-founded Databricks

Co-founded Databricks to commercialize Apache Spark, offering a unified platform for data analytics and AI.

2009

Created Apache Spark

Developed Apache Spark while at UC Berkeley, a fast and general engine for large-scale data processing.

Philanthropic Impact

TechnologyUnknown

Open Source Contributions

Contributes to and maintains open-source projects, including Apache Spark, Delta Lake, and MLflow.

Key Business Ventures & Holdings

CompanyStakeValue
Databricks——

Net Worth History

In-Depth Analysis

Early Life and Education

Matei Zaharia was born in Romania in 1984, during the final years of communist rule. His family later emigrated to Canada, settling in Waterloo, Ontario. Growing up in Waterloo, Zaharia developed a strong interest in mathematics and computers, leading him to pursue a Bachelor of Mathematics degree with a double major in Computer Science and Combinatorics & Optimization from the University of Waterloo. He excelled academically, graduating with a GPA close to a perfect score.

Rise to Success

After completing his undergraduate studies, Zaharia pursued a Ph.D. in Computer Science at the University of California, Berkeley. At Berkeley's AMPLab, he began developing Apache Spark in 2009, as a faster alternative to MapReduce. Spark quickly gained popularity and is now one of the most widely used frameworks for distributed data processing. In 2013, Zaharia co-founded Databricks with fellow researchers, commercializing the technology behind Apache Spark. Databricks has since become a leading data and AI company, valued at $134 billion as of December 2025. His work in creating Apache Spark and building Databricks has placed him at the forefront of data analytics and AI infrastructure.

Key Business Strategies

As CTO of Databricks, Zaharia has led the development of several innovative features beyond Apache Spark, including open-source projects such as Delta Lake and MLflow. Databricks's strategy focuses on simplifying and democratizing data and AI, enabling data and AI teams to solve complex problems. This strategy has led to a broad customer base, including over 60% of the Fortune 500, and strong revenue growth, with a $5.4 billion revenue run-rate in February 2026. Databricks continues to innovate, with investments in AI-powered products and the development of new tools such as Lakebase.

Philanthropy

While specific details on Zaharia's philanthropic initiatives are limited in the search results, it is known he has contributed to the development of open-source projects.

Data Sources & Methodology

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

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