Anne Wojcicki made headlines this week after stepping down as CEO of 23andMe, the personal genetics company she co-founded nearly two decades ago. The announcement came on Sunday, March 23, 2025, alongside the news that 23andMe had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, marking a dramatic shift in the company’s future.
With public concern growing over genetic privacy and the fate of the at-home DNA testing giant, many are asking: Who exactly is Anne Wojcicki? Here’s everything you need to know about the biotech entrepreneur, her background, and her role in reshaping personal health.
Who is Anne Wojcicki?
Anne Wojcicki is an American entrepreneur and biologist, best known as the co-founder and former CEO of 23andMe, a company that revolutionized at-home genetic testing. She stepped down from her CEO position in March 2025 amid the company’s bankruptcy filing but will remain on the Board of Directors.
Wojcicki was born in Palo Alto, California, and is the youngest of three sisters in the highly accomplished Wojcicki family. Her eldest sister, Susan Wojcicki, is the former CEO of YouTube, and her middle sister, Dr. Janet Wojcicki, is a respected anthropologist and epidemiologist.
The sisters grew up on the Stanford University campus, where their father served as chair of the physics department.
What is Anne Wojcicki’s educational background?
Anne earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Yale University in 1996. While at Yale, she was a competitive figure skater and also played on the varsity women’s ice hockey team — a testament to her competitive spirit and drive.
After college, she worked as a healthcare analyst, gaining experience at firms like Investor AB, Ardlesy Partners, Andor Capital Management, and Passport Capital. Her time in finance laid the groundwork for what would become her boldest venture yet.
When did she start 23andMe?
Wojcicki co-founded 23andMe in 2006, alongside Linda Avey and Paul Cusenza. The company specialized in saliva-based DNA test kits, offering customers insights into their ancestry, genetic traits, and health risks. It was among the first companies to empower consumers with direct-to-consumer genetic testing.
23andMe went public in 2021 and peaked in 2020 with a valuation of $6 billion. However, an expansion into pharmaceutical research and a major data breach in 2023 led to a steep decline. By 2024, the company’s valuation had plummeted to $80 million, setting the stage for its recent Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing.
What’s happening with 23andMe now?
Following its bankruptcy filing, 23andMe announced plans to restructure and potentially sell under court supervision. The company assured customers that its operations will continue and that there will be no immediate changes to how it stores or protects user data.
However, California’s Attorney General issued a consumer alert urging users to consider deleting their genetic data, citing concerns over data security amid the company’s financial instability.
Wojcicki’s departure as CEO marks a significant leadership shift, but she remains on the board as 23andMe navigates its next chapter.
What about her personal life?
Anne Wojcicki was married to Google co-founder Sergey Brin from 2007 to 2015. The couple shares two children: a son, Benji Wojin (born 2008), and a daughter, Chloe Wojin (born 2011). In 2019, Anne welcomed a third child via sperm donation.
Despite their divorce, Wojcicki and Brin continue to work together through the Brin-Wojcicki Foundation, supporting philanthropic causes related to health, education, and scientific innovation.
In 2022, Anne joined The Giving Pledge, vowing to donate the majority of her wealth to charitable causes during her lifetime.
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