Jay Chaudhry, a distinguished alumnus of the Indian Institute of Technology BHU, founded Zscaler in 2008, a prominent cybersecurity firm that successfully went public in March 2018. His substantial net worth primarily stems from his ownership stake in the Nasdaq-listed company. With a net worth exceeding $17.9 billion, Jay Chaudhry has emerged as the wealthiest Indian-American in the United States, as reported by Forbes in its compilation of America’s Richest Immigrants 2025.
Forbes noted a notable increase in immigrant billionaires from 92 in 2022 to 125 in 2025, including notable figures such as Sundar Pichai of Google and Satya Nadella of Microsoft. These immigrant billionaires collectively hold a record $1.3 trillion in wealth, constituting 18% of America’s total billionaire wealth of $7.2 trillion. India led the list with 12 billionaires, followed by Israel, Taiwan, and China.
A graduate of the Indian Institute of Technology BHU, Jay Chaudhry moved to the United States in 1980 to pursue a master’s program in engineering and management at the University of Cincinnati. Currently residing in Reno, Nevada, Chaudhry and his family own approximately 40% of Zscaler, his successful cybersecurity venture. Prior to Zscaler, he founded and successfully sold four tech companies – SecureIT, CoreHarbor, CipherTrust, and AirDefense. Chaudhry’s entrepreneurial journey began in 1996 when he and his wife, Jyoti, embarked on their startup ventures with their savings, starting with SecureIT.
Despite humble beginnings in a village in India without basic amenities such as electricity and running water until Class 10, Jay Chaudhry has defied odds to become the wealthiest Indian-American, showcasing resilience and determination in his path to success.
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