Frank Slootman, the recently retired CEO of Snowflake, may not be a household name like Tim Cook of Apple or Satya Nadella of Microsoft, but his wealth surpasses them both.
A Quietly Successful Executive
Slootman, who stepped down from his position last week, boasts an estimated net worth of $3.7 billion, according to Bloomberg. This figure places him ahead of Cook, valued at around $2 billion, and Nadella, who has not yet reached billionaire status.
A Career of Success
Slootman’s wealth stems from his leadership roles in three prominent companies: Snowflake, ServiceNow, and Data Domain. Notably, he guided Snowflake through a highly successful initial public offering (IPO) in 2020, raising $3.4 billion and achieving a valuation of $33.3 billion.
A Controversial Figure
Born in the Netherlands and immigrating to the US in his 20s, Slootman is known for his outspoken and sometimes controversial approach. Described as a militant CEO aligned with Silicon Valley’s conservative wing, he shares company with figures like Peter Thiel, Elon Musk, and Palmer Luckey. Slootman has often prioritized profit over issues like diversity and political correctness.
Addressing Controversy
In 2021, Slootman faced backlash after stating in an interview that diversity should not supersede merit in hiring and promotion decisions. He later apologized, acknowledging that diversity and merit are not mutually exclusive and affirming Snowflake’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
Passing the Torch
While Slootman will continue to serve as Snowflake’s chair of the board, he has handed over the CEO reins to Sridhar Ramaswamy. Ramaswamy, a former Google executive specializing in advertising, joined Snowflake in May and has been spearheading the company’s artificial intelligence strategy.
