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Zscaler CEO Jay Chaudhary reveals key to billion-dollar success
Chaudhry, who has an estimated net worth of over $11 billion, shared insights from his journey from a small village in rural India to the heights of Silicon Valley.
Zscaler CEO Jay Chaudhary / Image- Wikipedia
Jay Chaudhry, the 65-year-old founder and CEO of cloud security giant Zscaler, credits his unique mindset towards money as a significant factor in his rise to becoming a billionaire.
In a recent interview with CNBC Make It, Chaudhry, who has an estimated net worth of over $11 billion, shared insights from his journey from a small village in rural India to the heights of Silicon Valley.
Chaudhry revealed that his lack of attachment to money and material things played a crucial role in his entrepreneurial journey. "I never had money in my early childhood, so there was never a notion that I must buy A, B, and C," Chaudhry said explaining that it allowed him to take significant risks without fear of financial loss.
In 1997, Chaudhry and his wife Jyoti quit their jobs and invested their life savings—approximately $500,000—into a cybersecurity startup called SecureIT. Despite the high stakes, their minimalistic lifestyle and confidence in their ability to recover if needed gave them the courage to pursue their vision.
"Some people get money and need to buy five houses and boats and planes. That's a headache to me," Chaudhry explained, highlighting his preference for a simple, focused life. This approach paid off when SecureIT was sold for around $70 million in stock less than two years after its launch.
Building on this success, the couple continued to invest in their ventures, eventually launching Zscaler in 2007 with a personal investment of about $50 million. Today, Zscaler is valued at approximately $29 billion and has become a leader in cloud security.
Chaudhry emphasized the importance of putting personal money into ventures, contrasting his strategy with those who heavily rely on external funding. "If you put in your own money, you deal with it very differently," he noted. This approach has allowed him to maintain control over business decisions and share equity with employees, fostering a strong sense of ownership and dedication within his team.
Reflecting on his journey, Chaudhry highlighted the importance of taking calculated risks and maintaining a long-term vision. His foresight in the evolving cybersecurity landscape has positioned Zscaler at the forefront of the industry.
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