GermanyCo-founded it
Andreas von Bechtolsheim
Andreas von Bechtolsheim co-founded Sun Microsystems and Arista Networks; Forbes says much of his fortune stems from an early $100,000 investment in Google, and he holds about 15% of Arista through a family trust.
- Forbes estimate
- $36B
- Forbes, 9 Oct 2026
- Forbes rank
- No. 64
- 9 Oct 2026
- Stake in Arista Networks
- 14.6%
- Net worth, Bloomberg
- $42.5B
- Bloomberg, 14 Oct 2026
- Born
- 30 Sep 1955
- Bavaria, Germany
- Education
- Graduate degree
- MS computer engineering, Carnegie Mellon University (1976); doctoral student in computer engineering at Stanford, 1977-1982
- Giving Pledge
- Not a signer
Where the fortune sits
An early Google investment and his Arista Networks stake
Arista Networks
cloud and data-centre networking, founded 2004
Bechtolsheim Family Trust: 183,799,896 shares, including 413,848 held directly and 158,000 issuable on option exercise; Forbes estimates nearly 17%
Arista Networks 2026 proxy statement, 2 Apr 2026
Co-founder and chief architect
Other holdings
Google (Alphabet)
Early investor in 1998 with a $100,000 cheque; current stake not stated
Early-stage stakes in VMware, Mellanox, Brocade and Magma Design
Stanford lists him as an early investor; whether he still holds them isn't stated
Where Andreas stands among 73
Everyone on the site, grouped by their answer. Andreas von Bechtolsheim is outlined.
How the fortune started
Founded it
Founded it 42
Inherited and grew it 12
Built it up 8
Inherited it 6
Through marriage 5
Industry
Technology
Technology 24
Finance 10
Several industries 9
Metals and mining 6
Retail 4
Fashion and beauty 4
Media 3
Food and drink 3
Shipping 3
Crypto 2
Oil, gas and chemicals 2
Healthcare 1
Casinos and resorts 1
Property and sports 1
Giving Pledge
Not a signer
Not a signer 61
Signed 11
Not stated 1
Education
Graduate degree
Graduate degree 24
Bachelor's degree 27
Left university without a degree 6
No university 5
Not stated 11
Role today
Founder, no executive role
Founder, no executive role 8
Runs the company 32
Chair, board or owner 25
No role 4
Retired 4
The person
- Born
- 30 Sep 1955Bavaria, Germany
- Citizenship
- Germany
- Lives in
- Palo Alto, California, United States
- Education
- Graduate degreeMS computer engineering, Carnegie Mellon University (1976); doctoral student in computer engineering at Stanford, 1977-1982
- Parents
- Grew up on a farm in Bavaria; his father was an elementary-school teacher and his mother a homemaker
What they give
- Giving Pledge
- Not a signer
- Foundation
- Not statedNo foundation named in the cited sources; the Bechtolsheim Family Trust holds his Arista shares and is not described as a charity
- Lifetime giving
- Not stated
Role and record
- Role now
- Founder, no executive roleCo-founder and chief architect of Arista Networks
- Successor
- Jayshree Ullal, Arista's founding CEO, is now also its chairperson
- Public office
- None found
- Legal record
- 2024, US District Court for N.D. California (SEC case)A consent final judgment in an SEC insider-trading case bars him from serving as an officer or director of a public company for five years and ordered a $923,740 civil penalty; Forbes reports he agreed without admitting guilt.
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