Ali Ghodsi: Biography, Career, and Business Insights

Ali Ghodsi’s Profile Summary

Company	Databricks
Position	President, CEO, and Co-Founder of Databricks
Source of wealth	Equity stakes in Databricks, management and leadership roles at Databricks, contributions to Apache Spark and Mesos projects
Also known as	Ali Ghodsi is also known for his contributions as a computer scientist, adjunct professor at UC Berkeley, and a key contributor to Apache Mesos and Apache Spark.
Age	46
Education	KTH Royal Institute of Technology - PhD in Computer Science
Citizenship	Swedish
Residence	San Francisco, California, USA
Family	Ali Ghodsi is married, and he and his spouse reside in San Francisco, California. He keeps details about his family private
Website, Social Media	https://www.databricks.com/

Ali Ghodsi’s biography

Ali Ghodsi, born in December 1978 in Iran, is a Swedish-American computer scientist and entrepreneur, widely known for his groundbreaking work in distributed computing and artificial intelligence. Ghodsi holds a PhD from the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden, where he focused on distributed systems. His academic career includes time as an adjunct professor at UC Berkeley, where he contributed to the development of Apache Mesos and Apache Spark, two influential platforms in big data analytics. In 2013, Ghodsi co-founded Databricks alongside several other researchers from UC Berkeley, aiming to commercialize Apache Spark. Under his leadership, Databricks has become a global leader in data and AI solutions, pioneering the Lakehouse architecture, which revolutionizes data management for enterprises. Ghodsi took over as CEO of Databricks in 2016, guiding the company through significant growth, including raising billions in funding and building strong partnerships with industry giants like Microsoft and Amazon. Ghodsi's innovative work and leadership have solidified his position as a key figure in AI and data analytics

How did Ali Ghodsi make money?

Ali Ghodsi makes money in the following areas:

Equity stakes in Databricks, management and leadership roles at Databricks, contributions to Apache Spark and Mesos projects
What is Ali Ghodsi net worth?

As of 2025, Ali Ghodsi’s net worth is estimated to be $2.7 B.

What is Ali Ghodsi also known as?

Ali Ghodsi is a recognized computer scientist specializing in distributed systems. His academic contributions as an adjunct professor at UC Berkeley have been influential, particularly in the fields of data caching, resource management, and scheduling. His work on Apache Mesos and Apache Spark has helped shape the landscape of big data and AI technologies, widely adopted across industries for large-scale data processing.

Prominent achievements of Ali Ghodsi

Ali Ghodsi co-created Apache Spark and Mesos, co-founded Databricks, led it to a multibillion-dollar valuation, and positioned Databricks as a leader in AI and data. He was recognized for his contribution to open-source technology, raised over $3 billion in funding for Databricks, and was acknowledged by Forbes for his entrepreneurial success.

What are Ali Ghodsi’s key insights?

Ali Ghodsi emphasizes innovation, a strong belief in the democratization of data and AI, and an open-source philosophy. He encourages building scalable, flexible systems and is dedicated to simplifying access to big data technologies to drive meaningful insights and societal progress. He believes in fostering collaboration and transparency, both in technology and corporate leadership.

Ali Ghodsi’s personal life

Ghodsi has a wife, but he has not shared much information about her or other family members publicly. He is known to lead a very private lifestyle concerning his personal life

Useful insights

Leading with purpose and integrity

To achieve long-lasting success, leading with integrity and purpose is crucial. Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors, demonstrates how strong leadership can propel you forward in your career or business.

Define your purpose and align it with your goals

Mary Barra emphasizes the importance of having a clear purpose. Identify your core values and ensure that your actions align with these values. This will give you the clarity and motivation needed to succeed, especially in challenging times.
Adapt to innovation and stay flexible

Barra's success is tied to her ability to guide GM through a transition toward electric vehicles. Always be open to innovation and stay flexible when markets or industries change. Adaptability is a key trait for anyone aiming to succeed.
Empower those around you

Successful leaders know how to empower their teams. By trusting and supporting the people around you, you create a culture of accountability and innovation. Help others succeed, and you’ll find that success naturally follows you as well.