A high-power technology couple, Sergey Brin, the co-founder of leading search engine Google, and his wife Anne Wojcicki, a prominent entrepreneur in the biotech industry, have reportedly split up. Apparently, they have lived separate and apart for a several months now. Whether a divorce is impending is not yet clear, but the various assets each of them has could be protected under the terms of a prenuptial agreement they both signed before marrying in 2007.
Such prenuptial agreements are very useful when entering a marriage with significant assets acquired. It can also help protect the continuity of ownership of a business or the level of a person’s share in a company in the event of divorce. A prenuptial agreement can also be useful in making sure that children from a previous marriage are adequately protected and cared for in the event of a breakup. Individuals in Texas contemplating marriage with such concerns should consider consulting with an experienced family law attorney to be informed of their options and the ramifications of such an agreement.
Wojcicki co-founded the startup biotech company 23andMe and currently serves as its chief executive officer. Her firm has developed and markets innovative DNA tests designed for personal use and sells reports that detail a test subject’s genetic profile, including aspects of their health and discernible traits. Her husband and his company, Google, reportedly provided some of the major financial backing for her venture.
Her husband’s personal holdings are estimated to be worth in excess of $20 billion, based on his 28 percent share of Google’s stock. He only takes a token $1 a year salary from Google. The couple donated $223 million to charity in 2012, which is said to have placed them among the top five largest charitable donor in the nation.
Source: San Jose Mercury News, “Google co-founder Sergey Brin and wife Anne Wojcicki, separate” Brandon Bailey, Aug. 28, 2013