Parag Agarwal’s career began after his graduation from IIT Bombay in 2005, where he achieved an All India Rank (AIR) of 77 in the IIT-JEE. He went on to earn a PhD in computer science from Stanford University. Before joining Twitter in 2011, Parag gained valuable experience through internships at Microsoft Research and Yahoo. After six years at Twitter, he was promoted to Chief Technology Officer (CTO) following the departure of Adam Messinger.
New Ventures in AI
Currently, Parag is making strides in the AI sector, having secured significant funding of Rs 249 crore for his new ventures. Born into a well-educated family in Ajmer, Parag Agarwal’s father was a senior official in the Indian Department of Atomic Energy, and his mother is a retired professor of Economics. Parag’s journey from IIT Bombay to Silicon Valley, and now to leading AI innovation, highlights his resilience and dedication to advancing technology.
Rise to Twitter CEO
Parag Agarwal gained international recognition when he was appointed as the CEO of Twitter, just before the platform was acquired by Elon Musk in a historic $44 billion deal. Parag, who joined Twitter with a compensation package exceeding Rs 100 crore, including a base salary of approximately Rs 8 crore and restricted stock units valued at around Rs 94 crore. However, his tenure as CEO was short-lived, as he was dismissed within a year of his appointment.
Legal Dispute and Severance Controversy
Despite being entitled to a severance package reportedly worth around Rs 400 crore, Parag Agarwal did not receive the payment. Consequently, he, along with other former Twitter executives, has filed a lawsuit against Elon Musk, alleging the withholding of over Rs 1,000 crore in severance payments.
