Anthony Levandowski, an American French engineer, is worth -$20 million.
In 2020, Levandowski was fined $179 million for violating his contract with Google by employing former employees to work for his new startup, Otto. As a result, he sought bankruptcy protection. Lior Ron, Levandowski’s business partner and Otto co-founder, was also named a suspect.
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Net Worth
Anthony Levandowski, an American French engineer, is worth -$20 million. Anthony’s fortune reached between $50 and $100 million. He was forced to declare bankruptcy in March 2020 after losing a $179 million judgment against Google. In his petition, Anthony stated that he had assets worth $50-$100 million and obligations between $100-$500 million. Levandowski, Google, and Uber reached a global settlement in early 2022, with Levandowski owing between $25 and $30 million.
He assisted in launching Google’s Waymo project for driverless cars in 2009 and subsequently helped create autonomous trucking businesses Otto and Pronto. In 2019, Levandowski was charged 33 federal charges of stealing trade secrets relating to Google and Waymo’s self-driving vehicle programs. He was awarded amnesty in early 2021 after serving around six months.
Full Name | Anthony Levandowski |
Birthplace | Brussels, Belgium |
Hometown | Brussels, Belgium |
Date of Birth | March 15, 1980 |
Age | 43-Year-Old |
Relationship Status | N/A |
Height | 5 feet 11 inches |
Occupation | Engineer |
Alma Mater | University of California, Berkeley |
Net Worth | -$20 million |
Early Life
On March 15, 1980, in Brussels, Belgium, Anthony Levandowski was born to a French diplomat mother and an American businessman father. When he was a teenager, his family moved to California. The University of California, Berkeley awarded Levandowski undergraduate and graduate degrees in industrial engineering and operations research.
Eye color | Brown |
Weight | N/A |
Height | 5 feet 11 inches |
Hair Color | Dark brown |
Nationality | American |
Children | N/A |
Parents | N/A |
Spouse | N/A |
Career & Personal Life
Levandowski worked on Vue Tool, a Stanford Street mapping project, alongside Sebastian Thrun in 2006. Google hired Levandowski and his colleagues 2007 to create the Google Street View technology. The Street View team’s performance was partly aided by the “Topcon box” or IP-S2 Mobile Mapping System, a roof-mounted box created by 510 Systems. Google used 510 Systems technology until it was discreetly bought by Google in 2011.
In 2008, the Discovery Channel’s director approached Levandowski about employing the Ghost Rider in a show where an uncrewed vehicle delivered pizza. However, Google and 510 Systems declined him due to liability concerns. In June 2008, Levandowski formed Anthony’s Robots to create the PriBot, a self-driving Toyota Prius equipped with one of the first spinning Lidar laser range devices and the first to drive on public roads. The PriBot proved that self-driving automobiles could be built on a shoestring price.
By early 2009, Brin and Page had given Levandowski and Thrun permission to establish their autonomous car project within Google. Anthony’s Robots and his firm 510 Systems were bought by Google in 2011 for an estimated $20 million.
Bankruptcy
In 2020, Levandowski was fined $179 million for violating his contract with Google by employing former employees to work for his new startup, Otto. As a result, he sought bankruptcy protection. Lior Ron, Levandowski’s business partner and Otto co-founder, was also named a suspect.
Levandowski, Google, and Uber reached a global settlement in early 2022, with Levandowski owing between $25 and $30 million. The tax implications of Levandowski’s bequest sparked a dispute between the United States Department of Justice and the California Internal Revenue Service, which had to approve the settlement.
Summary
Anthony Levandowski, a notable figure in the IT world, has led an eventful life. While details about his early years remain largely unknown, Levandowski has been involved in several high-profile court battles and scandals, including intellectual property disputes.
Despite currently having a net worth of -$20 million, his contributions to groundbreaking initiatives like Google’s self-driving car project and his autonomous trucking company, Otto, undeniably played a role in his financial success.
Levandowski’s expertise in autonomous vehicles and his entrepreneurial pursuits have solidified his position as a significant figure within the IT industry. Despite facing challenges along the way, his impact on the advancement of self-driving technology continues to resonate throughout the industry.