Former YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki has died at the age of 56, just months after the tragic death of her son from a drug overdose in California.
Wojcicki, who led YouTube for nine years, was a highly visible figure in the tech industry and played a pivotal role in Googleâs success, with YouTube being a significant part of that achievement.
She had been battling non-small cell lung cancer for the past two years.
âWith deep sorrow, I share the news of Susan Wojcickiâs passing,â her husband, Dennis Troper, wrote on Facebook. âSusan was not only my best friend and life partner but also a brilliant mind, a loving mother, and a cherished friend to many.
âHer impact on our family and the world was immeasurable. We are heartbroken, but we are also grateful for the time we had with her. Please keep our family in your thoughts as we navigate this difficult time.â
Wojcicki was instrumental in the 2006 acquisition of YouTube while she was overseeing Google Video. She recommended that Google purchase the platform, which was bought for $1.65 billion. She became YouTubeâs CEO in 2014 and was recognized as one of Timeâs 100 most influential people the following year.
In 2023, Wojcicki stepped down from her role at YouTube, citing a desire to âstart a new chapter focused on my family, health, and personal projects.â
She and her husband have five children, but their son Marco Troper tragically died in February when he was found in a University of California dorm room.
The 19-year-old passed away due to a combination of high levels of alprazolamâan anti-anxiety medication often sold as Xanaxâalong with cocaine, amphetamine, and the antihistamine hydroxyzine, according to a report by SFGATE.
