Here Are the Richest Tech Execs in Massachusetts
If you want a good way to illustrate the wealth gap between genders in the broader technology industry, consider this: In a list of wealthiest tech executives in Massachusetts provided to BostInno, the richest women —Mary Nadella, CEO of Continental Resources — ranks No. 72 out of the 283 people with a net worth of $10 million or more.Overall, there are only 20 women total on the entire list of Bay State's wealthiest tech executives.AffluenceIQ, a database of high net-worth individuals in Massachusetts run by Winchester-based Massinvestor, provided us with a specialized list of the wealthiest men and women who live in the state and work in the following industries: information technology, electronics, storage and hardware, semiconductor, software and internet, communications and networking. People working in the medical equipment and life sciences industries were not included.Below you will find a list of the 12 wealthiest tech executives in Massachusetts and, since all of them are men, we have broken out the 18 wealthiest women tech executives as well (there are more women because there were more ties). We also have a list of the top colleges and universities attended by these high net-worth individuals working in technology.The data provided by AffluenceIQ isn't based on the precise wealth of each individual and is instead based on a minimum net worth threshold that is estimated through publicly available information, such as home values from assessor databases and the price of recent home purchases. It also used the valuations of their businesses to extrapolate their net worth. For the most part, the people on the list maintain at least one residence within Massachusetts.With that, here are the lists, which each list featuring people in the first eight ranks:
The Top 12 Wealthiest Tech Execs in Mass.
1. Philip Ragon, founder and CEO of InterSystems Corp.Wealth estimate: $1.7 billion.Wealth source: Software & Internet.2. Roger Marino, co-founder and former president of EMC.Wealth estimate: $1.2 billion.Wealth source: Storage & Hardware.Other notable roles: Former Pittsburgh Penguins owner.3. Valentin Gapontsev, founder, CEO and chairman of IPG Photonics Corp. (two-way tie)Wealth estimate: $900 million.Wealth source: Electronics.3. Kenan Sahin, founder, president and CTO of Tiax. (two-way tie)Wealth estimate: $900 million.Wealth source: Information Technology.Other notable roles: Founder of Kenan Systems, which was sold to Lucent Technologies.4. Alan Trefler, founder and CEO of Pegasystems.Wealth estimate: $600 million.Wealth source: Information Technology.5. S. Robert Levine, co-founder and former CEO of Cabletron. (three-way tie)Wealth estimate: $500 million.Wealth source: Communications & Networking.5. Neil Pappalardo, founder and chairman of MEDITECH. (three-way tie)Wealth estimate: $500 million.Wealth source: Information Technology.5. Robert Hale Jr., CEO and president of Granite Telecommunications. (three-way tie)Wealth estimate: $500 million.Wealth source: Communications & Networking.Other notable roles: Owner of FoxRock Properties.6. Gururaj "Desh" Deshpande, co-founder and chairman of Sycamore Networks.Wealth estimate: $425 million.Wealth source: Communications & Networking.Other notable roles: Co-founder and former chairman of Cascade Communications, president of Sparta Group.7. Niraj Shah, co-founder, co-chairman and CEO of Wayfair. (two-way tie)Wealth estimate: $400 million.Wealth source: Software & Internet.7. Steve Conine, co-founder and co-chairman of Wayfair. (two-way tie)Wealth estimate: $400 million.Wealth source: Software & Internet.8. Fariborz Maseeh, founder and former CEO of IntelliSense.Wealth estimate: $375 million.Wealth source: Electronics.
The Top 18 Women Tech Execs in Mass.
1. Mary Nardella, CEO of Continental Resources.Wealth estimate: $50 million.Wealth source: Information Technology.2. Cynthia Deysher, former CFO and vice president of operations of ArrowPoint Communications.Wealth estimate: $35 million.Wealth source: Communications & Networking.Other notable roles: President of Deysher Advisory Services, former CFO of Shiva Corp.3. Gail Goodman, former CEO of Constant Contact. (three-way tie)Wealth estimate: $25 million.Wealth source: Software & Internet.3. Marina Hatsopoulos, director at Cynosure. (three-way tie)Wealth estimate: $25 million.Wealth source: Electronics.Other notable roles: President of Windy Street, former CEO of Z Corporation.3. Joanna Lau, founder and former CEO of Lau Technologies. (three-way tie)Wealth estimate: $25 million.Wealth source: Information Technology.4. Helen Greiner, founder and CEO of CyPhy Works. (two-way tie)Wealth estimate: $20 million.Wealth source: Electronics.Other notable roles: Co-founder and former president and chairman of iRobot.4. Jean Hammond, co-founder of LearnLaunch. (two-way tie)Wealth estimate: $20 million.Wealth source: Communications & Networking.Other notable roles: Co-founder of Axon Networks, early investor in ZipCar.5. Melanie Haratunian, executive vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary at Akamai.Wealth estimate: $15.8 million.Wealth source: Software & Internet.6. Lilli Gordon, CEO of First Aid Beauty. (two-way tie)Wealth estimate: $15 million.Wealth source: Communications & Networking.6. Susan Mailman, CEO of Coghlin Electrical Contractors. (two-way tie)Wealth estimate: $15 million.Wealth source: Electronics.7. Katherine Hays, CEO of Vivoom.Wealth estimate: $12.5 million.Wealth source: Software & Internet.Other notable roles: Former CEO of GenArts, co-founder and former CFO of Massive Incorporated.8. Kirk Arnold, CEO of Data Intensity. (seven-way tie)Wealth estimate: $10 million.Wealth source: Information Technology.Other notable roles: Former COO of Avid, former president and CEO of Keane.8. Julie Bradley, former CFO of TripAdvisor. (seven-way tie)Wealth estimate: $10 million.Wealth source: Information Technology.Other notable roles: Former vice president of finance at Akamai, Wayfair board member.8. Kija Jim, co-founder and former CEO of Harvard Design & Mapping Company. (seven-way tie)Wealth estimate: $10 million.Wealth source: Information Technology.Other notable roles: Managing general partner of Clark Hill Partners.8. Mary Krakauer, executive vice president of human resources at EMC. (seven-way tie)Wealth estimate: $10 million.Wealth source: Information technology.8. Karen Kupferberg, former vice president and corporate controller at EMC. (seven-way tie)Wealth estimate: $10 million.Wealth source: Information Technology.Other notable roles: Founder of Millwood Management Solutions.8. Sheila Marcelo, founder and CEO of Care.com. (seven-way tie)Wealth estimate: $10 million.Wealth source: Software & Internet.8. Susie Riley, founder and CEO of Aquto. (seven-way tie)Wealth estimate: $10 million.Wealth source: Information Technology.
The Top Colleges & Universities Attended by Wealthy Tech Execs
1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology: 77 people.2. Harvard Business School: 23 people.3. Northeastern University: 16 people.4. University of Massachusetts System: 14 people.5. Stanford University: 13 people.6. Babson College: 12 people.7. Boston University: 11 people.8. Harvard College: 10 people.9. Carnegie Mellon University: 8 people. (two-way tie)9. Princeton University: 8 people. (two-way tie)10. University of Pennsylvania: 7 people.