Early Life
David Ross Cheriton was born on March 29, 1951, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He displayed a passion for mathematics and music from a young age. He initially studied mathematics and music at the University of Alberta but was rejected by the music program. He later received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of British Columbia in 1973.
Rise to Success
Cheriton earned his Master of Science and Ph.D. in computer science from the University of Waterloo in 1974 and 1978, respectively. He became a professor at Stanford University in 1981, where he founded the Distributed Systems Group. His career took a pivotal turn in 1998 when he invested $100,000 in the then-startup Google, alongside Andreas von Bechtolsheim. This early investment significantly contributed to his wealth as Google grew into a global technology giant. Beyond Google, Cheriton co-founded Granite Systems, which was acquired by Cisco. He also co-founded Arista Networks, a leader in cloud networking solutions.
Key Business Strategies
Cheriton's investment strategy focuses on identifying technological breakthroughs and supporting the founders. His investments in companies like Google, VMware, and Arista Networks reflect his ability to recognize and support innovation with substantial market potential. He often invests in startups where there is a strong technological challenge, which helps to separate the good ideas from the bad.
Philanthropy
Cheriton is a committed philanthropist, donating to educational institutions like Stanford University and the University of British Columbia. His philanthropic efforts include a $25 million donation to the University of Waterloo, which renamed its School of Computer Science in his honor, and a $12 million endowment to Stanford University. His giving reflects his belief in the importance of education and research.