By Sofia Chierchio and Iain Martin | Updated: March 11, 2026
In the largest acquisition in its history, Google has officially closed its $32 billion all-cash takeover of the Israeli cybersecurity startup Wiz. The deal marks a staggering victory for the firm’s four cofounders, who famously rejected a $23 billion offer from Google just two years prior to pursue an IPO and $1 billion in annual recurring revenue.
The Founders’ Windfall
The four cofounders—Assaf Rappaport, Ami Luttwak, Yinon Costica, and Roy Reznik—who met during their service in Israel’s elite Unit 8200 intelligence wing, have seen their personal fortunes skyrocket.
- Equity Stake: The quartet collectively owned 40% of the company at the time of the sale.
- Individual Payout: Each founder held a stake of approximately 10%, resulting in a post-tax cash payout of roughly $2.2 billion each.
- Combined Net Worth: The acquisition has lifted the founders’ combined net worth to an estimated $9.2 billion, solidifying their status among the world’s newest tech billionaires.
A “Home Run” for Silicon Valley and Tel Aviv VCs
Wiz’s rapid ascent—hitting $100 million in annual recurring revenue in just 18 months—provided historic returns for its early backers.
High-profile individual investors, including LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault and former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, also saw significant gains. Additionally, Google has committed $1.5 billion in retention bonuses for Wiz’s 1,800 global employees.
Navigating Legal and Competitive Baggage
Despite the record-breaking payout, Wiz’s path has not been without controversy. The company’s “ultra-aggressive” sales tactics and growth strategies have drawn scrutiny:
- The Raftt Dispute: Wiz faces a $200 million lawsuit from the owners of the startup Raftt, alleging that technology was improperly used to develop the “Wiz Code” product.
- Orca Security Settlement: A two-year legal battle with rival Orca Security over patent infringement was dismissed earlier this year following a confidential settlement.
- Regulatory Hurdles: The deal was finalized only after clearing intense antitrust reviews by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the European Commission.
Integration: Google’s AI Flagship
Google is now pivoting Wiz toward deep integration with Google Cloud and its broader AI ecosystem. CEO Assaf Rappaport has indicated that the team is already working on “AI-native” security agents, viewing the acquisition as a necessary step to compete with cloud rivals like Microsoft Azure and AWS.
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