Sundar Pichai's Security Costs More Than My Entire Cricket Bat Collection! Seriously?

Eight Point Two Seven MILLION?!

Alright folks Virat here! Just saw this headline about Sundar Pichai's security costing Google a cool $8.27 million in 2024. Eight. Point. Two. Seven. Million. That's more than my entire collection of cricket bats and believe me I have a LOT of bats. I mean seriously what's he guarding the secret recipe to Google's search algorithm? It's up 22% from the previous year somebody is feeling important.

Is He Actually Fighting Crime or Just Optimizing Spreadsheets?

Apparently this hefty sum covers everything from residential security to car services and personal bodyguards. They claim it's 'reasonable appropriate and necessary'. Necessary for what? Fending off rogue AI bots trying to rewrite the code? I get it being CEO of Google comes with its perils but still that's a Sachin Tendulkar sized number!

Artificial Intelligence and Actual Intelligence

The article mentions Pichai was jet setting around the globe chatting with world leaders about AI. So is the security budget to protect him from governments that may or may not like Google’s growing AI influence or from AI itself. Because as we all know even Captain Kohli can't predict what will happen next.

Compensation vs. Conversation

And get this Pichai's total compensation including those sweet stock awards hit $10.73 million. Not bad for a year's work eh? Especially when you consider that the average Google employee is taking home 'only' $331,894. It is a jump but I have seen bigger jumps on the field.

The Corporate Security Arms Race: Who's Next?

Apparently Google isn’t alone in beefing up security for its top dogs. More S&P 500 companies are doing the same. Someone pass me my helmet I have a feeling things are about to get intense!

Meanwhile Back at the Batting Crease...

So while Pichai's got his security team and other execs are raking in millions the average employee gets a decent raise. Not that I would know about it... but I am sure at least the security guys get to eat well and feel good!