📺 Stream EntrepreneurTV for Free 📺

Google's CEO Shared Some Little-Known Personal Facts on a Visit to India He first thought Gmail was an April Fool's joke.

By Rose Leadem

entrepreneur daily

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Bloomberg | Getty Images

On Wednesday, Google CEO Sundar Pichai visited his alma mater, IIT-Kharagpur in India. Answering questions from students, Pichai recalled his old school days, shared some thoughtful advice and discussed his hopes for the future. More than 3,500 students and guests attended the event and livestreamed it on Google and YouTube.

Check out these six tidbits that Pichai revealed during his Q&A at IIT-K.

1. He met his wife in college.

Pichai and his wife, Anjali, were classmates at IIT-K. Pichai recalls his days in college -- a time before the advent of smartphones -- when he had to walk over to the girls's hostel, speak to someone at the front desk and request that someone call Anjali and let her know he was waiting for her. "They'd go in and loudly say, "Anjali, Sundar is here,'" recalls Pichai.

2. He's too embarrassed to share his college GPA.

When asked by a student what his GPA was at IIT-K, the Google CEO replied that he was too embarrassed to admit his first-year grades. While he claimed he did much better the following three years, he still didn't share any numbers

3. He thought Gmail was an April Fool's joke.

Pichai interviewed at Google on April 1 -- April Fool's Day -- in 2004. At that time, Google had just launched Gmail, but it was "invitation only."

"I remember doing my interviews during the day and people kept asking me, "What do you think of Gmail?'" Pichai said, "but I didn't have a chance to use it and I thought it was an April Fool's joke."

4. He spends his free time with his kids -- or watching cricket and soccer.

Pichai has two children -- a 13-year-old and a 9-year-old. If he's not spending his time outside of the office with his family or friends, he can likely be found watching a game of cricket or soccer.

5. Narayana Murthy is one of his idols.

Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy is one of Pichai's idols. "I admire people like that who put India on the map," he told the audience.

6. Deepika Padukone is his favorite Bollywood actress.

When asked by the host who his favorite Bollywood actress is, Pichai replied Deepika Padukone. Padukone is a famous Indian actress well-known for roles in Bollywood hits such as Chennai Express and Housefull.

Rose Leadem is a freelance writer for Entrepreneur.com. 

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Thought Leaders

It's the End of the Entrepreneurial Era As We Know It

With the rise of advanced technologies and AI, are we losing all sense of the independent business person and entrepreneur?

Business News

These 4 Words Make It Obvious You Used AI to Write a Paper, According to New Research

Scientists are increasingly using ChatGPT and other AI bots to write studies.

Science & Technology

Exploring How Virtual Reality is Changing Startups

Virtual reality's immersive environment is where startup marketing is headed, and early adopters will be the ones who profit.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Side Hustle

He Started a Luxury Side Hustle at Age 13 — Now the Business Earns More Than $10 Million a Year: 'People Want to Help You When You're Young'

Michael Morgan, now the owner of Iconic Watch Company, always had a passion for "old things" — and he turned it into a lucrative venture.

Business News

'They're Scared': PNC Arena Bans New York Residents From Purchasing Tickets Ahead of Rangers, Hurricanes NHL Playoff Matchup

The two teams will face off in Game 1 of the second round of the Eastern Conference fight for the Stanley Cup.