Dick Costolo Net Worth, Relationships, Age/Birthdate & Birthday

Dick Costolo — A Life at the Crossroads of Comedy and Code

Born September 10, 1963 in Royal Oak, Michigan, Dick Costolo’s journey reads like a novel — part tech-visionary, part stage performer, and part Silicon Valley guide. From early ventures in web consulting to leading one of the world’s most influential social media platforms, his path reveals how adaptability, audacity, and a flair for communication can shape a remarkable legacy.

From Improv Comedy to Internet Pioneer

Costolo graduated in 1985 with a B.S. in Computer and Communication Sciences from University of Michigan. Rather than jump immediately into a tech job, he veered off the conventional path and moved to Chicago to pursue improvisational comedy — performing at theaters and honing spontaneity and people-skills that would later serve him well in entrepreneurial life. 

After a few years in comedy, Costolo returned to the tech world. He spent eight years at Andersen Consulting (now Accenture), working in senior product and technology roles.  He later co-founded several companies: a web-design and consulting shop, followed by a web page monitoring service, before ultimately co-founding FeedBurner — a web-feed management platform that would prove foundational for later social media dynamics.

In 2007, FeedBurner was acquired by Google, resulting in Costolo’s first major exit and giving him a foothold inside one of tech’s most powerful companies.

Steering Twitter into the Mainstream

In July 2009, Costolo left Google. By September of that year, he joined Twitter, Inc. as Chief Operating Officer.  Less than a year later, in October 2010, he became Twitter’s Chief Executive Officer — initially meant to cover a temporary leave, but soon evolving into a permanent role.

Under his leadership, Twitter transformed from a promising startup into a global phenomenon. He guided the company through rapid user growth, scaling challenges, and monetization efforts — efforts that reportedly brought Twitter from zero revenue to as much as $1.5 billion in annual revenue. 

But beyond the numbers, Costolo’s imprint was cultural. His background in improv — quick judgment, timing, humor — helped him navigate a chaotic, fast-moving startup environment. He was once quoted as saying that being CEO requires a thick skin and the ability to not take “everything personally,” given the rapid pace and constant scrutiny. 

Life After Twitter: Mentor, Investor, Advisor

In 2015, Costolo stepped down as CEO of Twitter (thanking interim leadership from former co-founder Jack Dorsey).  Rather than fade quietly, he shifted gears — becoming co-founder and co-managing partner of 01 Advisors, a venture-advisory firm that helps scale growth-stage startups.  He also served as a consultant for the HBO series Silicon Valley and joined the boards of companies like Patreon. 

His career arc — from tech founder to corporate leader, then advisor and mentor — embodies the generational shift in Silicon Valley culture: from building single products to building ecosystems, from managing companies to cultivating innovation across many.

Wealth and Legacy: How Much is Dick Costolo Worth?

Estimates of Costolo’s net worth vary depending on assumed value of his holdings and ventures. Some sources cite roughly USD 300 million, citing his post-Twitter investments and exit assets.  Others — reflecting value from his equity in Twitter at IPO and additional investments — suggest his net worth has been as high as USD 430 million. 

Regardless of the number, his wealth is less telling than what he represents: a person who navigated high-stakes pivots, from startups to public company leadership, and now shapes the next generation of tech entrepreneurs.

The Man Behind the Public Persona

Behind the bold decisions and headline-making moves lies a man shaped by unexpected detours. Costolo’s time in improv undoubtedly honed his comfort with uncertainty — a skill that served him when building early-stage companies, negotiating acquisitions, and leading a social media platform under the world’s gaze.

Rather than following a conventional path of computer-science-to-corporate ladder, Costolo embraced risk: founding companies, switching roles, joining a then-small Twitter, and ultimately stepping away to invest, guide, and advise. In doing so, he carved out a legacy extending beyond his personal success — influencing how companies grow and how founders lead.

His birthday — September 10 — marks not just the day a future entrepreneur was born, but a moment when the technology industry gained a storyteller, a strategist, and a strategic thinker.