Earlier this week, the 19-year-old son of former YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki, was tragically found deceased at UC Berkeley, reportedly due to a drug overdose, according to his grandmother, Esther Wojcicki. The news garnered widespread attention yesterday, although Wojcicki had shared the heartbreaking news on Facebook several days prior, expressing profound grief over the loss of her beloved grandson Marco Troper.
In her Facebook post, Wojcicki described Marco as an exceptional individual—kind, loving, intelligent, and vibrant. He had recently embarked on his second semester as a freshman at UC Berkeley, where he was pursuing a degree in mathematics and thoroughly enjoying his academic journey. Marco had forged strong bonds within his dorm community at Stern Hall and his fraternity Zeta Psi, and his family was proud to witness his flourishing academic and social life.
UC Berkeley spokesperson Janet Gilmore confirmed that there were no indications of foul play, and an investigation into Marco’s passing is currently underway.
Reflecting on her grandson’s untimely death, Esther Wojcicki remarked to the Palo Alto Daily that college students, particularly freshmen and sophomores, often engage in experimentation. She characterized Marco’s passing as a tragic outcome of an experimentation gone awry, emphasizing that he had ingested a drug, though the exact substance remains unknown.
Susan Wojcicki transitioned from her role as CEO of the Alphabet-owned subsidiary a year ago, citing her decision to focus on her family, health, and personal endeavors in a blog post. Neal Mohan assumed leadership as YouTube’s chief product officer following her departure.
Although I never had the opportunity to interview Wojcicki during her tenure as one of the world’s most prominent CEOs, I vividly recall her appearance at a Fortune event in Aspen in 2015. During the event, she fielded questions about balancing her demanding professional responsibilities with motherhood, a topic that intrigued many. As a working mother myself at the time, albeit with a less demanding job, I shared a curiosity about how Wojcicki navigated these dual roles, especially having recently given birth to her youngest child.
