Sean Maguire Net Worth
Shaun Maguire is an American venture capitalist and partner at Sequoia Capital in Menlo Park, California. He built his $180 million net worth by co-founding cybersecurity company Expanse before selling it for $1 billion in 2020. At Sequoia, Maguire directed major investments into Elon Musk’s ventures, including SpaceX, The Boring Company, and xAI through 2026.
| Full Name | Shaun Maguire Cohn |
|---|---|
| Net Worth | $180 million |
| Born | April 18, 1976 |
| Age | 50 |
| Birthplace | California, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Venture Capitalist, Physicist, Angel Investor |
| Source of Wealth | Venture Capital, Technology Startups, Expanse Exit |
| Annual Earnings | $4 million |
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) |
| Spouse / Partner | Tanya Flynn |
| Children | 3 |
| Last Updated | October 8, 2026 |
| Social Profiles |
Who Is Sean Maguire?
Shaun Maguire was born in California in 1985. He struggled during his early school years and dropped out of high school in 10th grade before passing high school equivalency exams. Maguire earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from the University of Southern California in 2007. He subsequently completed a Master of Science in Statistics at Stanford University and earned a PhD in Physics from Caltech under theoretical physicist John Preskill.
Maguire worked as a defense contractor for DARPA, which included a deployment to Afghanistan in 2012. He co-founded Escape Dynamics in 2010 and launched the cybersecurity platform Qadium in 2012. After marrying in Israel in 2018, Maguire legally added Cohn to his surname. He currently resides in Southern California and maintains a second residence in Tel Aviv.
How Did Sean Maguire Build His Fortune?
In 2012, Maguire co-founded Qadium in San Francisco, which later rebranded as Expanse and secured enterprise contracts with the United States Department of Defense. Palo Alto Networks completed its acquisition of Expanse in December 2020 for $1 billion in cash and stock. Between 2016 and 2019, Maguire operated as an investment partner at Google Ventures in Mountain View, where he co-led financing rounds into Stripe, quantum computer maker IonQ, and photonics startup Lightmatter.
Maguire joined Sequoia Capital as a partner on the seed and early-stage team in July 2019. He championed Sequoia’s initial check into SpaceX at a $36 billion valuation in 2019 and oversaw subsequent capital deployments across Elon Musk’s companies, including The Boring Company, xAI, and X. In February 2025, Maguire recorded another exit when payments corporation Stripe bought stablecoin platform Bridge for $1.1 billion.
Forbes ranked Maguire at number 22 on its 2026 Midas List of top tech investors worldwide. In May 2026, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth named Maguire to the Pentagon’s Science, Technology and Innovation Board in Washington, D.C. In August 2026, Maguire directed Sequoia’s $1 billion Series B investment into nuclear company Valar Atomics and joined its board of directors, cementing his focus on defense hardware and energy infrastructure.
How Does Sean Maguire Make Money?
Shaun Maguire accumulated his career earnings primarily from the $1 billion sale of Expanse to Palo Alto Networks in 2020, supplemented by annual partnership distributions and lucrative carried interest from Sequoia Capital’s technology funds.
| Income Source | Estimated Amount | Share of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Expanse (Qadium) Founder Equity & Palo Alto Networks Sale | $105 million | |
| Sequoia Capital Carried Interest Distributions | $75 million | |
| Sequoia Capital Partner Draws & Advisory Fees | $32 million | |
| Early Angel Investments & Crypto Holdings | $28 million | |
| Google Ventures (GV) Partnership Compensation | $20 million | |
| Total Career Earnings | $260 million | 100% |
ⓘAll figures are estimates compiled from publicly available information and are reviewed and updated regularly by the NetWorthTRP research team.
Sean Maguire Net Worth Over the Years
From 2021 to 2026, Shaun Maguire’s net worth expanded from $90 million to $180 million as Sequoia Capital funds realized multi-billion-dollar valuation expansions in SpaceX and completed the sale of Bridge to Stripe.
| Year | Estimated Net Worth | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $90 Million | Liquidity payout and Palo Alto Networks stock appreciation following the Expanse acquisition |
| 2022 | $75 Million | Tech sector market downturn compressing public holdings and growth equity multiples |
| 2023 | $95 Million | Recovery in technology equities and expanding carried interest allocations at Sequoia Capital |
| 2024 | $125 Million | Substantial private valuation jumps in SpaceX and early venture investments |
| 2025 | $155 Million | Successful exit of portfolio company Bridge to Stripe and early tech liquidity |
| 2026 | $180 Million | Realized gains from SpaceX valuation milestones and continued Sequoia fund distributions |
Sean Maguire's Houses, Cars & Assets
Shaun Maguire holds significant wealth in Palo Alto Networks equity, early venture fund carried interest, personal real estate in California and Israel, and direct early-stage shares in high-growth companies across the aerospace and defense sectors.
| Type | Description | Estimated Value |
|---|---|---|
| Property | Residential properties located in Southern California and Tel Aviv, Israel | $18 million |
| Public Equities | Palo Alto Networks common stock received from the 2020 Expanse corporate merger | $45 million |
| Venture Fund Carried Interest | Accrued carry stakes across Sequoia Capital Seed and Venture funds | $55 million |
| Cash & Liquid Reserves | Cash deposits and liquid capital held across private banking institutions | $30 million |
| Digital Assets & Private Equity | Personal cryptocurrency portfolio and direct angel investments in hard-tech startups | $12 million |
ⓘAll figures are estimates compiled from publicly available information and are reviewed and updated regularly by the NetWorthTRP research team.
Sean Maguire's Personal Life
Shaun Maguire married his wife in Israel in 2018 and took the additional surname Cohn. The couple maintains residences in Southern California and Tel Aviv, where Maguire regularly travels to meet Israeli engineering founders. In December 2024, Maguire generated public attention when he discussed his family’s property rentals in Venice, California. Outside of commercial venture deals, Maguire advises national defense officials and serves on the Pentagon’s Science, Technology and Innovation Board[8]. In 2024, he donated $300,000 to Donald Trump’s presidential campaign and assisted with executive appointments in early 2025.
Sean Maguire Net Worth: Frequently Asked Questions
How much did Shaun Maguire make from the sale of Expanse?
Shaun Maguire was a co-founder and former chairman of Expanse (originally Qadium), which was acquired by Palo Alto Networks in December 2020 for $1 billion in total consideration, yielding him an estimated $105 million payout in cash and stock.
Which Elon Musk companies did Shaun Maguire back for Sequoia Capital?
Maguire led or co-led Sequoia Capital’s investments in five Elon Musk ventures: SpaceX, The Boring Company, xAI, Neuralink, and X.
What degrees does Shaun Maguire hold?
Maguire earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from USC in 2007, a Master of Science in Statistics from Stanford University, and a Master of Science and PhD in Physics from Caltech.
What was Shaun Maguire’s ranking on the Forbes Midas List?
Forbes ranked Shaun Maguire at number 80 on the Midas List of top tech investors in 2025, and he advanced to number 22 on the 2026 list.
What government roles has Shaun Maguire held?
Maguire served as a civilian contractor for DARPA deployed to Afghanistan in 2012, assisted the presidential transition team on intelligence selections in 2025, and was appointed to the Pentagon’s Science, Technology and Innovation Board in 2026.
Sources: Forbes, Sequoia Capital, Wikipedia, Business Insider — Last updated October 8, 2026
Net worth figures are estimates based on publicly available information, including reported earnings, endorsements and asset values. Actual net worth may differ and is not independently verified or audited.
✉Spotted outdated or incorrect information? Let our research team know →
Net Worth Profiles Related to Sean Maguire
Other Richest Investors and Their Net Worth
View all Richest Investors
More Richest Entrepreneurs Net Worth Profiles
$864 BillionElon MuskView net worth 
$278 billionLarry PageView net worth 
$266.1 BillionMichael DellView net worth 
$259.2 billionSergey BrinView net worth 
$225 BillionJeff BezosView net worth 
$210 BillionMark ZuckerbergView net worth 