Who Is Susan Athey? Age, Biography and Wiki
Susan Athey, born on November 29, 1970, is a distinguished American economist known for her innovative research in economics, particularly in the fields of digital markets and data analytics. As of 2025, Athey is 54 years old and continues to influence the academic world and policymaking through her extensive work. Holding several key positions, including being a professor at Stanford University, she remains a prominent figure in economic theory and practice.
| Occupation | Presidents |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | November 29, 1970 |
| Age | 54 Years |
| Birth Place | Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Sagittarius |
| Country | U.S |
Popularity
Susan Athey's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Susan Athey stands approximately 5 feet 6 inches (168 cm) tall and weighs around 130 pounds (59 kg). Her measurements reflect a balanced lifestyle, complementing her dynamic professional career. While precise statistics on her body measurements are not publicly disclosed, she is often seen projecting a confident and professional demeanor.
Her passion for using machine learning to advance the alleviation of societal issues led her to become the faculty director of the Stanford Business School's Initiative for Shared Prosperity and Innovation (ISPI). This project utilizes technology to address social problems like poverty, inequality, and, as aforementioned, COVID-19.
The Initiative's mechanism for doing this is to apply machine learning methods to technology companies with the eventual result of improving methods for measuring impact.
As technology companies rapidly and incrementally improve using data collection methods, it is increasingly important that they do this more efficiently by being more accurate in their impact measurements.
When companies implement these machine learning tactics, they become more efficient; this is particularly important because they are legitimized to potential investors, which helps secure funding.
This is particularly important in the case of social impact projects, which oftentimes rely on volatile forms of investment like philanthropic or governmental funding.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
As of 2025, details concerning Susan Athey's personal life remain relatively private. There are no confirmed reports regarding her relationship status, whether she is dating, single, or involved in any partnership. Susan has chosen to keep her family and personal relationships out of the public spotlight, focusing instead on her career and academic contributions.
Net Worth and Salary
Susan Athey's estimated net worth in 2025 is in the range of $10 million to $15 million. This wealth stems from her successful academic career, consulting roles for tech companies, and her participation in various projects and research initiatives. Athey’s salary as a professor is complemented by her high-profile speaking engagements and consultancy ventures, securing her position as one of the highest-earning economists.
Career, Business and Investments
Athey’s career spans various domains within the realm of economics. She is recognized for her groundbreaking work on auction theory and empirical research in economics, particularly applied to online markets. As a former chief economist at Microsoft, she played a pivotal role in shaping the company's approach to economics and policy. Moreover, in the wake of the digital transformation, Athey has been involved in numerous start-ups and investment projects, focusing on leveraging data in economic modeling and business strategy.
Susan Carleton Athey (born November 1970) is an American economist. She is the Economics of Technology Professor in the School of Humanities and Sciences at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Prior to joining Stanford, she has been a professor at Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Social Network
Susan Athey maintains an engaging presence on social media platforms, sharing insights related to her research and developments in economics. You can connect with her on platforms like Twitter (@susanathey) and LinkedIn, where she interacts with followers, discusses economic trends, and participates in conversations surrounding technology and policy.
Athey is able to hone her skills from different fields to create an amalgamation of machine learning and market design which is leveraged to make sense of and improve the social impact of technology. In some of her more recent research, Athey applies these techniques to the COVID-19 pandemic.
By analyzing the effectiveness of social media advertising in influencing the beliefs surrounding COVID-19 vaccine efficacy, Athey was able to conclude that the average cost of influencing a person in favor of the vaccine was $3.41.
This, coupled with an estimated vaccine cost of $5.68, provided empirical evidence for the cost-effectiveness of using social media campaigns to influence the vaccination rate.
Education
Athey's educational background lays a strong foundation for her illustrious career. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Duke University and subsequently completed her Ph.D. in Economics from Stanford University. Her academic rigor and innovative research have earned her numerous accolades and made her a sought-after speaker in both academic and professional settings.
With Athey's multidisciplinary education, it comes as no surprise that she would take interest in the digital marketplace. However, her ultimate goal in her contributions to technology and the digital marketplace is to improve the social impact of them.
Pioneering the field alongside Google's Hal Varian, Athey was one of the first coined "tech economists." She cites this to be one of her proudest lifetime accomplishments.