R. Narayana Murthy is one of India’s most influential business leaders and a pioneer in the country’s IT sector. As the co-founder of Infosys, he played a crucial role in shaping India’s software services industry, earning him a place among the world’s most respected entrepreneurs. Over the years, Murthy has built a vast fortune, thanks to Infosys’ immense success in global markets. His estimated net worth stands at $4.6 billion, solidifying his status as one of India’s wealthiest individuals.
| N. R. Narayana Murthy Net Worth | $4.6 Billion |
| Date of Birth | Aug 20, 1946 |
| Place of Birth | Mysore |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Profession | Businessperson |
Infosys
Murthy’s wealth largely stems from his role in co-founding Infosys, a multinational company specializing in business consulting, technology, engineering, and outsourcing services. Infosys is India’s second-largest IT firm, with annual revenues exceeding $16 billion and profits of around $4 billion. The company, publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: INFY), has a market capitalization of approximately $80 billion, with past valuations surpassing $100 billion.
Through his significant stake in Infosys, Murthy has amassed substantial wealth, benefiting from the company’s consistent growth and its influence in the global IT space. His fortune has also positioned his family among the wealthiest in the world.
Connections to British Politics
Murthy’s daughter, Akshata Murty, is a well-known businesswoman and fashion designer. She is also the wife of Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Akshata holds a significant stake in Infosys, owning around 39 million shares, which has made the couple one of the wealthiest political families in the world.
When Sunak took office as UK Prime Minister in October 2022, their combined net worth was estimated at $800 million—making Sunak the richest Prime Minister in British history, surpassing the fortune of King Charles III by approximately $200 million.
Early Life
Nagavara Ramarao Narayana Murthy was born on August 20, 1946, in Shidlaghatta, Karnataka, into a middle-class Kannada family. He showed academic brilliance from an early age and pursued electrical engineering at the National Institute of Engineering, graduating in 1967. He later earned a master’s degree from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, further shaping his expertise in technology and business.
Founding of Infosys
Murthy started his professional journey as a research associate at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad, later becoming a chief systems programmer. During this time, he contributed to India’s first time-sharing computer system and developed a BASIC interpreter for the Electronics Corporation of India Limited.
His first entrepreneurial attempt came in the form of Softronics, a software company he founded. However, the venture failed within a year and a half, leading Murthy to work for Patni Computer Systems in Pune before making a second, more successful attempt at business.
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In 1981, Murthy co-founded Infosys with six other software professionals. The company was started with an initial investment provided by Sudha Murthy, his wife. He served as CEO for 21 years until 2002, guiding Infosys through a period of rapid growth and establishing it as a global IT powerhouse. He then served as chairman until 2006 and later as chief mentor before retiring in 2011.
Board Memberships
Beyond Infosys, Murthy has been actively involved in several high-profile global organizations. He has served on the corporate board of HSBC and held director positions at DBS Bank, Unilever, ICICI, and NDTV. He has also played advisory roles for prestigious institutions, including:
- Cornell University
- United Nations Foundation
- Ford Foundation
- INSEAD Business School
- Rhodes Trust
- Public Health Foundation of India
Murthy also served as co-chair of the World Economic Forum in Davos (2005) and has been a key figure in India’s economic development.
Literary Contributions
Apart from his contributions to business, Murthy is a noted author. He has written several books, including:
- “A Better India: A Better World” (2009)
- “The Wit and Wisdom of Narayana Murthy” (2016)
- “A Clear Blue Sky: Stories and Poems on Conflict and Hope” (2017)
These works reflect his business philosophy, advocating ethical leadership, social responsibility, and the role of capitalism in reducing poverty.
Awards and Recognitions
Murthy has received numerous accolades, including:
- Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur of the Year (2003)
- Honorary Commander of the Order of the British Empire (2007, UK Government)
- Officer of the Legion of Honour (2008, French Government)
- Philanthropist of the Year (2013, The Asian Awards)
- CIF Global Indian Award (2014, Canada India Foundation)
Personal Life
Murthy is married to Sudha Murthy, a businesswoman, educator, and philanthropist. She chairs the Infosys Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports:
- Education in rural India
- Healthcare initiatives
- Arts and cultural preservation
The couple has two children, Rohan Murty and Akshata Murty. Rohan briefly worked at Infosys before pursuing a career in academia and research.
His Yugoslavian Arrest
In 1974, during a trip through Eastern Europe, Murthy was arrested and expelled from Yugoslavia under the communist regime. He later described this experience as transformative, shaping his philosophy of “compassionate capitalism”—an ideology that later influenced Infosys’ corporate culture and mission.
R. Narayana Murthy Net Worth
R. Narayana Murthy net worth is $4.6 billion.
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