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The Hurun India Rich List 2024 has revealed a significant shift in the wealth rankings of India's tech giants. Senapathy 'Kris' Gopalakrishnan, a co-founder and former CEO of Infosys, has surpassed fellow co-founder N Narayana Murthy in terms of net worth. According to the list, Gopalakrishnan's wealth currently stands at ₹38,500 crore, while Murthy's is estimated at ₹36,600 crore. This places them at the fourth and fifth positions among Bengaluru's wealthiest individuals, respectively.
Gopalakrishnan's journey from Infosys CEO to philanthropist highlights the growth and evolution of India's tech industry. After serving as CEO and MD of Infosys from 2007 to 2011, he continued as the company's Vice Chairman until 2014. He currently chairs Axilor Ventures, a start-up accelerator that has invested in promising ventures like EnKash, GoodHome, and Kaagaz. Alongside his wife Sudha Gopalakrishnan, he established the Pratiksha Trust, a philanthropic organization dedicated to brain research.
Gopalakrishnan's journey began with his education at IIT-Madras, where he earned Master's degrees in both physics and computer science. He was one of the six original co-founders of Infosys, established in 1981 by seven engineers, including Murthy, K Dinesh, Nandan Nilekani, NS Raghavan, and SD Shibulal. Initially based in Pune, Infosys eventually relocated to Bengaluru and has become a global IT services giant with a market capitalization of approximately $80 billion.
The Hurun India Rich List 2024 further highlights the significant surge in India's billionaire population. The list now includes 334 individuals, with a combined wealth of ₹159 lakh crore. This marks a notable increase from last year, with 220 new additions to the list and a record 272 new entrants. Notably, the trend of self-made billionaires is on the rise, representing 65% or 1,008 individuals on the list. This growth reflects the dynamism and entrepreneurial spirit of India's business landscape.
Source: Infosys co-founder Kris Gopalakrishnan is now richer than Narayana Murthy