In a surprising twist on the Hurun India Rich List 2024, Kris Gopalakrishnan, co-founder of Infosys, has emerged as the wealthiest among the tech giant’s founders, surpassing his renowned colleague Narayana Murthy.
According to the latest list, Gopalakrishnan boasts a staggering net worth of ₹38,500 crore. This figure places him ahead of Murthy and his wife Sudha Murthy, who are listed fifth among Bengaluru’s richest families with a combined net worth of ₹36,600 crore.
Kris Gopalakrishnan, aged 69, served as the CEO and Managing Director of Infosys from 2007 to 2011, and later as Vice Chairman from 2011 to 2014. His retirement from Infosys in 2014 marked the beginning of a new phase focused on investment and entrepreneurship. Through his business incubator, Axilor Ventures, and various venture funds, Gopalakrishnan has invested in numerous startups, including Ki Mobility, a prominent provider of automobile services.
Currently, Gopalakrishnan is the Chairman of Axilor Ventures, overseeing investments in innovative companies such as GoodHome, Kaagaz, and EnKash. His extensive contributions to the startup ecosystem reflect his ongoing commitment to fostering new ventures and technologies.
Educationally, Gopalakrishnan holds a master’s degree in physics and computer science from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras. His achievements have been recognized by the Government of India, which awarded him the Padma Bhushan in January 2011, the nation’s third-highest civilian honor.
Beyond his business ventures, Gopalakrishnan is actively involved in academia and philanthropy. He has funded the Sudha Gopalakrishnan Brain Research Center at IIT Madras, named in honor of his wife. Additionally, he serves on several prestigious boards, including the Board of Governors of IIT Madras and the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, and is the Chairman of the Board of Governors of IIIT, Bangalore. His contributions extend to the Board of Trustees of the Chennai Mathematical Institute.
Infosys, founded in July 1981 in Pune and now headquartered in Bengaluru, was established by a group of seven engineers, including Narayana Murthy, Nandan Nilekani, Kris Gopalakrishnan, SD Shibulal, K Dinesh, NS Raghavan, and Ashok Arora. While Murthy is often the face associated with Infosys, Gopalakrishnan’s significant wealth and continued influence highlight the diverse contributions of the company’s founders.
Sources By Agencies