N. R. Narayana Murthy, born on August 20, 1946, is a well-known name in the Indian business world, known for being one of the founders of Infosys. His story from simple beginnings in Mysore to becoming a rich businessman is a narrative of hard work, new ideas, and great leadership.
Narayana Murthy was born into a ‘Kannada Madhwa Brahmin family in Mysore. Growing up in a middle-class family, with his dad being a school teacher, taught him the importance of hard work and education from a young age. Murthy, who was eager to learn, earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Mysore in 1967, followed by a master’s degree in technology.
Narayana Murthy’s Career and Infosys
The big step in Narayana Murthy’s successful career came in 1981 when he, along with six friends, started Infosys. This was the start of a company that would soon grow into a top IT services provider, not just in India but worldwide.
Murthy was the Chief Executive Officer for 20 years, helping Infosys grow and setting a standard of great work and new ideas in the IT field. During his time, Infosys became the first Indian company to be listed on an American stock exchange, which was a big achievement for Indian IT companies on the world stage.
Under his leadership, Infosys did really well and helped put India on the global IT map. His new business ideas not only helped Infosys grow but also changed the global information and technology software and services industries. Many top companies in the world have adopted these practices, showing how far his great leadership reached.
Murthy served as the CEO till 2002, then he took on the role of the Chairman of the board and Chief Mentor before retiring in 2011. However, he returned in 2013 to serve as an Executive Chairman, for a brief period to help lead the company through a period of transformation, before finally retiring again in 2014.
Murthy’s Recognition and Legacy
Narayan Murthy’s hard work has been recognized worldwide and he has received many awards. He received the 4th highest Civilian Award “Padma Shri” in 2009 by The Government of India. In March 2015, he was named among the top 10 in the Financial Times’ list of “Business pioneers in technology”. He was also the first Indian to get the Ernst and Young’s World Entrepreneur of the Year Award. In 2019, he became a member of the respected American Academy of Arts and Sciences, revealing his big contributions to the business and technology fields.
His Personal Life
His spouse, Sudha Murthy, is the Chairperson of Infosys and is also a well-known Writer, Philanthropist and educator. Murthy has two kids, a boy named Rohan Murty and a girl named Akshata Murty. Rohan was a part of Infosys for a while, working closely with his dad from June 2013 to June 2014.
Akshata married a UK politician, Rishi Sunak, in 2009. Rishi later became a Member of Parliament in Richmond, Yorkshire, and climbed the political ladder to become the Leader of the Conservative Party and is now the reigning Prime Minister of the UK.
N. R. Narayana Murthy Net Worth
N. R. Narayana Murthy, a self-made billionaire, has made a lot of money through Infosys. As of 2023, different sources provide slightly varying numbers for his net worth, a report by Hindustan Times says he has $4.5 billion, making him the 48th richest person in India and the 4th richest tech billionaire there, whereas Times Now, said in June 2023 that he has $4.1 billion. Celebrity News gives a slightly bigger number of $4.6 billion for his net worth. But it is undeniable that the money he has earned through the years is a result of his perseverance, dedication and hard work.