Kris Gopalakrishnan Net Worth: Co-Founder of Infosys

The importance of Senapathy Kris Gopalakrishnan can hardly be overstated considering that he is one of the most significant players in the Indian information technology (IT) sector, but why’s that though? Well, as a co-founder of Infosys, which is now seen as a leader in technology services and consulting on a global scale, Gopalakrishnan is one of the prominent figures in the industry, that’s for sure. To this day, he has been a critical component of the company by being in leadership positions such as CEO, Managing Director, and Vice Chairman for years. His smarts and hard work really show when we talk about his net worth because he is literally one of the richest and most influential people in the country. As for his net worth, well, that is somewhere around $4.3 billion. Alright, with that said, let’s take a quick look at his life story, shall we?

Early Life and Education

Kris Gopalakrishnan was born on April 5, 1955, in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, into a family that regarded education as a tool that opened doors to better lives, which is often the case for many families in India, even in modern times. His educational journey started at Government Model Boys Higher Secondary School, from where he had the privilege to study Physics at the University of Kerala, you know? Given his love for science, he went to the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras for further studies and ended up obtaining a Master’s degree in Physics in 1977, followed by a Master’s degree in Computer Science in 1979. Sure, if he hadn’t had this much education in life, he would not have made it this far.

Career Beginnings and the Birth of Infosys

Just so you know, in the year 1979, Kris started his professional career as a software developer at Patni Computer Systems, an experience that proved vital for his next big endeavor. In 1981, he founded Infosys together with six partners, including N.R. Narayana Murthy, in Pune with a meager capital of $250 and an extraordinary idea of providing world-class IT services. Kris played a pivotal role in taking the company global and turning it into a prominent player in the IT sector. He was the boss aka CEO from the years 2007 to 2011, and then he continued as Vice Chairman until 2014, during this period, he played a leading role in driving the company through phases of rapid growth and transformation.

Net Worth and Wealth History

For those who measure success with financial numbers, well, you’d be glad to know that Kris Gopalakrishnan’s net worth is currently estimated at a staggering $4.3 billion, making him the 823rd richest person in the world and the 53rd richest person in India. His earnings are mainly made from his stake in Infosys, which he co-founded and became a global giant. Though, apart from Infosys, Kris has made many ventures mainly in startups, and initiated with others Axilor Ventures which is a company that was formed with the idea of helping young entrepreneurs, you know? That’s not it though, he has also contributed a considerable part of his wealth to scientific research, the health sector, and other charitable projects.

Recognitions and Contributions to Industry

It is pretty understandable that Kris has won many awards for his involvement in the IT industry. At the 2011 Padma Bhushan awarded with the third-highest award for civilians in India. He was also declared Asia’s best CEO in the same year and in 2009 he was presented by Thinkers 50, which is a list of notable world business leaders, you know? Not just that though, he is also a top member of the Indian National Academy of Engineering and an honorary fellow of the Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers.