Nandan Nilekani

$2.71 B

Ranked #1566 in World

About Nandan Nilekani

Nandan Mohanrao Nilekani is an Indian entrepreneur, co-founder of Infosys, and non-executive chairman of Infosys. He was born in Bangalore, Karnataka, India to Durga and Mohan Rao Nilekani. He studied at Bishop Cotton Boys' School, St. Joseph's High School Dharwad, and Karnataka PU College Dharwad, and received a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay. Nilekani started his career at Patni Computer Systems in Mumbai in 1978 and co-founded Infosys in 1981. He served as CEO of Infosys from 2002 to 2007 and implemented changes upon his return as chairman in 2017. Nilekani also served as chairman of the Unique Identification Authority of India and developed Aadhaar, a biometric ID system. He joined the Indian National Congress in 2014 and has made significant charitable donations, including to the Giving Pledge. Nilekani has received numerous awards and honors throughout his career.

Born

June 02, 1955

Age

70 years

Source Of Wealth

Software Services

Industries

Technology

Citizenship

India

Residence

Bangalore

Education

Bachelor of Arts/Science, Indian Institute of Technology

Nandan Mohanrao Nilekani was born on June 2, 1955, in Bangalore, Karnataka, India. His parents were Durga and Mohan Rao Nilekani, Konkani from Sirsi, Karnataka. His father worked as a general manager of Mysore and Minerva Mills. Influenced by Fabian Socialist ideals, Nandan Nilekani grew up with a strong sense of social responsibility.

Nandan Nilekani has an elder brother named Vijay, who works in the Nuclear Energy Institute in the United States. He completed his schooling at Bishop Cotton Boys' School, St. Joseph's High School Dharwad, and Karnataka PU College Dharwad. He then went on to receive a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology Bombay.

Nandan Nilekani: Family

Nandan Nilekani is married to Rohini Nilekani (née Soman). They met at a quizzing event at IIT Bombay and have two children together, Nihar and Janhavi. Both of his children graduated from Yale University. The Nilekani family holds a 2.31% stake in Infosys as of March 2018.

Nandan Nilekani: Career Highlights

Nandan Nilekani's career spans over four decades, with significant contributions to the IT industry, public service, and social impact initiatives. Here are some key highlights of his career:

Co-founded Infosys in 1981, along with N.R. Narayana Murthy and five others.
Served as CEO of Infosys from 2002 to 2007, leading the company's growth and global expansion.
Implemented significant changes at Infosys, including moving the power center from California back to Bengaluru headquarters.
Left Infosys in 2009 to serve as chairman of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), responsible for implementing the Aadhaar project.
Developed Aadhaar, a biometric ID system and database containing demographic information and home addresses of Indians.
Returned to Infosys as chairman in 2017 after the exit of CEO Vishal Sikka.

Nandan Nilekani: Companies

Nandan Nilekani has been associated with several companies throughout his career, including:

Infosys
Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI)
EkStep
National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER)
10i Commerce
Juggernaut
Mubble Networks
Fortigo
P2SME
Railyatri
Axiom Consulting
Systemantics India
Sedemac Mechatronics
Disha Medical Services
Tracxn Technologies
LetsVenture

Nandan Nilekani: Major Achievements

Nandan Nilekani's major achievements include:

Co-founding Infosys and leading its growth into a global IT giant.

Implementing the Aadhaar project, providing a unique identification number for all residents of India.
Establishing EkStep, a non-profit literacy and numeracy platform.
Serving as president of the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER).
Making significant investments in technology startups.
Donating 50% of his wealth to Giving Pledge, addressing inequality and providing opportunities for the young.

Nandan Nilekani: Awards & Achievements

Nandan Nilekani has received numerous awards and recognitions for his contributions, including:

Honorary Doctor of Law degree from the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto (2011).
NDTV Indian of the Year's Transformational Idea of the Year Award (2011).
Corporate Citizen of the Year at the Asia Business Leaders Award (2004).
Joseph Schumpeter Prize for innovative services in economy, economic sciences, and politics (2005).
Time 100 list of 'World's Most Influential People' (2009).
'Legend in Leadership Award' from Yale University (2009).
Youngest entrepreneur to join the World Economic Forum (WEF) Foundation Board (2006).
Padma Bhushan, one of India's highest civilian honours (2006).
Businessman of the Year by Forbes Asia (2006).
Ranked 12th in India's 50 most powerful people by India Today magazine (2017).
Lifetime Achievement Award from E & Y (2017).
India Business leader award for outstanding contributor to the Indian Economy by CNBC- TV 18 (2017).
22nd Nikkei Asia Prize for Economic & Business Innovation (2017).
Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) by IIT Bombay (2019).

Nandan Nilekani: Personal Life & Legacy

Nandan Nilekani is known for his humility, simplicity, and commitment to social causes. He is passionate about education, innovation, and inclusive growth. His contributions to the IT industry, public service, and philanthropy have left a lasting impact on India and the world.

Nandan Nilekani: Trivia

Nandan Nilekani's first language is Konkani, but he also speaks Kannada fluently, along with English, Marathi, and Hindi.
He is an avid reader and enjoys playing the guitar.

Nandan Nilekani is a cricket enthusiast and supports the Royal Challengers Bangalore team in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
He is a member of the advisory board of the Indian School of Business (ISB) and the Governing Council of the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS).
Nandan Nilekani has authored two books: "Imagining India: The Idea of a Renewed Nation" (2009) and "Rebooting India: Realizing a Billion Aspirations" (2015).

Wealth History

Timeline

1955

Nandan Mohanrao Nilekani was born in Bangalore, Karnataka, India.

1978

Nilekani started his career at Patni Computer Systems in Mumbai.

1981

Nilekani co-founded Infosys with N.R. Narayana Murthy and five others.

2002

Nilekani became the CEO of Infosys.

2007

Nilekani relinquished the CEO position and became co-chairman of the board of directors of Infosys.

2009

Nilekani left Infosys to serve as chairman of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).

2014

Nilekani joined the Indian National Congress and contested from the Bangalore South constituency in the Lok Sabha election but lost.

2017

Nilekani returned to Infosys as chairman after the exit of CEO Vishal Sikka.

2019

Nilekani received the Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) degree from IIT Bombay.

Nandan Nilekani : FAQs

What is Nandan Nilekani's current net worth?

Nandan Nilekani's current net worth is $2.71 billion.

What is Nandan Nilekani's current global rank among billionaires?

Nandan Nilekani holds the 1566th position globally among billionaires.

What is Nandan Nilekani's current ranking within the India?

Nandan Nilekani holds the 98th position in India.

What was the change in Nandan Nilekani's net worth compared to the previous year?

Nandan Nilekani's net worth decreased by 474.72 million dollars compared to the previous year 2025, when his net worth was 3.18 billion dollars.

What is the recent change in Nandan Nilekani's net worth?

Nandan Nilekani's net worth decreased by 46.94 million dollars recently, a 1.73% decrease, with his net worth standing at 2.71 billion dollars.

What are Nandan Nilekani's main sources of wealth?

Nandan Nilekani's main source of income comes from Software Services.

In which industry does Nandan Nilekani primarily operate?

Nandan Nilekani is primarily involved in the Technology industry.

What is Nandan Nilekani educational background?

Nandan Nilekani holds a Bachelor of Arts/Science from Indian Institute of Technology.

How old is Nandan Nilekani?

Nandan Nilekani is 70 years old.

How many children does Nandan Nilekani have?

Nandan Nilekani has 2 children.

Who is Nandan Mohanrao Nilekani?

Nandan Mohanrao Nilekani is an Indian entrepreneur, co-founder of Infosys, and non-executive chairman of Infosys.

What is Nandan Mohanrao Nilekani's role in Indian politics?

Nandan Mohanrao Nilekani is a member of the Indian National Congress but not active in politics.

Where was Nandan Mohanrao Nilekani born?

Nandan Mohanrao Nilekani was born in Bangalore, Karnataka, India.

What is the aim of Nandan Mohanrao Nilekani's Aadhaar program?

The aim of Nandan Mohanrao Nilekani's Aadhaar program is to provide a unique identification number for all residents of India for efficient delivery of welfare services.

What are some honors and awards received by Nandan Mohanrao Nilekani?

Nandan Mohanrao Nilekani has received several honors and awards, including the Padma Bhushan, Time 100 list, and Lifetime Achievement Award from E & Y.