Azim Premji at No. 8: When Legacy Means More Than Net Worth

The Wipro founder's wealth rose 19% to ₹2.63 lakh crore, yet he is best known for giving it away.

Azim Premji at No. 8: When Legacy Means More Than Net Worth

Azim Premji and family rank eighth on the M3M Hurun India Rich List 2026, with a net worth of ₹2,62,800 crore, up 19% in a year.

Few people on any rich list are as closely associated with philanthropy as they are with business. Premji is one of them.

From vegetable oil to global IT

Premji took over Wipro as a young man, when it was a vegetable oil business. He turned it into one of India's best-known IT services companies, part of the wave that put Bengaluru on the global technology map.

A different kind of reputation

Through the Azim Premji Foundation, he has committed a large share of his wealth to education and social causes in India. That commitment has shaped his public image as much as Wipro's success.

For business leaders, it shows how reputation is built over a lifetime. What you do with success becomes part of how you are remembered.

Lessons for leaders

  • Transformation is possible. A company can become something entirely different under the right leader.
  • Reputation compounds. Consistent values over decades earn lasting trust.
  • Purpose is part of leadership. Giving back strengthens a leader's voice, not just their legacy.

Premji's place on the list reflects business success. His wider legacy reflects what he chose to do with it.

Kayvue helps founders and business leaders build credibility through earned media in India's leading business publications.

Written by

  • Hurun India Rich List
  • Azim Premji
  • Wipro
  • Philanthropy
  • Leadership

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