Azim Premji

Azim Premji
Premji at the World Economic Forum, 2013
Born
Azim Hashim Premji

(1945-07-24) 24 July 1945 (age 79)
Bombay, Bombay presidency, British India[1]
Alma materStanford University (B.S.E)[2]
OccupationFounder Chairman of wipro
ChildrenRishad Premji, Tariq Premji[3]
HonoursPadma Vibhushan (2011)
Signature

Azim Hashim Premji (born 24 July 1945) is an Indian businessman and philanthropist, who was the chairman of Wipro Limited. Premji remains a non-executive member of the board and founder chairman.[4] He is informally known as the Czar of the Indian IT Industry.[5][6] He was responsible for guiding Wipro through four decades of diversification and growth, to finally emerge as one of the global leaders in the software industry.[7][8] In 2010, he was voted among the 20 most powerful men in the world by Asiaweek.[9] He has twice been listed among the 100 most influential people by Time magazine, once in 2004 and more recently in 2011.[10] For years, he has been regularly listed one among The 500 Most Influential Muslims.[11][12] He also serves as the Chancellor of Azim Premji University, Bangalore. Premji was awarded Padma Vibhushan, India's second highest civilian award, by the Government of India.[13]

According to the Forbes and Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Premji's net worth is estimated at $9.3 billion and $25 billion, respectively, as of February 2023.[14] In 2013, he agreed to give away at least half of his wealth by signing the Giving Pledge. Premji started with a $2.2 billion donation to the Azim Premji Foundation, focused on education in India.[15] He topped the EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List for 2020.[16] In 2019, he dropped from the 2nd position in the Forbes India Rich list to 17th position after giving away a huge amount to charity.[17]

In October 2024, Premji was ranked 19th on the Forbes list of India’s 100 richest tycoons, with a net worth of $12.2 billion.[18]

  1. ^ G. Craine, Anthony (14 May 2010). "Azim Premji". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  2. ^ "Forbes List Directory". Forbes. 3 November 2009. Archived from the original on 29 November 2009. Retrieved 7 December 2009.
  3. ^ "What you didn't know about Rishad Premji". Rediff.com. 7 June 2007. Retrieved 7 December 2009.
  4. ^ "Wipro's Azim Premji to hand over baton to son Rishad Premji". The Hindu. 6 June 2019. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  5. ^ Reddy, Bhupathi (30 August 2015). "Top 10 Entrepreneurs in India". entrepreneursolutions.com. Archived from the original on 26 January 2016. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  6. ^ Muthyala, Srikar (29 September 2015). "The List of Great Entrepreneurs in India 2015". mybtechlife.com. Archived from the original on 14 January 2016.
  7. ^ "Azim Premji". Forbes. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  8. ^ "The World's Billionaires". Forbes. 3 March 2009. Archived from the original on 16 March 2009. Retrieved 16 March 2009.
  9. ^ "Azim Premji: Latest News, Videos and Azim Premji Photos". The Times of India. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  10. ^ Gates, Bill (21 April 2011). "Azim Premji – The 2011 Time 100". Time. Archived from the original on 24 April 2011. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  11. ^ "Azim Premji". themuslim500.com. 29 May 2018. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  12. ^ Amin Jafri, Syed (12 October 2015). "22 Indians among world's influential Muslims". The Times of India. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  13. ^ "Premji happy to win Padma Vibhushan". 26 January 2011.
  14. ^ "Bloomberg Billionaires Index – Azim Premji". Bloomberg.com. Bloomberg. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  15. ^ Karmali, Naazneen (23 February 2013). "Azim Premji Donates $2.3 Billion After Signing Giving Pledge". Forbes. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  16. ^ "Azim Premji tops EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List 2020, Shiv Nadar & Mukesh Ambani follow". The Economic Times. 10 November 2020. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  17. ^ "Forbes India Rich list: Azim Premji drops from 2nd to 17th position after huge donation to charity". Business Today. 11 October 2019. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  18. ^ "India's 100 Richest". India’s 100 Richest. 9 October 2024.