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N. R. Narayana Murthy Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 10, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth20 August 1946

Age78 Years

BirthplaceShidlaghatta, Chikkaballapura District in Karnataka

ProfessionEntrepreneur

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseSudha Murthy

FamilyChildren: Rohan Murty (son), Akshata Murty (daughter); Son‑in‑law: Rishi Sunak

Net worth$2.47 billion

N. R. Narayana Murthy Biography

N. R. Narayana Murthy is an Indian entrepreneur best known as a co‑founder of Infosys. Born in Shidlaghatta, Karnataka, he built a global technology firm,

Early life and background

Nagavara Ramarao Narayana Murthy was born on 20 August 1946 in Shidlaghatta in the Chikkaballapura district of Karnataka. Raised in a lower‑middle‑class household, he was one of eight children. His father, N. Rama Rao, worked as a teacher and his mother was Padavathamma Murthy. Murthy attended Sharada Vilasa Boys High School in Mysore before studying electrical engineering at the University of Mysore and then earning an M.Tech in electrical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur.

As a student, Murthy’s favorite subjects were physics and mathematics. Early in his career he worked on India’s first time‑sharing computer system and developed a BASIC interpreter for the Electronics Corporation of India Limited. He also held positions at organisations such as ECIL and later Patni Computers, where he became general manager in 1977.

Personal life

Murthy married Sudha Murthy on 10 February 1978. The couple had a modest wedding; both contributed to the expenses. They have two children: a son, Rohan Murty, and a daughter, Akshata Murty. Akshata is married to Rishi Sunak. Murthy is Hindu by faith and identifies with the Brahmin community. He is known to enjoy reading and listening to classic Hindi and Kannada songs.

Career

In 1981 Murthy and six colleagues launched Infosys with a small initial investment. The company began with its head office in Pune and later moved to Bengaluru in 1983. During its early years the firm acquired its first computer and telephone line in 1984 and went on to grow into a major multinational technology services company. Murthy served as chief executive of Infosys for about 21 years before stepping down in 2002. He then served as chairman of the board until 2006 and later took the title of Chairman Emeritus in 2011.

Murthy’s leadership extended beyond Infosys. He has been an independent director on HSBC’s corporate board and served on the boards of DBS Bank, Unilever, ICICI and NDTV. He has also contributed to advisory boards and councils for educational and philanthropic organisations.

Recognition and honours

Over the years Murthy has received numerous civilian and professional honours. The Government of India awarded him the Padma Shri in 2000 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2008. International honours include an Honorary Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2007 and the Officer of the Legion of Honor from France in 2008. He has been recognised by professional bodies with awards such as the IEEE Ernst Weber Engineering Leadership Recognition and has been named by publications including Time and Fortune among notable figures and entrepreneurs.

Public profile

Murthy’s public remarks and views have periodically generated discussion. For example, a suggestion he made about working long hours sparked debate among entrepreneurs and on social media regarding productivity and workplace wellbeing. He has appeared on television and in public forums; in 2002 he was a guest on a talk show and other media coverage has followed his career and public positions.

Later developments

In March 2024 Murthy transferred shares in Infosys, gifting stock to his four‑month‑old grandson, which reduced his personal stake in the company. In 2019 a filmmaker announced plans to make a biographical film about his life.

Legacy

Murthy is widely regarded as one of the founders of India’s modern IT services industry through his role in establishing and leading Infosys. His career trajectory—from engineering work and early entrepreneurial attempts to creating a major multinational firm—has been cited in India and abroad as an example of technology‑driven enterprise and leadership.

Latest updates

As of 2024 Murthy is 78 years old and continues to be associated with philanthropic, advisory and public roles while maintaining a reduced shareholding in Infosys following the 2024 gift of shares.
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Recent Work

Gifting Infosys shares to grandson Ekagrah Rohan Murty

In March 2024 Murthy gifted shares worth over Rs. 240 crores to his four‑month‑old grandson, reducing his stake in Infosys.

2024
Subject of announced biopic

A 2019 announcement indicated plans for a Bollywood film based on his life.

2019
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Career Highlights

  1. Co‑founder of Infosys in 1981 and long‑time chief executive and chairman
  2. Padma Shri (2000) and Padma Vibhushan (2008) from the Government of India
  3. Honorary Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), 2007
  4. Officer of the Legion of Honor, France, 2008
  5. IEEE Ernst Weber Engineering Leadership Recognition, 2007
  6. Named among influential entrepreneurs by Time and Fortune
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Net Worth

$2.47 billion

Figures are editorial estimates based on publicly available reporting and may change as new information emerges.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When was N. R. Narayana Murthy born?

20 August 1946

What is N. R. Narayana Murthy known for?

Entrepreneur

What is N. R. Narayana Murthy’s marital status?

Married

Who is N. R. Narayana Murthy married to?

Sudha Murthy

What is N. R. Narayana Murthy’s net worth?

$2.47 billion