Meet man, who left Ratan Tata’s company to start…, now has net worth of Rs 137910000000, his business is…

Bharat Desai remains an influential figure, inspiring aspiring entrepreneurs to dream big and build their own legacies, much like he did with Syntel.

Written by: Anirudha Yerunkar Edited by: Anirudha Yerunkar

Published: January 13, 2025, 2:38 PM IST

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https://www.india.com/business/meet-man-who-left-ratan-tatas-company-to-start-it-consulting-firm-now-has-net-worth-of-rs-137910000000-his-business-is-syntel-7534701/ Copy

Bharat Desai, an India-origin American billionaire businessman, is the co-founder of Syntel, an IT consulting and outsourcing company that began as a modest venture in his apartment. With a current net worth of $1.6 billion (Rs 13,791 crore) as per Forbes, Desai’s journey from being a programmer at Tata Group’s TCS to building a billion-dollar empire is truly inspiring.

Bharat Desai’s Start From Ratan Tata’s Company

Desai was born in Kenya and raised in India, where he excelled academically. After completing his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from IIT Bombay, he moved to the US in 1976 to pursue better career opportunities. While in the US, he earned an MBA in finance from the University of Michigan.

He began his professional career at Ratan Tata led Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) as a programmer. It was during his time at TCS that he met Neerja Sethi, who would later become both his business partner and wife.

Birth Of Syntel

In 1980, Bharat Desai and Neerja Sethi decided to leave their stable jobs and start their own venture, Syntel, from their apartment in Troy, Michigan. They began with a simple vision of providing IT consulting and outsourcing services.

In its first year, Syntel generated sales of just $30,000, but the couple’s determination and business acumen drove the company to grow exponentially. Over the years, Syntel became a leading IT services provider, catering to clients worldwide.

In 2018, after decades of success, the French IT firm Atos SE acquired Syntel in a cash deal worth $3.4 billion.

Bharat Desai Family and Personal Life

Bharat Desai and Neerja Sethi tied the knot years after meeting in the US. Both are now billionaires and share a passion for business and innovation. The couple has two children and resides on Fisher Island, Florida, one of the most exclusive residential locations in the US.

Neerja Sethi, like Bharat, has also played a significant role in the success of Syntel and has her own billionaire status.

Bharat Desai’s life story exemplifies the power of ambition, hard work, and vision. From his early days as an electrical engineering student at IIT Bombay to creating a global IT giant, he has showcased the potential of Indian-origin entrepreneurs on the world stage.