From TCS To Billionaire: Meet The Man Behind Syntel's $1.6 Billion Empire

Born in Kenya and raised in India, Desai excelled academically from a young age. He completed his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from IIT Bombay before moving to the US in 1976

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

Source : LinkedIn

Bharat Desai, an Indian-origin American billionaire, is the co-founder of Syntel, an IT consulting and outsourcing firm that started as a small venture in his apartment. With a current net worth of $1.6 billion (Rs 13,791 crore), according to Forbes, Desai's journey from being a programmer at Tata Group's TCS to creating a billion-dollar empire is truly inspiring for everyone.

Born in Kenya and raised in India, Desai excelled academically from a young age. He completed his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from IIT Bombay before moving to the US in 1976 to explore better career opportunities. In the US, he went on to earn an MBA in finance from the University of Michigan.

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

Syntel

In 1980, Bharat Desai and Neerja Sethi made the bold decision to leave their stable jobs and launch their own venture, Syntel, from their apartment in Troy, Michigan. Their vision was simple: to provide IT consulting and outsourcing services.

In its first year, Syntel generated just $30,000 in sales, but the couple's drive and business acumen fueled the company's remarkable growth. Over the years, Syntel became a leading IT services provider, serving clients globally.

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

Personal Life

Bharat Desai and Neerja Sethi married years after meeting in the US. Both now hold billionaire status 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 been integral to Syntel's success and is a billionaire in her own right.