Azim Hashim Premji isn’t just another billionaire; he’s the guy people in India look up to when they talk about business with a conscience. He took Wipro from a small family business selling vegetable oil and turned it into a global force in IT and consulting. Folks talk about his honesty, his humility, and the way he keeps pushing to make the world a little fairer. In a way, he’s become the face of ethical business in India.

Early Life and Education
Azim was born in Bombay (now Mumbai) on July 24, 1945, in a Gujarati Muslim family. His dad, Mohamed Hashim Premji, ran Western Indian Vegetable Products Ltd., which eventually became Wipro. Azim set off for Stanford to study electrical engineering, but life had other plans. In 1966, his father died suddenly, and 21-year-old Azim packed his bags, left college, and flew back home to take charge. Years later, he actually went back to Stanford and finished his degree—shows you how much he cares about learning, no matter how busy life gets.

Career and Business Journey
When Azim took over, Wipro was all about hydrogenated cooking oils. He knew they couldn’t survive just doing that. So in the ‘70s and ‘80s, he started branching out—first into engineering, then consumer products, and finally, as India’s tech scene exploded, into computer hardware and IT services. That move put Wipro on the map. By the late ‘90s, they were one of the world’s top software companies.

Under Azim, Wipro got a reputation for doing things right—innovation, professionalism, and a kind of business honesty that’s rare. Jump to 2025, and Wipro is in more than 60 countries, with over 250,000 employees. Azim stepped down as chairman in 2019, but he didn’t disappear. He’s still Founder Chairman and sits on the board. His older son, Rishad, now runs the show as Executive Chairman.

Philanthropy and Social Impact
Azim isn’t just known for his business moves—he’s also famous for giving back. He set up the Azim Premji Foundation in 2001 and has donated over ₹2 lakh crore (roughly $24 billion) to improve education in India. No one else in India comes close. The foundation trains teachers, helps rural schools, and pushes for fairer education for everyone—millions of kids in 20 states have felt that impact.

In May 2025, the foundation put another $265 million into higher education for underprivileged girls. Decisions like that have put Azim right up there with the world’s most generous billionaires.

Personal Life and Physical Appearance
Azim keeps things simple. He’s about 5’5” (165 cm), leads a disciplined life, and doesn’t flaunt his money. He drives a Toyota, avoids flashy stuff, and sticks to what he believes in. He’s married to Yasmeen Premji, a writer and philanthropist in her own right. They’ve got two sons, Rishad and Tariq.

Net Worth and Monthly Income in 2025
By October 2025, Forbes pegged Azim’s net worth at $11 to $12 billion (that’s ₹98,000 crore to ₹1,00,000 crore). Most of that comes from his stakes in Wipro, Wipro Enterprises, and investments managed by the Premji Trust. Even after giving away so much, he’s still one of India’s top 20 richest people and sits at #13 on Forbes India’s 2025 Billionaires List.

His monthly income—counting dividends and returns—tops ₹300 crore, or about $36 million.

Awards and Legacy
Azim’s racked up plenty of awards: the Padma Vibhushan (2011), Padma Bhushan (2005), and a few appearances on Time magazine’s list of the world’s 100 most influential people.

But honestly, his real legacy isn’t just about building a tech empire. He’s shown everyone that you can use wealth for good, that business success and caring for society don’t have to be opposites. That’s what purposeful capitalism looks like.