Billionaire Profile

Global Rank

#3139

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Neerja Sethi

CEO, IT consulting

UNITED STATES

Real-Time Net Worth

$1.006B

Estimated based on IT consulting stock value as of March 6, 2026

0% (24h)

Age

Source

IT consulting

Industry

Technology

Citizenship

UNITED STATES

Biography

Neerja Sethi is an Indian-American entrepreneur and businesswoman known for co-founding Syntel, an IT consulting and outsourcing firm. Her career highlights include building Syntel from a startup to a multibillion-dollar enterprise, serving as an executive for 38 years, and being recognized on Forbes' lists of America's Richest Self-Made Women. Her source of wealth stems from her stake in Syntel. As of early February 2026, her estimated net worth is $1.0 billion. She holds degrees from Delhi University and Oakland University.

Fact Checked

Verified by Editorial Team

Live Data

Updated 3/6/2026

Wealth Over Time

In-Depth Profile

Early Life

Neerja Sethi was born in India and later moved to the United States. She holds a Bachelor of Arts/Science degree and a Master of Business Administration from Delhi University, as well as a Master of Science from Oakland University. Before her entrepreneurial journey, she worked at Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), where she met her future husband, Bharat Desai.

Rise to Success

In 1980, Neerja Sethi and her husband, Bharat Desai, co-founded Syntel in Troy, Michigan, with an initial investment of $2,000. Syntel grew into a successful IT consulting and outsourcing firm, serving clients worldwide. She served as an executive at Syntel from its founding until its sale in 2018.

Key Business Strategies

Sethi played a central role in shaping Syntel's business strategy, operations, and customer relationships. The company focused on providing IT services to Fortune 500 clients, navigating digital transformation, and global operations outsourcing. The company started with a very modest initial investment of $2,000.

Philanthropy

Neerja Sethi and her husband, Bharat Desai, are committed to philanthropy and support initiatives promoting STEM learning, leadership development, and economic empowerment.

Career Milestones

1980

Co-founded Syntel

Co-founded IT consulting and outsourcing firm Syntel with her husband Bharat Desai in Troy, Michigan.

1997

Syntel Goes Public

Took Syntel public.

2018

Syntel Acquired

French IT firm Atos SE bought Syntel for $3.4 billion.

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