Sridhar Vembu net worth: Zoho co-founder who built a multi-billion dollar business ranks among India’s richest with his siblings; his career, education and wealth

Zoho co-founder Sridhar Vembu, 58, and his two siblings have a combined net worth of $5.8 billion, according to Forbes. As of September 30, 2026, that places the family at number 46 on Forbes’ list of India’s richest people.

Vembu built Zoho from a small software firm into a global cloud software company. He did it while living far from the usual business centres, and today he stays in Tenkasi, a rural part of Tamil Nadu. He is in the news after saying Zoho employees will miss their yearly pay increase this year.

What Is Sridhar Vembu’s Net Worth?

Forbes puts the combined wealth of Vembu and his siblings at $5.8 billion. Zoho is privately held, and the family owns a majority stake in it.


His rank on the Forbes India list has moved a little over the years. He was at number 48 in 2022, 46 in 2023, 51 in 2024 and 47 in 2025. In 2026 he is at 46.

In 2020, Vembu held 88 per cent of Zoho. Forbes then estimated his wealth at around $2.44 billion. That figure has more than doubled since.

What Did Sridhar Vembu Say About Pay Hikes At Zoho?

Vembu shared the news in a post on X. He said employees will not get the usual pay increase this year.

“We have cut down on our marketing budget. We have also told our employees that we cannot have our usual pay increase this year,” Vembu wrote. He added that he had apologised to the staff.

Vembu pointed to AI as the main reason. He said AI use is growing fast inside the company, and so are the bills that come with it.

He wrote about a “massive four-fold increase in server prices” for data centre equipment.

“The business outlook for software is uncertain and AI has raised costs dramatically,” Vembu wrote. He also said a tough global situation is adding to the pressure.

Will There Be Layoffs At Zoho?

Vembu said the company wants to avoid mass layoffs. He also said Zoho has not grown its employee count in the last 18 months. He warned that the outlook for software jobs is grim.

Sridhar Vembu Career, Education

Vembu was born in 1968 and raised in a modest Tamil Brahmin family. His village is in Tamil Nadu’s Thanjavur district.

He did his B.Tech in electrical engineering at IIT Madras and finished in 1989. He then moved to the United States for higher studies. He earned both his master’s degree and PhD in electrical engineering from Princeton University in New Jersey.

His first job was at Qualcomm in San Diego, where he worked as a wireless engineer. Forbes says he started there in 1994. He later moved to the San Francisco Bay Area and lived in places like San Jose and Pleasanton.

How Did Sridhar Vembu Begin Zoho?

In 1996, Vembu started AdventNet with his siblings. Forbes says three friends were also part of the founding team. The company first sold software to network hardware makers.

AdventNet changed its name to Zoho Corporation in 2009. Its focus moved to cloud-based customer relationship management tools and other business software.

Vembu Stepped Down As CEO: Who Runs Zoho Now?

Vembu stepped down as CEO in January 2025. Co-founder Shailesh Kumar Davey took over as group CEO. Vembu continues as chief scientist.

Forbes also notes that Zoho has a 375-acre campus in Austin, Texas, built on the site of a former farm.

Why Did Vembu Move To Tenkasi?

In 2019, Vembu shifted to Tenkasi in Tamil Nadu. The move showed his belief in mixing technology with development at the grassroots. Forbes lists Tenkasi as his residence even now.

The Government of India gave Vembu the Padma Shri in 2021. It is the fourth-highest civilian award in the country. He got it for his work in the tech industry and his contribution to the Indian economy.

(Inputs from Agencies)