A throwback video from the 1990s, reportedly filmed inside the Infosys canteen in Bengaluru, has gone viral on social media, sparking conversations about the company’s early days and the fortunes of its first generation of employees. The clip , showing young engineers casually chatting over lunch , has reignited nostalgia for India’s IT boom and the humble beginnings of one of the nation’s most iconic firms.
Viral Claim: Early Retirement and Massive Wealth
According to a post shared by an X (formerly Twitter) user, one of Infosys’ first 5,000 employees had managed to retire at just 38 years old in 2006 , already worth around Rs 100 crore at the time. The user, who claimed to personally know the individual, said the wealth was accumulated primarily through Infosys stock options and share sales, not regular salary savings.
In his post, the X user wrote that despite his immense wealth, the former Infosys employee continues to lead a simple life in Bengaluru, without luxury possessions or even a high-end car. “He neither moved abroad nor flaunted his success. He still lives in the same city, without a fancy car,” the post said.
The user further claimed that, given the massive rise in Infosys’ stock price since 2006, the individual’s net worth could now be around Rs 200–300 crore.
Social Media Reacts with Skepticism
However, as The Economic Times reported, several X users questioned the accuracy of these figures. One commenter argued that the claim seemed mathematically implausible, stating, “₹100 crore in 2006 would have meant holding around 53 lakh Infosys shares since the 1990s. Unless this person was connected to the founders, that scenario is extremely unlikely.”
Another user who identified as a former Infosys employee added, “You’re overestimating by at least a factor of ten. I worked at Infosys during that time , early employees did very well, but Rs 100 crore before 2006 sounds exaggerated.”
Others pointed out that while Infosys’ early ESOPs (Employee Stock Option Plans) were indeed life-changing, only a handful of senior executives or founding members likely achieved such extraordinary wealth levels.
Infosys’ Humble Beginnings
Founded in 1981 in Pune by N.R. Narayana Murthy, Nandan Nilekani, N.S. Raghavan, S. Gopalakrishnan, S.D. Shibulal, K. Dinesh, and Ashok Arora, Infosys started with an initial capital of justRs 10,000, borrowed from Murthy’s wife, Sudha Murthy.
As ET notes, the company’s early operations were run from the front room of Murthy’s home, with the registered office located at Raghavan’s residence. Over the years, Infosys grew from a small software consultancy into a global IT powerhouse, employing over 3 lakh people and pioneering India’s software export revolution.
The Power of Early ESOPs
Infosys’ Employee Stock Option Plans (ESOPs), introduced in the 1990s, became legendary for turning early employees into millionaires. The company’s stellar growth during the dot-com boom multiplied stock values, and even mid-level employees saw substantial wealth creation.
The viral story of the early employee , whether true or embellished , underscores how Infosys’ early risk-takers reaped long-term rewards, and how the company’s success helped define India’s new middle-class prosperity in the tech era.
Legacy of a Revolution
While The Economic Times could not independently verify the claims made in the viral post, the story continues to fascinate online audiences. It serves as a reminder of how India’s IT revolution transformed not just global outsourcing, but also the personal fortunes and lifestyles of those who believed in a small startup long before it became a global brand.