Sridhar Vembu is an Indian tech entrepreneur best known as the co-founder of Zoho Corporation, a global software service provider that competed with giants like Microsoft and Salesforce without external funding.
His journey from a rural upbringing to building a bootstrapped Saas empire has made him one of India’s most intriguing business figures. Sridhar Vembu is also known for his unconventional lifestyle and focus on rural development.
Who is Sridhar Vembu?
Born in Tamil Nadu, Sridhar Vembu earned his PhD in electrical engineering before launching Zoho (originally AdventNet) in 1996 with a small team. Over the years, the company expanded its suite of cloud-based software tools and now serves millions of users across more than 180 countries.
Unlike many tech founders, Vembu relocated to a village in Tamil Nadu and adopted a hands-on, grassroots approach to company culture and rural upliftment.
Sridhar Vembu Net Worth
According to recent estimates, Sridhar Vembu’s net worth is around ₹38,500 crore (approx. US$4.6 billion) as of 2025. This figure reflects his substantial stake in Zoho, which has grown steadily in revenue and profits.
His wealth comes primarily from ownership in Zoho Corporation, along with dividends and a modest salary from the company.
Sridhar Vembu Company Shares & Ownership Stake in Zoho
Despite being the co‑founder and public face of Zoho Corporation, Sridhar Vembu does not own the majority of the company’s shares. According to official company filings and publicly reported figures, the share distribution at Zoho is heavily weighted toward his siblings and early partners rather than Vembu himself.
- Radha Vembu (sister) holds the largest stake at 47.8 per cent of Zoho’s main privately held entity.
- Sekar Vembu (brother) controls around 35.2 per cent of the company.
- Tony Thomas (co‑founder) owns about 8 per cent of the business.
Sridhar Vembu himself holds roughly 5 per cent of the company’s equity, a much smaller share than many assume. This means that although Sridhar Vembu founded and built Zoho from the ground up, his personal equity stake is only a fraction of total ownership, reflecting historical corporate structuring and share allocations made when the company reorganised its ownership decades ago.
The majority control by Radha Vembu and Sekar Vembu means the two siblings collectively own over 80 per cent of Zoho’s shares, giving them decisive influence over the company’s direction alongside Sridhar Vembu’s strategic leadership role.
Sridhar Vembu Divorce Case: Company Shares & Alleged Transfer
In the ongoing high‑profile divorce dispute, Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu faces allegations that he moved ownership stakes in Zoho Corporation valued at billions of dollars to family members without his estranged wife’s consent.
His ex‑wife, Pramila Srinivasan, claimed in California court filings that after Vembu filed for divorce, he transferred a major portion of his Zoho shares in transactions she argued were meant to defeat her legal rights to marital assets.
The court estimated that the contested share value exceeded $1.7 billion (around ₹15,000+ crore), leading a judge to order Vembu to post a $1.7 billion bond to protect her claimed interests.
Pramila Srinivasan’s filings allege that the transfers placed majority ownership in the hands of Vembu’s siblings, including his sister Radha Vembu, who is reported to hold around 47.8% of the company’s equity, and his brother Sekar Vembu, with about 35.2%, leaving Vembu himself with approximately 5%.
Sridhar Vembu has strongly denied these claims, stating that his stake structure has long reflected business decisions and corporate restructuring, and he rejects the suggestion that any improper transfers occurred.
Sridhar Vembu’s Zoho Valuation
Zoho Corporation’s valuation has seen a remarkable rise in recent years. In early 2025, the company’s worth was reported at around ₹1.03–1.04 lakh crore (approximately $12.5 billion). This milestone positions Zoho as India’s second-most valuable bootstrapped company, highlighting its strong growth despite remaining privately held and founder-led.
The surge in valuation reflects Zoho’s expansion in global SaaS markets, diversified product portfolio, and consistent revenue growth, making it one of India’s most notable examples of a self-funded tech giant thriving without external venture capital.
Sridhar Vembu’s leadership and focus on rural talent development have also contributed to Zoho’s unique positioning and steady market confidence, cementing its place among India’s top tech success stories.
