Azim Premji

Next richest Desi techie on the billionaires' list is Azim Premji, Chairman, Wipro Group. At no. 83 on the Forbes World's Billionaire's list, Premji's net worth is estimated to be $5.7 billion.

However, like all other companies, Premji's wealth too has seen a plunge with Wipro's stocks seen a fall of over 45% during the past year.

A graduate in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University, US, Premji took on the mantle at Wipro at 21, after the sudden demise of his father in 1966.

Under his leadership, the fledgling $2 million-hydrogenated cooking fat company has today grown into India's third-largest software company with a $4.9 billion revenues.

Premji has been conferred with honorary doctorates by Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee and the Manipal Academy of Higher Education. In January 2005, the Indian government honored him with Padma Bhushan, one of the highest civilian awards of the country.

Masayoshi Son

With a net worth of $3.7 billion, Masayoshi Son ranks at no. 151. Son is often credited for single-handedly dragging Japan into the Information Age. Called the Bill Gates of Japan, he founded Internet and telecom company SoftBank at the young age of 23. Son bet heavily on mobile phones by snapping up Japan's Vodafone unit.

Company gained 2 million new subscribers in 2008 (more than rivals) but posted drop in net profits, in part because it lowered charges to lure new customers.

Runs country's top Internet site, Yahoo Japan; and partners with News Corp on Japanese version of MySpace.