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2025-05-19
In a world where the startup dream dominates popular culture and social media celebrates overnight millionaires, Thyrocare’s Managing Director Dr. A. Velumani offers a compelling counterpoint. With a personal net worth surpassing ā¹5,000 crore, Dr. Velumani is no stranger to financial successāyet he cautions against blindly chasing entrepreneurship. In a recent interview, he advocated for an alternative mindset: wealth doesnāt solely come from building companies, but also from mastering leadership roles in established corporations.
Pointing to Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet Inc., as a leading example, Dr. Velumani urges aspiring wealth-seekers to consider that the corporate world can be just as lucrativeāif not more soāthan the risky terrain of startups. His message isnāt anti-business; rather, it’s a wake-up call for those who equate entrepreneurship with the only viable path to financial freedom.
Corporate Climbing vs Startup Struggles: A Recap of the Insight
Dr. A. Velumani, a billionaire business leader himself, has publicly urged people to rethink the commonly held belief that entrepreneurship is the only way to achieve great wealth. Instead, he highlights the power and potential of leadership roles within large corporations, using Sundar Pichai as a shining example. Pichai, the CEO of Alphabet Inc., has consistently ranked among the worldās highest-paid executives, showing that wealth can also be found at the top of the corporate ladder.
According to Dr. Velumani, entrepreneurship is a difficult and uncertain road, with 99% of entrepreneurs failing to generate revenues comparable to top corporate leaders. Meanwhile, corporate leadership offers structured paths to success with far lower risk. He emphasizes that people shouldn’t be misled into thinking only founders and business owners can find wealth, fulfillment, and success.
He also clarifies that his views arenāt against entrepreneurship but instead provide a broader perspective. He states that those who excel in corporate environmentsāby demonstrating strong leadership and visionācan accumulate extraordinary wealth. This, he suggests, might even be a smarter and safer strategy for most people.
Sundar Pichaiās own trajectory supports this claim. Despite a drop in his total compensation in 2024 (from \$226 million in 2022 to \$10.72 million), his base salary and perks remain impressive. His travel and security-related expenses alone reached over \$8 million. The decrease in earnings is attributed to a lack of the large equity grant he receives every three years, not to any dip in his importance or success.
Raised in a humble household in Tamil Nadu, Pichai rose through the ranks thanks to his academic brilliance and work ethic. From IIT Kharagpur to Stanford and Wharton, his educational journey laid the groundwork for his eventual corporate dominance. Now worth an estimated \$1.1 billion as of April 2025, Pichaiās life proves that corporate expertise can rival, or even outshine, entrepreneurial fortunes.
Dr. Velumani concludes with a powerful takeaway: long-term wealth can be built through smart decision-making within companies. Leadership and professionalism can provide not just riches, but also stability and peace of mind.
What Undercode Say:
Dr. Velumaniās statement arrives like a necessary disruption to the romanticized narrative of entrepreneurship. In an age where “startup culture” is idolized, his commentary brings an important balance to the discourse. The idea that entrepreneurship is the sole path to riches has led many into high-risk ventures, often unprepared for the emotional, financial, and strategic pressures that come with it.
This fresh perspective validates corporate ambition as a legitimate, and often safer, route to long-term wealth. Consider how corporate leaders like Sundar Pichai are not just well-compensated but also enjoy access to high-level decision-making, perks, and a relatively predictable career trajectory. Pichaiās structured rise through Googleās ranks contrasts sharply with the chaos and instability that marks most startup journeys.
Many young professionals fall for the social media trap that paints entrepreneurship as a glamorized fast-track to success. In reality, most startups struggle to survive beyond their third year. Dr. Velumaniās insights redirect focus towards building capabilities within existing systemsāwhere mentorship, structure, and scalability are already in place.
Moreover, corporate leadership requires and rewards strategic thinking, emotional intelligence, and consistent performance. These traits are often undervalued in entrepreneurial culture, which tends to favor disruptive boldness over sustainable excellence. Dr. Velumani’s argument brings maturity and realism to the conversation.
His emphasis on risk is particularly salient. While entrepreneurship demands personal investment and emotional resilience, corporate careers offer stock options, bonuses, and executive privilegesāwithout the same level of risk exposure. Thatās not to say that corporate life is without its own set of challenges, but the odds of achieving consistent financial gain are significantly higher.
Pichaiās earnings even in a “down year” still placed him among the elite. The security-related perks, international recognition, and influence he commands are proof that wealth doesnāt need to be self-made from scratch. It can be cultivated within a robust, scalable system like Google or Alphabet.
Velumaniās message is also psychologically liberating for many professionals who may feel inadequate for not starting a business. It encourages a shift in focus from being “the next big founder” to becoming “the next great leader.”
For India, where millions are entering the workforce and aspiring to make it big, this narrative offers a practical and empowering direction. The country needs high-quality professionals at all levelsānot just founders. Corporate paths can uplift families, communities, and the economy without burning out bright minds prematurely.
Lastly, itās essential to note that the best route depends on the individual. Entrepreneurship may work for some, but for the vast majority, structured corporate leadership might be the more reliable bridge to wealth, impact, and long-term peace of mind.
Fact Checker Results ā
š Dr.
š Pichai’s 2024 earnings decline is accurately attributed to timing of stock grants.
š¼ Corporate leadership success as a viable alternative to entrepreneurship is strongly backed by real-world data.
Prediction š
As global economies mature and job markets become more competitive, we predict a cultural shift in how success is defined. By 2030, more Indian professionals will consciously pursue corporate leadership as a prestige path, supported by strong mentorship, global exposure, and financial incentives. Entrepreneurial hype may still exist, but expect a growing respect for those who rise through the ranks of major organizations, redefining success with structure and strategy.
References:
Reported By: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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