May 14, 2026 1 min read

From joke to 50X jackpot: American billionaire's simple ‘India-born CEO’ stock-picking idea would have made you a millionaire in 15 years

Chart showing extraordinary returns of companies led by India-born CEOs, outperforming the S&P 500.

Who knew that legendary financier Michael Milken, notorious for his junk bond prowess, was also a closet oracle for ethnically-charged stock picks? What started as a chuckle-worthy observation about the leadership prowess of India-born CEOs in American companies has apparently morphed into the investment strategy equivalent of finding a cheat code for the stock market. Forget complex algorithms and exhaustive fundamental analysis; apparently, all you needed was a map of the subcontinent and a LinkedIn premium account to become a millionaire in 15 years. My apologies to all the quant funds out there, it seems simplicity, and a specific birthplace, truly are genius.

Indeed, recent analysis has thrown a spotlight on Milken’s seemingly innocuous remark, revealing a staggering truth: had one invested in US companies helmed by India-born CEOs, the returns would have been nothing short of phenomenal. This informal, almost whimsical, 'India-born CEO' stock-picking idea has been shown to deliver an exceptional 50-fold return over the past 15 years, significantly dwarfing the already robust performance of the broader S&P 500. The data suggests that what began as a humorous anecdote among financial circles actually pinpointed an incredible, high-performing investment niche, offering a fascinating look at the impact of leadership diversity on corporate success and shareholder value.

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