70-hour workweek ready? Rishi Sunak’s return to Goldman Sachs sparks memefest; here's why

Former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s return to Goldman Sachs as a senior adviser has lit up social media—particularly X (formerly Twitter)—where users couldn’t resist linking his new role to his father-in-law Narayana Murthy’s now-infamous “70-hour workweek” advice.

While Sunak re-joins the investment banking giant where he began his career in 2001, memes began pouring in almost instantly. Many joked about whether the former PM was prepared for the “Murthy-style” grind at his new post. For context, Infosys founder Narayana Murthy had last year advised India’s youth to work 70 hours a week to boost the country’s productivity, sparking fierce debate online.

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Sunak has taken up a part-time advisory role at Goldman Sachs, even as he continues as the Member of Parliament for Richmond and Northallerton. His return marks the first major professional move since resigning as Prime Minister in July 2024, after a historic defeat in the general elections.

Goldman Sachs confirmed that Sunak will advise clients on geopolitics and global macroeconomic trends, as well as mentor junior staff as part of the firm’s leadership learning culture. The firm’s CEO, David Solomon, said they were “excited to welcome Rishi back.”

Interestingly, Sunak has pledged to donate his Goldman Sachs compensation to The Richmond Project, a charity he co-founded with wife Akshata Murty to promote numeracy and education access in the UK.

The 70-hour elephant in the room

It didn’t take long for X users to draw a hilarious parallel between Sunak’s new job and Murthy’s controversial productivity comment. One user wrote, “Sunak joining Goldman to honour his father-in-law’s 70-hour work legacy.” Others joked about him skipping Infosys altogether to avoid the “workload expectation.”

Another viral meme even compared his Goldman return to Ranbir Kapoor’s weary office scenes from Tamasha, adding to the online theatre.

Despite the memes, Sunak’s appointment hasn’t escaped regulatory scrutiny. The UK’s Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACOBA) warned of potential conflict of interest, noting that Goldman Sachs could gain from Sunak’s privileged information as a former head of government.

As a result, Sunak has been barred from lobbying the UK government or advising clients he dealt with during his premiership. He is also restricted from engaging with foreign governments or sovereign wealth funds on the bank’s behalf.

From memes to markets: The bigger takeaway

While the internet has had its fun, Sunak’s appointment is also a strategic signal from Goldman Sachs. The bank’s decision to tap into his global policy insight indicates a growing appetite in Wall Street to navigate geopolitical volatility with political insiders.