Nikhil Kamath Biography: Redefining Wealth Creation
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- July 24, 2025
Nikhil Kamath, India’s youngest billionaire, co-founded Zerodha, transforming stock trading with a low-cost model. Born in Shimoga, Karnataka, his journey from a school dropout to a $2.6 billion net worth by 2025 inspires millions. This biography explores his early life, career highlights, struggles, controversies, personal life, social media presence, philanthropy, and lesser-known facts, showcasing his influence.
About Nikhil Kamath
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Nikhil Kamath |
| Born | September 5, 1986, Shimoga, Karnataka, India |
| Profession | Entrepreneur, Investor, Co-founder of Zerodha, True Beacon, Gruhas |
| Notable Work | Zerodha, WTFund, WTF is Podcast |
| Marital Status | Married to Seema Patil; Previously married to Amanda Puravankara |
| Children | None |
| Net Worth | $2.6 billion (2025, Forbes) |
| Education | Dropped out after 10th grade, Oxford Senior Secondary School |
Nikhil Kamath’s Early Life
Shimoga Beginnings
Born in Shimoga, Nikhil Kamath grew up in a middle-class Konkani family. His father, Raghuram Kamath, worked at Canara Bank, while his mother, Revathi Kamath, was a veena player and entrepreneur. Frequent transfers due to his father’s job shaped his adaptability, per startuptalky.com.
Unconventional Education
Nikhil attended Oxford Senior Secondary School in Bangalore but dropped out at 14, uninterested in traditional education. His love for chess and mathematics honed his strategic thinking, which later fueled his trading success, as noted by Wikipedia.
Struggles and Down Phases
Early Financial Risks
At 17, Nikhil worked night shifts at a call center, earning ₹8,000 monthly, while trading stocks by day. Early losses in trading taught him resilience, as he shared with Humans of Bombay. These risks were crucial to his learning curve.
Family Expectations
Coming from an academic family, Nikhil faced skepticism for dropping out. Relatives questioned his future, but he moved out to pursue trading, a bold move that tested his resolve, per timesnownews.com.
Career Highlights
Founding Zerodha
In 2010, Nikhil Kamath and his brother Nithin launched Zerodha, a discount brokerage with zero equity delivery fees. By 2025, it serves 12 million clients, handling 15% of India’s daily trades, saving traders ₹25,000 crore in fees, per isfm.co.in.
True Beacon and Gruhas
In 2020, Nikhil co-founded True Beacon, managing $1 billion for ultra-high-net-worth individuals. In 2021, he launched Gruhas, a proptech and real estate firm. Both ventures reflect his innovative approach, per forbes.com.
WTFund and Podcast
Nikhil’s WTFund, launched in 2023, supports young entrepreneurs with non-dilutive grants. His “WTF is” podcast, featuring guests like PM Narendra Modi and Bill Gates, has millions of views, boosting his influence in 2025, per undp.org.
Personal Life
Nikhil married Seema Patil in a private ceremony, keeping his personal life low-key. Previously married to Amanda Puravankara until 2020, he values privacy. A chess enthusiast and book lover with over 500 books, he owns a pet dog named Hope, per starsunfolded.com.
Controversies
Chess Match Scandal
In 2021, Nikhil Kamath faced backlash for using chess engines in a charity match against Viswanathan Anand. His Chess.com account was temporarily banned, but he apologized, and Anand moved on, per Wikipedia.
Property Purchase Debate
In 2024, Nikhil bought a 7,000 sq. ft. apartment in Bangalore’s Kingfisher Towers, contradicting his pro-renting stance. X users like @TechBit criticized the move, but Nikhil clarified it as a personal choice, per stockify.net.in.
Social Media Presence
Nikhil is active on X (@nikhilkamathcio) with 50,000+ followers, sharing insights on trading and startups. His LinkedIn (@nikhil-kamath) posts about WTFund and podcast episodes, like the 2025 Modi interview, earn 10,000+ reactions, per LinkedIn.
Lesser-Known Facts
- Early Hustle: Sold used phones at 14 until his mother stopped him.
- Chess Prodigy: Competed in state and national chess tournaments.
- Call Center Job: Used a fake birth certificate to work at 17.
- Book Collector: Owns a library of 500+ books, reading 1–2 weekly.
- Vintage Watches: Collects vintage watches for their stories.
- PerplexityAI Offer: Offered to intern for free at PerplexityAI.
- Shah Rukh Khan Mentor: Spent hours discussing life with the actor.
- Forbes 30 Under 30: Recognized in 2016 for disrupting brokerage.
Philanthropy
In 2023, Nikhil became the youngest Indian to sign The Giving Pledge, committing 50% of his wealth to education, healthcare, and climate change. His Rainmatter Foundation donated $100 million, while WTFund supports 20+ startups with grants, per time.com.
Current Status and Influence
In 2025, Nikhil Kamath leads Zerodha, valued at $3.6 billion, with 12 million clients. His ventures, True Beacon and Gruhas, and the “WTF is” podcast amplify his influence. Named on Fortune India’s 40 Under 40, he shapes fintech and philanthropy, per FortuneIndia.
Conclusion
This Nikhil Kamath biography traces his rise from a school dropout to India’s youngest billionaire. Overcoming early struggles, Nikhil Kamath built Zerodha into a fintech giant, democratizing trading. His philanthropy and ventures like WTFund inspire youth. In 2025, he continues to redefine wealth creation and social impact.
