Explore the full biography of Nikhil Kamath, India’s youngest billionaire and co-founder of Zerodha. Learn about his net worth, early life, career, and achievements.
🧠 Nikhil Kamath Biography (2025): Zerodha Co-Founder & India’s Youngest Billionaire
Nikhil Kamath is among the most talked-about names in the Indian financial and entrepreneurial landscape. As the co-founder of Zerodha, India’s largest stock brokerage firm, Nikhil rose from humble beginnings to become the youngest self-made billionaire in India.
From a school dropout to one of the most influential figures in fintech, Kamath’s journey reflects vision, resilience, and disruption.
📌 Quick Overview
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Nikhil Kamath |
| Date of Birth | September 5, 1986 |
| Age (2025) | 38 years |
| Birthplace | Bangalore, India |
| Profession | Entrepreneur, Investor, Philanthropist |
| Companies | Zerodha, True Beacon |
| Net Worth (2025) | $2.6 Billion (estimated) |
| Known For | Zerodha, True Beacon |
👦 Early Life & Education
Nikhil Kamath was born in Bangalore, Karnataka, to a middle-class family. His father worked in the Canara Bank and his mother was an environmentalist.
Despite showing promise in mathematics and logic, Nikhil dropped out of school at 16, citing that the traditional education system did not align with his interests.
“I always believed you could learn more by doing than studying theory.” – Nikhil Kamath
🧮 First Steps in Finance: Call Center to Stock Market
After leaving school, he worked at a call center earning ₹8,000 per month. During this time, he began trading equities using his brother’s demat account.
His early success and sharp analytical skills made it clear: Nikhil had a natural flair for stock markets.
By the age of 21, he was managing funds for wealthy clients — a precursor to the vision that would become Zerodha.
🚀 Zerodha: Revolutionizing India’s Brokerage Industry
In 2010, Nikhil and his elder brother Nithin Kamath co-founded Zerodha — a name derived from “Zero” and “Rodha” (barrier in Sanskrit) meaning “zero barriers.”
🔑 Zerodha’s Game-Changing Model
- Zero brokerage on equity delivery
- Low-cost intraday trades
- Highly intuitive platform via Kite App
- Financial education tools through Varsity
- Customer-centric innovation: low latency, seamless UI
Zerodha democratized trading for millions of Indians by making stock investing affordable, transparent, and user-friendly.
💸 Nikhil Kamath Net Worth (2025)
As of 2025, Forbes India estimates Nikhil Kamath’s net worth at $2.6 billion. He is one of India’s youngest self-made billionaires.
Major Assets & Investments:
- Stake in Zerodha (valued at over ₹1 lakh crore)
- True Beacon (Alternative Investment Fund)
- Real estate in Bangalore and Goa
- Art collection and philanthropic ventures
💼 True Beacon – The Next Leap
In 2019, Nikhil co-founded True Beacon, an asset management firm for ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs).
Features:
- 0% fixed fees; performance-based returns
- Global investing access
- Portfolio diversification for elite investors
True Beacon reflects Nikhil’s ambition to move beyond traditional stockbroking and create a global investment platform from India.
📲 Digital Influence & Thought Leadership
Nikhil Kamath is known for being active on social media, especially on X (formerly Twitter), where he shares insights on:
- Trading psychology
- Wealth creation
- Financial minimalism
- Art, books, and philosophy
His unconventional takes — from questioning traditional education to promoting “less is more” — attract both admiration and criticism.
🎙️ Podcast & Media Features
Kamath co-hosts the “WTF is with Nikhil Kamath” podcast, where he interviews thought leaders, celebrities, and entrepreneurs. The podcast covers:
- Technology & innovation
- Indian economy
- Health & longevity
- Mental health in entrepreneurship
🎓 Personal Life, Hobbies & Philanthropy
Nikhil is deeply philosophical, influenced by stoicism and minimalism.
Interests:
- Chess (played at state level as a child)
- Reading (Nietzsche, Marcus Aurelius)
- Yoga & meditation
- Art collection
He is also involved with several non-profits focused on education, environment, and mental health, under the Rainmatter Foundation, Zerodha’s social initiative.
🏆 Awards & Recognition
| Year | Award / Recognition | Organization |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | India’s Youngest Billionaire | Forbes India |
| 2022 | 40 Under 40 | Fortune India |
| 2023 | Disruptor of the Decade | Economic Times Startup Awards |
| 2024 | Top Fintech Visionary | CNBC-TV18 |
🤯 Controversies
Like many public figures, Nikhil has had his share of controversies:
- IQ Controversy: Claimed he “cheated” on an online IQ test podcast with Viswanathan Anand. He later apologized.
- School Dropout Misconception: Criticized for promoting anti-traditional education ideas, despite success through unorthodox methods.
Despite this, Kamath has remained a resilient figure, using criticism to evolve.
🔍 Impact on Indian Startup Ecosystem
Nikhil Kamath’s success has redefined what it means to be a startup founder in India:
- Proven that bootstrapping can beat funding
- Made finance accessible to Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities
- Inspired new-age fintech entrepreneurs
- Advocated long-term thinking in business and investing
❓ FAQs About Nikhil Kamath
Q1: What is Nikhil Kamath’s age in 2025?
He is 38 years old, born in 1986.
Q2: Is Nikhil Kamath a billionaire?
Yes, his estimated net worth in 2025 is $2.6 billion.
Q3: What companies does he run?
He is the co-founder of Zerodha and True Beacon.
Q4: Why is Nikhil Kamath famous?
He is famous for disrupting India’s stockbroking industry and being the youngest Indian billionaire.
Q5: Is he active on social media?
Yes, especially on Twitter and YouTube Podcast.
💬 Final Thoughts
Nikhil Kamath is the embodiment of the new-age Indian entrepreneur—non-conventional, tech-savvy, philosophical, and disruptive. From call center cubicles to billion-dollar boardrooms, his story is not just inspiring but symbolic of India’s financial awakening.
Whether you’re a trader, investor, or startup dreamer — Nikhil Kamath is a name you need to know.
