Nikhil Kamath
Nikhil Kamath | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 5, 1986 Shimoga, Karnataka, India |
| Occupation(s) | Business magnate, investor |
| Known for | Co-founder of Zerodha and True Beacon |
Nikhil Kamath (born 5 September 1986) is an Indian business magnate and investor. He is the co-founder of Zerodha, a prominent retail stock brokerage, as well as True Beacon, an asset management enterprise. As of March 2025, Forbes estimates Kamath’s net worth at $2.6 billion. Together with his brother Nithin Kamath, he appears on Forbes' 2024 list of India’s 100 Wealthiest.
Early life and education
Born on September 5, 1986, in Shimoga, Karnataka, Kamath grew up in Udyavara, Udupi district, within a culturally rich Kannada Brahmin family. His father, Raghuram Kamath, held an executive position at Canara Bank, while his mother, Revathi Kamath, managed an event management firm that served major clients such as HP and Bosch at prestigious venues like Leela Palace and Windsor Manor. Additionally, she undertook landscaping projects for locations including the Chinnaswamy Stadium and corporate customers like Intel, CBRE, and Citadel. Revathi further expanded her business portfolio by working on upscale resorts and healthcare facilities with projects valued in crores, collaborating with Site Concept International and Peridian. Beyond her entrepreneurial endeavors, she was an accomplished veena musician. Kamath discontinued formal education after completing the 10th grade and does not possess any academic degrees.
Career
Kamath’s professional journey began with a role at a call center while simultaneously engaging in equity trading independently. In 2006, he became a sub-broker and partnered with his brother Nithin to establish Kamath & Associates, which managed investment portfolios for affluent clients.
In 2010, the brothers launched Zerodha, a brokerage firm providing services in stock, currency, and commodity markets. Zerodha introduced a discount brokerage model that drastically reduced transaction fees, thereby transforming the conventional brokerage industry.
By 2020, Kamath co-founded True Beacon, an asset management company catering to ultra-high-net-worth investors through privately pooled investment vehicles focused on Indian markets. Concurrently, Zerodha sought to acquire a mutual fund license to broaden its financial offerings.
In 2021, Kamath helped found Gruhas, a real estate investment and proptech company that channels investments into startups and unique opportunities via a $150 million fund dedicated to proptech.
March 2023 saw Kamath debut his podcast "WTF is," featuring interviews with leading entrepreneurs and public personalities such as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bill Gates.
In June 2023, Kamath committed to The Giving Pledge by agreeing to donate half of his wealth towards initiatives addressing climate change, education, and healthcare.
Together with Ankit Nagori and Prashanth Prakash, Kamath holds ownership of the Bengaluru franchise for Season 2 of the Global E-Cricket Premier League (GEPL).
Cheating in a chess match
During June 2021, Nikhil Kamath participated in an online charity chess event against five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand, organized to raise funds for Akshaya Patra and the All India Chess Federation (AICF). However, Kamath was found to have employed illicit methods including computer assistance to secure victory.[1]
The Secretary of AICF, Bharat Chauhan, criticized Kamath’s conduct as "disappointing" for an event intended for charity. Following an investigation by Chess.com's Fair Play Team led by Danny Rensch, Kamath’s account was suspended.[2]
Kamath issued an apology afterward, labeling his actions as "quite foolish." His account was reinstated within a day after Anand publicly expressed that he had "moved past" the episode.[3]
Purchasing a home after advocating renting
In October 2024, Kamath acquired his inaugural residential property, which triggered criticism on social platforms given his prior strong endorsement of renting instead of owning, highlighting the advantages of maintaining liquidity. Detractors accused him of inconsistency, describing the acquisition as a reversal of his earlier stance.
Dissemination of alcohol and health misinformation
Kamath was challenged by hepatologist Dr. Cyriac Abby Philips for his favorable representation of India’s alcohol sector and for sharing scientifically disproven assertions about alcohol use. Dr. Philips referenced authoritative medical studies affirming that “no amount of alcohol consumption is without risk,” characterizing alcohol as a systemic poison that harms DNA and contributes to cancer development.
Dr. Philips cautioned that messages encouraging responsible drinking tend to serve commercial interests while misleading the public and minimizing the detrimental effects alcohol has on society. He emphasized the significant financial and health challenges faced by families impacted by alcohol-induced diseases, noting that many patients only seek treatment at advanced stages after exhausting their financial resources.