Nikhil Kamath
Zerodha Founder Nikhil Kamath’s Investment Secrets
| Full Name | Nikhil Kamath |
| Nikhil Kamath’s girlfriend | Rhea Chakraborty |
| About |
Nikhil Kamath is an Indian entrepreneur, trader, and co-founder of Zerodha, India’s largest retail stock brokerage. A school dropout turned billionaire, he is also a co-founder of True Beacon and Gruhas, and one of India’s most followed business influencers.
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| Age | 38 |
| Birthday | September 5, 1987 |
| Place of Birth | Shimoga, Karnataka, India |
| Current Residence | Bengaluru, Karnataka, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Ethnicity | South Asian (Indian) |
| Family | Brother: Nithin Kamath (Co-founder of Zerodha); Parents: retired bank employee and music teacher |
| Education | Dropped out of school after Grade 10 |
| Early Career | Started working at a call center at age 17; began trading equities on the side |
| Entrepreneurial Journey | Co-founded Zerodha in 2010 with his brother Nithin Kamath; revolutionized stock broking in India through a zero-brokerage model |
| Projects | 1. Zerodha – Largest stockbroker in India 2. True Beacon – Asset management firm for UHNWIs 3. Gruhas – VC platform co-investing in fintech, proptech, and sustainability 4. WTF Podcast – “WTF is with Nikhil Kamath” |
| Achievements | India’s youngest self-made billionaire (Forbes); included in GQ’s 50 Most Influential Young Indians; Zerodha handles 15% of all retail trading in India |
| Before Fame | Ran a used phone-selling business; later became a full-time equity trader before starting Zerodha |
| Media Ventures | Hosts the WTF Podcast, featuring guests like Nandan Nilekani, Sadhguru, Kunal Shah, and more |
| Publications | Featured in Forbes, GQ India, Financial Express, CNBC, Moneycontrol |
| Awards | Forbes India 30 Under 30, GQ India’s Most Influential Young Indians, BW Businessworld 40 Under 40 |
| Current Ventures | Scaling Gruhas and True Beacon; expanding WTF Podcast into a top business media platform |
| Investments | Backed fintechs like Smallcase, CredAvenue, and proptech like BuildNext and NestAway through Gruhas |
| Failed Opportunities | Public backlash in 2021 for admitting to faking chess ranking in charity match with Viswanathan Anand (later apologized) |
| Fun Facts | Known to read over 50 books a year; minimalist who doesn’t use a smartphone full-time |
| Most Viral Content | “Richest School Dropout in India” episode on his podcast channel featuring candid talk with Ranveer Allahbadia |
| Best Advice | “Less is more. Focus and simplicity are underrated superpowers.” |
| Lesser-Known Facets | Practices Vipassana meditation; doesn’t own a TV or smartphone for distraction-free work |
| Quotes | “Wealth is not money. It’s freedom.” |
| Close Friends | Kunal Shah, Nithin Kamath, Sadhguru (mentor), Ranveer Allahbadia (frequent collaborator) |
| Public Perception | Seen as India’s modern minimalist billionaire; admired for bootstrapping success and deep investment acumen |
| Net Worth | $3.1 Billion (2025) – Forbes India |
| Monthly Income (Est.) | $10M–$20M/month (from equity holdings in Zerodha, True Beacon, and startup investments) |
| Business Model | Product-led growth (Zerodha), AUM-based fees (True Beacon), venture returns (Gruhas), podcast + personal brand monetization |
| Courses / Products | No personal course; educational content offered through Zerodha Varsity |
| YouTube Presence | WTF Podcast – 200K+ subs, Top 50 Indian business podcasts |
| Top 5 Tweets / Threads | 1. “Rich is noisy. Wealth is silent.” 2. “Minimalism is a cheat code for modern life.” 3. “The best investors don’t chase returns, they manage risk.” 4. “Outperforming the market isn’t the goal. Surviving it is.” 5. “We overestimate what we can do in a day, and underestimate what we can do in a decade.” |
| Email Newsletter Subscribers | WTF |
| Public Speaking Engagements | Global Fintech Fest, Forbes India Leadership Awards, India Today Conclave |
| Mentorship Style | Thought-leadership + investing guidance; shares frameworks and wisdom on podcasts |
| What Fans Say About Them on Reddit and Other Platforms | Praised for his humility and discipline. Redditors admire his “no-frills billionaire mindset” and long-term investing vision. Often described as the “Naval Ravikant of India”. |
| How You Can Impress Them, If You Ever Want To | Be thoughtful, minimalist, and deeply curious — and read more books than you post quotes from |
| Who is Nikhil Kamath? | Nikhil Kamath is the co-founder of Zerodha, True Beacon, and Gruhas – a school dropout who became one of India’s youngest self-made billionaires. |
| What is Nikhil Kamath’s net worth in 2025? | Estimated at $3.1 Billion, mostly from Zerodha. |
| Is Nikhil Kamath dating anyone? | Not publicly confirmed. |
| What companies does Nikhil Kamath run? | Zerodha, True Beacon, and Gruhas. |
| Does Nikhil Kamath have a podcast? | Yes, he hosts “WTF is with Nikhil Kamath,” a popular business podcast. |
| Social Media Profiles | Instagram Wikipedia |