Nikhil Kamath is an Indian entrepreneur and investor. He is best known as the co-founder of Zerodha, which is now India’s largest retail stock brokerage. He is also the co-founder of True Beacon and Gruhas, two other successful businesses.
Born on 5 September 1986 in Shimoga, Karnataka, Nikhil became a billionaire without a college degree. He started trading stocks at the age of 17 and co-founded Zerodha in 2010 with his elder brother, Nithin Kamath. By 2025, he was running multiple companies, investing in start-ups, and hosting his own podcast.
Nikhil Kamath Wiki / Bio Table
| Full Name | Nikhil Kamath |
| Date of Birth | 5 September 1986 |
| Age (2025) | 38 years |
| Birthplace | Shimoga, Karnataka, India |
| Hometown | Shimoga, Karnataka, India |
| Current Residence | Bengaluru, Karnataka, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Profession | Entrepreneur, Investor |
| Famous For | Co-founding Zerodha |
| @nikhilkamathcio | |
| Height | 5’9” (1.75 m) |
| Weight | 70 kg (approx.) |
| Eye Colour | Dark Brown |
| Hair Colour | Black |
Early Life and Background
Nikhil was born into a middle-class Gaud Saraswat Brahmin family. His father, Raghuram Kamath, worked as an executive at Canara Bank, and his mother, Revathi Kamath, is a veena player and environmentalist. He has an elder brother, Nithin Kamath, who is the CEO of Zerodha.
Because of his father’s job, the family moved often, but when Nikhil was nine years old, they settled in Bengaluru. From a young age, Nikhil showed interest in chess and played at both state and national levels. This love for chess helped him develop strategic thinking, which later helped in his business career.
Education
Nikhil attended Oxford Senior Secondary School in Bengaluru but dropped out after completing 10th grade. He did not enjoy the traditional education system and preferred learning from real-life experiences.
He once said, “I learned more from markets than from school.” After dropping out, he began selling used mobile phones and later started trading in the stock market.
| School | Oxford Senior Secondary School, Bengaluru |
| College | None |
| Qualification | High School Dropout |
Family Details
| Father | Raghuram Kamath (Retired banker) |
| Mother | Revathi Kamath (Veena player, environmentalist) |
| Brother | Nithin Kamath (CEO of Zerodha) |
| Marital Status | Divorced |
| Ex-Wife | Amanda Puravankara (m. 2019, div. 2021) |
| Children | None |
Nikhil married Amanda Puravankara in 2019, but they divorced in 2021. Media reports linked him to actress Manushi Chhillar (2021–2023) and actress Rhea Chakraborty (2023–2025), but these were never confirmed.
Career Journey
Nikhil’s professional life started at a call center, where he earned ₹8,000 per month. While working there, he began stock trading and soon realised he could make more money from the markets than from his job.
In 2004, he and his brother started Kamath Associates, a portfolio management firm. Then in 2010, they launched Zerodha, which disrupted India’s brokerage industry by offering discount trading. By 2025, Zerodha had over 12 million clients and was valued at ₹64,800 crore.
Nikhil also launched True Beacon in 2019, an asset management firm for high-net-worth individuals, and co-founded Gruhas in 2021, a real estate investment platform. He has invested in several start-ups, including Ather Energy, Zepto, and Nazara Technologies.
Career Milestones Table
| Year | Achievement |
| 2004 | Founded Kamath Associates |
| 2010 | Co-founded Zerodha |
| 2019 | Launched True Beacon |
| 2021 | Co-founded Gruhas |
| 2023 | Signed The Giving Pledge |
| 2025 | Expanded Zerodha and hosted “WTF is” podcast with Shah Rukh Khan |
Businesses Owned
- Zerodha – India’s largest retail stock brokerage
- True Beacon – Asset management for ultra-wealthy clients
- Gruhas – Real estate investment and proptech platform
Podcast
In addition to his business ventures, Nikhil runs the “WTF is” podcast, where he invites entrepreneurs, celebrities, and experts to talk about their journeys. In 2025, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan appeared as a guest.
Net Worth
| Estimated Net Worth (2025) | $2.6 – $3.1 billion |
| Main Income Sources | Zerodha, True Beacon, Gruhas, investments, podcasting |
| Assets | 7,000 sq. ft. apartment in Kingfisher Towers, Bengaluru |
| Luxury Cars | Audi A6, Porsche Boxster S |
Controversies
- Chess Cheating Incident (2021) – Nikhil admitted to using computer assistance in a charity match against Viswanathan Anand and apologised publicly.
- Relationship Rumours – Linked to Manushi Chhillar and Rhea Chakraborty, but never confirmed.
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