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In the world today
Nikhil Kamath

Nikhil Kamath

N. Kamath
-0.34% | - $-11.21M
$3.25 B ₹ 29,594 Cr
Real Time Net Worth #1280 Ranking as of 21 Feb 2026 By Forbes

More on Nikhil Kamath

Gender

Male

Age

39Y

Country

India

Born On

September, 1986

Deceased

No

Relationship Status

Divorced

Children

Unknown

Education

Unknown

Designation Info :

Self-Made

Yes

Entrepreneur Type

Self-Made (Stock Brokerage)

Primary Organization

Zerodha

Titles

Co-Founder

Sources of Wealth

Zerodha

Industry

Finance, Investments, Fintech

About Nikhil Kamath


N ikhil Kamath is an Indian entrepreneur who, along with his brother Nithin Kamath, co-founded Zerodha, India's largest stock brokerage firm. A prodigious talent in the world of finance, Kamath famously dropped out of school at 17 to pursue his passion for chess and trading. He began his financial journey by trading stocks for himself and later managing accounts for friends and family at a call center where he worked. His intuitive understanding of the markets and knack for successful trading quickly earned him a reputation, laying the groundwork for his future ventures. His non-traditional path into the high-stakes world of finance is a testament to his self-taught expertise and relentless drive.

In 2010, the Kamath brothers launched Zerodha with the mission to break down the barriers for retail investors in India. They introduced a disruptive discount brokerage model, charging a flat fee for trades instead of the traditional percentage-based commission. This model, combined with a user-friendly technology platform, resonated with a new generation of Indian investors and revolutionized the country's brokerage industry. Beyond Zerodha, Nikhil has co-founded True Beacon, an asset management firm aimed at ultra-high-net-worth investors, and Gruhas, a real estate investment and prop-tech firm. Known for his candid views on markets and his philanthropic efforts, he is also a signatory of The Giving Pledge, committing the majority of his wealth to charitable causes.

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Quick Reads


  • Co-founded Zerodha, India's largest retail stockbroker.
  • Dropped out of school at age 17 to focus on trading.
  • Co-founded asset management firm True Beacon and prop-tech firm Gruhas.
  • A skilled chess player who has competed at national levels.
  • Signatory of The Giving Pledge, along with his brother Nithin.

Early Life and Background


Nikhil Kamath is an Indian businessman, the self-made billionaire Co-founder and Executive of Zerodha (India's largest stock brokerage) and Rainmatter (fintech fund). His career is rooted in trading, technology, and entrepreneurial audacity.

Kamath dropped out of school after the 10th grade to pursue his interest in stock market trading. His philosophical approach centers on disruptive value pricing (offering zero-fee brokerage), technological efficiency, and long-term asset hold in the essential fintech and capital markets sector.

  • Zerodha (Co-founder & Executive): The core private asset, India's largest stock brokerage (known for its zero-fee brokerage model).
  • Rainmatter (Co-founder): His fintech and technology fund focused on social impact and wealth creation.
  • Academic Note: He dropped out of school after the 10th grade to start trading.
  • Investment Strategy: His success is built on mastering algorithmic trading and pioneering the low-cost digital brokerage model in India.

Career Journey of Nikhil Kamath


Nikhil Kamath's strategic genius was his commitment to democratizing the stock market. He co-founded Zerodha (meaning zero + constraint) with his brother, Nithin Kamath, in 2010, recognizing the immense, untapped domestic demand for low-cost digital brokerage. His structural contribution is immense: pioneering the zero-fee brokerage model that transformed the Indian financial landscape.

The company achieved unicorn status and became the largest stock brokerage in India (by active users). His wealth is secured by the colossal, long-term, stable profitability of the global fintech and brokerage sector.

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Nikhil Kamath's Timeline


1990s (approx.):

Drops out of school and begins stock market trading (Early Career).

2010:

Co-founds Zerodha with his brother Nithin Kamath (Founding).

2019:

Zerodha achieves unicorn status (Financial Milestone 1).

2021:

Rainmatter Foundation is established (Philanthropic Founding).

Ongoing:

Continues as Co-founder and Executive, guiding the global fintech giant (Executive Oversight).

Major Business Ventures and Investments


Nikhil Kamath's wealth is concentrated in his founding equity and continued executive leadership of the private fintech giant, Zerodha, and his venture fund, Rainmatter.

  • Zerodha (Co-founder & Executive): The core private asset, India's largest stock brokerage (known for its zero-fee brokerage model).
  • Rainmatter (Co-founder): His fintech and technology fund focused on social impact and wealth creation.
  • Academic Note: He dropped out of school after the 10th grade to start trading.
  • Investment Strategy: His success is built on mastering algorithmic trading and pioneering the low-cost digital brokerage model in India.

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Philanthropy and Social Impact


Nikhil Kamath's social impact is structural, stemming from Zerodha's role in driving financial inclusion and democratizing stock market access for millions of Indian retail investors. His Rainmatter Foundation focuses on climate change and environmental sustainability (a major structural contribution to environmental causes in India). His personal philanthropy supports various community and educational initiatives.

His structural contribution is tied to the successful industrialization and scale of the Indian fintech and financial services sector.

Fashion, Style, and Lifestyle


Nikhil Kamath maintains the professional, high-energy style of a technology executive. His attire is consistently formal and high-quality, favoring modern business wear. His aesthetic reflects serious authority and confident disruption, typical of a pioneer in the fintech sector.

Residing in Bangalore, India, his luxury is the immense security and financial reward derived from his multi-billion dollar fortune. His life is dedicated to fintech innovation, investment strategy, and environmental philanthropy.

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Quotes and Philosophy


No publicly available quotes.

Fun Facts & Trivia


  • He is the Co-founder of Zerodha, India's largest stock brokerage (zero-fee model).
  • He dropped out of school after the 10th grade to become a trader.
  • He is known for his focus on algorithmic and quantitative trading.
  • His venture fund, Rainmatter, focuses on climate change and environmental sustainability.
  • His brother, Nithin Kamath, is the CEO.
  • His wealth is estimated at $1.1 billion (2024 estimate).
  • His philosophy emphasizes disruption and low-cost financial services.

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Sources & References


This profile is compiled from verified biographical and financial records:

  • Wealth Data: Real-time tracking and historical data from Forbes Billionaires and the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
  • Biographical Records: Educational and career history sourced from Reuters, The Wall Street Journal, and official university alumni directories.
  • Regulatory Filings: Shareholder and executive disclosures from stock exchange databases, including HKEX, SSE, SZSE, and SEC EDGAR.
  • Corporate History: Primary data from annual company reports, founding charters, and verified press announcements.

All information is cross-referenced with public sources for accuracy; some narrative sections are AI-assisted summaries.

If you find any inaccuracies, please report them to admin@redcarpetlife.in

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