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Nikhil Kamath Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 29, 2026 • 3 min read

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Quick Info

Date of birth5 September 1986

Age38 Years (as of 2024)

BirthplaceShimoga, Karnataka

ProfessionEntrepreneur, Trader, Investor

NationalityIndian

Marital statusDivorced

SpouseAmanda Puravankara (ex-wife)

FamilyFather - Raghuram Kamath; Mother - Revathi Kamath; Brother - Nithin Kamath

Net worth$1.1 billion (as of 2023)

Nikhil Kamath Biography

Nikhil Kamath is an Indian entrepreneur best known as the co-founder of Zerodha. A school dropout who began trading in his teens, he and his elder brother,

Early life and background

Nikhil Kamath was born on 5 September 1986 in Shimoga, Karnataka. He spent much of his childhood moving due to his father’s career in banking and settled in Bangalore around the age of nine. Kamath attended Oxford Senior Secondary School in JP Nagar, Bangalore, but left formal education before completing high school.

From a young age he showed an aptitude for mathematics and a keen interest in chess, competing in state- and national-level events. Chess remained an influence on his thinking; he has said it taught him how to operate within a structured system while finding room for creativity.

Kamath’s family background is middle-class; his father Raghuram Kamath worked at Canara Bank and his mother Revathi Kamath is an environmentalist and Veena player. His elder brother, Nithin Kamath, would later become his business partner.

Career

Kamath began his working life at 17 with a call-centre job while simultaneously learning to trade stocks. He used early trading profits to manage savings for family and acquaintances, and in 2004 he and his brother started a trading firm called Kamath Associates.

The brothers launched Zerodha in 2010, a brokerage and trading platform whose name combines the words “zero” and the Sanskrit term “rodha” (barrier). Zerodha grew rapidly and became a major player in India’s retail trading space. During the COVID-19 lockdown the platform’s user base expanded dramatically; by 2021 Zerodha was processing millions of orders daily and accounted for a significant share of India’s equity volume.

Beyond Zerodha, Nikhil and Nithin founded Rainmatter in 2014 as a fund to back technology startups, operating with a policy of keeping individual investments below one million dollars. Investments from this vehicle included several fintech and financial services companies that went on to scale. In 2019 the Zerodha team launched True Beacon, an asset management company focused on alternative investments; the initial fund generated strong returns in its first year.

Kamath has described his professional trajectory as a series of focused efforts—identifying a few strengths and sticking to them. He is known for long work days and an intense approach to building businesses.

Public profile

Kamath has been a visible figure in India’s business press, appearing on magazine covers and speaking frequently about entrepreneurship, trading, and philanthropy. In 2020 he was reported among India’s youngest billionaires. In June 2023 he joined the Giving Pledge, committing to donate a substantial portion of his wealth to philanthropic causes.

Personal life

Kamath’s personal choices and lifestyle have been covered in media profiles. He has tattoos, collects watches and cars, and keeps a sizeable personal library. He is an avid chess fan and has named Garry Kasparov as an influence. He owns a dog named Hope.

Kamath married Amanda Puravankara in April 2019; the marriage later ended and he is listed as divorced. His brother Nithin remains a close business partner and friend.

Controversies

A high-profile moment came during an online charity chess event in 2021 when Kamath was accused of using computer assistance after beating a grandmaster; he subsequently apologised and characterised the episode as a mistake made during a friendly, charitable match.

Latest updates

In 2023 Kamath publicly joined the Giving Pledge. In a May 2024 podcast he spoke about parenthood and said he does not wish to have children. He continues to be active in fintech investing and the growth of Zerodha-related ventures.

Editorial Review and Sources

This F4U profile is written from publicly available career and profile information, then reviewed for clarity before publication. If you spot an outdated detail about Nikhil Kamath, send the page URL and a reliable correction source to f4udotin@gmail.com.

Reference context: StarsUnfolded

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Recent Work

Zerodha (co-founder)

Co-founded the discount brokerage and trading platform that became a leading retail trading service in India.

2010
Rainmatter (co-founder)

Founded a fund to back tech startups, with a focus on small investments under $1 million.

2014
True Beacon (founder)

Started an asset management company focused on alternative investments; initial fund reported strong returns.

2019
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Career Highlights

  1. Co-founder of Zerodha, a major Indian brokerage and trading platform
  2. Founder of Rainmatter, a fund to invest in technology startups
  3. Founder of True Beacon, an asset management company focused on alternative investments
  4. Joined the Giving Pledge in 2023
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Net Worth

$1.1 billion (as of 2023)

Figures are editorial estimates based on publicly available reporting and may change as new information emerges.

Reviewed by F4U Editorial Desk

F4U profile pages are prepared from public career information, checked for readability, and updated when reliable correction sources are shared with the editorial team.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Nikhil Kamath born?

Nikhil Kamath was born on 5 September 1986.

What is Nikhil Kamath known for?

Nikhil Kamath is known for entrepreneur, Trader, Investor.

What is Nikhil Kamath’s marital status?

Nikhil Kamath's marital status is listed as Divorced.

Who is Nikhil Kamath married to?

Nikhil Kamath is publicly listed as married to Amanda Puravankara (ex-wife).

What is Nikhil Kamath’s net worth?

Nikhil Kamath's net worth is commonly listed as $1.1 billion (as of 2023), based on available public profile information.