Actress Rhea Chakraborty recently turned heads in Mumbai when she was seen riding a pillion on a motorcycle behind billionaire entrepreneur Nikhil Kamath. This sighting has fueled speculation about their relationship, which has been the subject of rumours for some time. On Sunday, the duo were cruising through the city, with Nikhil dressed in a black jacket and shorts, his face partially covered by a mask and helmet. Rhea, on the other hand, opted out of wearing a helmet and wore a mask. 


This is not the first time Nikhil has been linked up to an actress. Earlier there were rumours of him dating Manushi Chhillar.


While the rumours of their relationship continue to make headlines, here’s a closer look at who Nikhil Kamath is, his professional journey, his net worth, and his inspiring story of success. 


Also read: Rhea Chakraborty Spotted With Zerodha's Nikhil Kamath; Video Sparks Mixed Reactions


Who is Nikhil Kamath? 


The co-founder of Zerodha, Nikhil Kamath is the man who turned a modest call center job into more than Rs 26000 crore empire. Nikhil has defied odds and redefined the contours of the country's financial landscape. 


Nikhil Kamath was born on September 5, 1986, in Shimoga, Karnataka. Nikhil chose to drop out of school after the 10th grade. At just 14 years old, he started his first business venture, selling mobile phones. 






Starting small: A call center job at 17 


At the age of 17, after his stint selling mobile phones, Nikhil took a job at a call center, earning a modest salary of Rs 8,000 per month. Despite these humble beginnings, his life took a significant turn when he began investing in the stock market. His father entrusted him with a small amount of money to manage, and Nikhil handled it with such skill that it boosted his confidence and led him to dive deeper into stock trading. As his profits grew, he even convinced his manager to invest in the market, and the two began making money together. 


Co-founded Zerodha in 2010 


Nikhil co-founded Zerodha, a stockbroking company, in 2010 alongside his brother Nithin Kamath. In an interview with Humans of Bombay, Nikhil shared how his success in managing investments at his call center job led to word spreading among his colleagues. Eventually, he stopped going to his day job altogether, as he was busy managing funds for his entire team. This prompted him to quit his job and start Kamath Associates with his brother. In 2010, they launched Zerodha, which has since become one of India’s leading stock trading platforms. Zerodha has made a big impact on India's financial industry, changing the way people buy and sell stocks. The company quickly became popular due to its easy-to-use platform and affordable fees, attracting over 10 million users. 


Kamath has also started another company called True Beacon, which helps very wealthy individuals manage their investments in a transparent and cost-effective way. 


Nikhil Kamath's net worth


Now 37 years old, Nikhil Kamath has amassed a fortune through his ventures in the stock market, and his success story continues to inspire many. He has been featured three times on Forbes' list of self-made billionaires. According to a Forbes report, Nikhil’s total net worth exceeds Rs 26,000 crore. 


Nikhil is not only successful in business but also committed to giving back to society. In 2023, he became the youngest Indian to pledge to donate at least half of his wealth to charity. This shows his dedication to making a positive difference in the world.