Meet man, school dropout, worked in call centre, now has net worth of Rs 259967590800, built India’s largest…, named as…

Nikhil Kamath’s journey from working at a call center to co-founding a company that transformed India’s stockbroking landscape is nothing short of extraordinary.

Nikhil Kamath’s childhood was far from ordinary. Raised in a middle-class family, he spent his early years dabbling in various ventures, including trading used cell phones. Dropping out of school and facing repeated setbacks in trading, Kamath experienced both the highs and lows of life early on.

After attending Oxford Senior Secondary School in Bengaluru’s JP Nagar a school with no connection to its famous counterpart in England, Kamath initially pursued professional chess, competing at district and state levels. However, he soon realized he would not reach the pinnacle of the sport.

At 17, Kamath ran away from school to start a business trading cell phones with a friend. This venture, though short-lived, marked the beginning of his entrepreneurial journey.

Shift To Stock Trading

Kamath’s focus eventually turned to stock trading, attracted by the potential for quick and significant returns. While working at a call center, he continued trading on the side, learning through trial and error as he navigated gains and losses.

He later landed a job at Indiabulls Securities despite lacking a degree or formal qualifications. “I went for an interview at Indiabulls without a degree or any qualifications and somehow managed to get a job managing clients’ money for Rs 50,000 a month. I was really surprised to land the role,” he recalled.

Founding Zerodha

In 2010, Nikhil Kamath and his elder brother, Nithin Kamath, co-founded Zerodha, a discount brokerage firm headquartered in Bengaluru. Zerodha revolutionized the stockbroking industry by offering low-cost trading options to retail investors. Today, the company serves over 10 million clients, managing assets exceeding Rs 5.6 lakh crore and generating an annual profit of more than Rs 4,700 crore as of FY24.

Nikhil also expanded his business portfolio with ventures like True Beacon, an asset management firm, and Gruhas, which focuses on real estate investments. Additionally, he founded the WTF Fund to support young entrepreneurs under 22 in industries like fashion, beauty, and home sectors.

Kamath’s remarkable journey has earned him widespread recognition. In 2024, he was featured on the Forbes World Billionaires List with a net worth of $3 billion, while his brother Nithin appeared on Forbes’ India’s 100 Richest list.

Nikhil Kamath, the co-founder of Zerodha, India’s largest discount brokerage firm, has risen from modest beginnings to amass a staggering net worth of $3 billion, as recognized in the 2024 Forbes World Billionaires List.