In our ever-evolving economy, a group of individuals have achieved extraordinary success at a remarkably young age. Renowned for their innovation and entrepreneurial vision, these young people have risen to prominence, capturing attention from all over the world. They have not only shouldered the responsibility of taking their organizations to great heights but also ensured the long-term sustainability of their businesses. In this article, we will look at the top 10 youngest billionaires in India, whose stories serve as an inspiration for many people who envision themselves achieving similar levels of success.
Table of Contents
Top 10 Youngest Billionaires in India
Achieving success is not an easy task; it requires a combination of hard work, sincerity, dedication, energy and consistency. However, in today’s time, some argue that age-old beliefs might not be entirely applicable, especially when observing the rise of the youngest self-made billionaires in India. They suggest that a great idea, a well-thought-out strategy for promotion, and access to funds might be enough.
While it is true that success can be attained with the right planning and approach, it should be acknowledged that the journey is not without its challenges. Many individuals have indeed reached the status of billionaire, becoming beacons of inspiration for the current generation. If your dream is to join the ranks of India’s youngest billionaires, consider exploring the stories of the successful individuals given below. Their tales may provide valuable insights and motivation to guide you on a similar path towards success.
Here is the list of the youngest self-made billionaires in India, arising from every corner of the country:
1. Nithin Kamath
- Age: 43 years
- Real Time Net worth: Rs. 25,600 crores
Nithin’s background is from a humble family with no prior exposure to the stock market. His father worked as an executive in Canara Bank, while his mother was a homemaker.
After completing his schooling, Nithin pursued a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Bangalore Institute of Technology. His journey from earning a modest salary of Rs. 8,000 per month at a call center to making millions per month is truly inspiring.
At the young age of 17, he ventured into stock trading while still working at a call center. Over the years, he gained experience by working with 12 brokerage firms, and during this time, he noticed the lack of modernization in the stockbroking industry. Recognizing this opportunity, he co-founded Zerodha with his younger brother, Nikhil Kamath.
Today, the company, founded in 2010 and self-funded, has become the largest brokerage firm in India. By 2022, its valuation reached an impressive $2 billion (Rs. 15,612 crores).
As the head of Zerodha, Nithin Kamath draws a monthly salary of Rs. 4.16 crores, in addition to a house rent allowance of Rs. 2 crores, other perquisites worth Rs. 1.6 crores, and Rs. 41 lakhs as various allowances. Moreover, he is entitled to a bonus and variable pay based on his performance, subject to approval by the board and adherence to company policies. No wonder he is first in the list of youngest self-made billionaires in India.
2. Vijay Shekhar Sharma
- Age: 45 years
- Real Time Net worth: Rs. 18,900 crores
Vijay Shekhar Sharma was born in Aligarh in 1978 and is the third child of Sulom Prakash and Asha Sharma. From a young age, his parents recognized his exceptional intelligence. Remarkably, he enrolled in Delhi Technological University at the tender age of 15.
While pursuing his B. Tech in 1997, Vijay Shekhar Sharma made a life-changing decision to venture into the dot-com industry. He created the website indiasite.net, which he eventually sold for Rs. 5 lakhs. This initial success inspired him to establish One97 Communications, a website offering diverse content like cricket ratings, ringtones, jokes, and test scores, tapping into the limitless potential of the internet.
Starting the company with the support of some friends, he encountered financial difficulties in 2003. Nevertheless, Vijay Shekhar Sharma worked hard to sustain both his business and personal needs by taking on a job that earned him Rs. 10,000 per month. Fortunately, one of his friends invested Rs. 8 lakhs for a 40% stake in One97 in 2004, boosting the company’s prospects. By 2007, increased investments led to substantial revenue growth in crores.
Recognizing the significant impact of India’s 3G network launch on IT-based businesses, he envisioned an opportunity and devoted his efforts to creating Paytm in 2010. The platform rapidly gained popularity, acquiring 15 million wallets within just 10 months of launch, particularly appealing to India’s digitally transitioning population.
Paytm experienced a tremendous 700% surge in transactions during demonetization, solidifying its position as a leading online payment system. Consequently, Paytm’s valuation soared to an impressive $10 billion. Vijay Shekhar Sharma’s annual cash salary remains unchanged at Rs. 4 crores for the next three years, making him one of India’s youngest billionaires.
Also Read: 40 Best Paytm Cash Earning Games
3. Divyank Turakhia
- Age: 41 years
- Real Time Net worth: Rs. 12,500 crores
Divyank Turakhia is an Indian-born computer programmer, businessman, serial entrepreneur, and investor. He serves as a true epitome of success, being one of the youngest billionaires in India. Born on January 29, 1982, in India, his passion for coding began at a tender age of eight. He pursued his early education at Arya Vidya Mandir in Bandra, Mumbai, and later graduated from Narsee Monjee College of Commerce and Economics, affiliated with the University of Mumbai.
During their teenage years, Divyank and his elder brother Bhavin Turakhia started building companies. With an initial capital of INR 25,000 ($375), they established their first tech venture, Directi, in 1998.
In a significant milestone, Divyank and Bhavin sold four of their web presence companies – BigRock, LogicBoxes, ResellerClub, and Webhosting.info – to the Nasdaq-listed U.S.-based web-hosting firm Endurance International Group for an impressive sum of $160 million in 2014.
Turakhia takes immense pride in the sale of Media.net to a Chinese consortium for a staggering $900 million, making it the third largest adtech deal worldwide. It was based in Dubai and New York and founded in 2010. This remarkable achievement further solidifies his position as a leading figure in the business and technology realm.
4. Nikhil Kamath
- Age: 36 years
- Real Time Net worth: Rs. 11,100 crores
The story of India’s youngest billionaires Nithin Kamath and Nikhil Kamath is truly remarkable, as it showcases how success can be achieved without conventional college degrees.
Nikhil Kamath, the younger sibling, achieved an extraordinary feat last year, appearing in the Hurun Self-Made Rich List in 2022. Remarkably, he became a billionaire at the age of just 34 in 2021. His journey to success was unconventional, as he disliked school and found the formal education system limiting.
Displaying early potential, Nikhil started selling used phones at the young age of 14. However, his mother and school authorities were not supportive of his business venture, and his mother even went so far as to flush down all the phones in frustration. Despite these challenges, Nikhil dropped out of school after being denied the opportunity to appear for his Class 10 board exams.
Undeterred, at 17, Nikhil took on a job at a call center, where he earned a meager salary of Rs. 8000. Subsequently, he moved out of his parents’ home and began living with his girlfriend. Interestingly, Nikhil’s father always believed in him and entrusted him with his savings to manage. Furthermore, he convinced his call center colleagues to do the same. Although he was not actively working at the call center, he managed their funds, and they marked him present on the attendance register.
In 2010, the duo of brothers launched Zerodha, a venture that would become a significant milestone in their journey to success. At present, Nikhil enjoys a substantial salary package of Rs. 100 crores. This package includes a base salary of Rs. 4.16 crores, Rs. 2 crores for housing rent, Rs. 1.6 crore for other perks, and Rs. 41 lakhs for extra allowances. His achievements prove that determination and unconventional paths can lead to remarkable accomplishments, regardless of formal education.
Cross-Reference: Zerodha founders on how they managed to build without VCs
5. Binny Bansal
- Age: 41 years
- Real Time Net worth: Rs. 8,848 crores
Binny Bansal, born in 1983 in Chandigarh, Punjab, Haryana, is the son of a former army personnel and a government employee. He attended St. Anne’s school in Chandigarh before pursuing a BTech degree in Computer Science from the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi).
Despite facing rejections from Google on two occasions, Binny started his career as a software engineer at Amazon, where he worked for nine months. Prior to that, he had also contributed to the development of a lane sensor device for cars while working at Sarnoff Corporation.
Binny’s entrepreneurial journey began when he teamed up with his friend Sachin Bansal. Initially, they used to deliver books on their scooters. Recognizing the potential of the e-commerce market in India, they decided to establish an online bookstore and founded Flipkart in 2007. The company started in a two storeyed building in Koramangala.
Through persistent efforts, Flipkart expanded its product categories to include electronics, fashion, sports, home appliances, books, and more. Binny assumed the role of CEO in 2016, overseeing the company’s direction, strategic development, and overall business management. Under his leadership, Flipkart became a pioneer in the Indian e-commerce industry.
In 2018, Walmart acquired a 77% stake in the Flipkart group, and Binny continued to serve as the Group CEO. His dedication and hard work have been instrumental in Flipkart’s remarkable growth and success, making him feature in the list of the youngest self-made billionaires in India.
Also Read: Flipkart Net Worth, Share Price, Revenue
6. Sachin Bansal
- Age: 41 years
- Real Time Net worth: Rs. 8,848 crores
Sachin Bansal, born in Chandigarh, displayed serious talent from an early age and developed a keen interest in technology during his time at St. Anne’s Convent School. Later, he pursued his education at the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, where he specialized in computer science, promising a bright future ahead. After completing his graduation, Sachin secured a job at Techspan.
During his time at IITD, Sachin crossed paths with Binny Bansal, and in 2007, they co-founded a revolutionary startup named Flipkart, aiming to transform the e-commerce industry forever. Despite facing numerous challenges initially, they managed to deliver 20 successful shipments in their first year.
However, Flipkart’s success story had its twists, and in 2016, due to some poor decisions made in the past, Sachin Bansal was forced to step down as CEO by the investors, leading to Binny Bansal taking over the position. As a result, Sachin had to leave Flipkart and sell all his shares to Walmart.
After taking some time off, Sachin made a comeback in 2019 by founding BACQ Acquisitions Pvt. Ltd. with his fellow IIT Delhi batchmate, Ankit Agrawal. The company was later rebranded as Navi, meaning New in Hindi. Sachin had ambitious plans for Navi, aiming to transform it into a comprehensive fintech company offering a wide array of products and services, moving beyond a single focus. No wonder he has become one of the youngest billionaires in India.
Cross-Reference: Sachin Bansal ups stake in this tyre stock
7. Bhavish Aggarwal
- Age: 37 years
- Real Time Net worth: Rs. 7,500 crores
Bhavish Aggarwal, an Indian entrepreneur, is renowned as the co-founder of Ola Cabs, India’s leading cab aggregator and ridesharing company. Born on August 28, 1985, and raised in Ludhiana, Punjab, he pursued a bachelor’s degree in computer science and engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) in 2008.
In 2008, Bhavish embarked on his entrepreneurial journey by starting his blog, Desitech.in, which focused on Indian startups, tech topics, events, and more. His career began as a Research Intern at Microsoft Research India, where he spent two years.
Taking a bold step, Bhavish Aggarwal left his stable and well-paying job at Microsoft Research India to pursue his dream of establishing an online rental cab service empire. In 2010, he co-founded Ola Cabs in Bengaluru alongside Ankit Bhati. The company, officially owned by ANI Technologies Pvt Ltd, was a re-branding of their earlier venture.
Ola Cabs specializes in providing cab aggregation, ridesharing, and taxi services, positioning itself as one of the rapidly growing businesses in India, much like other successful online marketplaces. His wealth increased by 13% when he issued equity shares at a nominal price of Rs. 10, which was a great strategy to get funds, increase his net worth and become one of India’s youngest billionaires. Apart from his professional achievements, Bhavish is passionate about squash, cycling, and runs a photography blog.
8. Ritesh Agarwal
- Age: 29 years
- Real Time Net worth: Rs. 4,672 crores
Ritesh Agarwal, born on November 16, 1993, hails from a business family in Bissam Cuttack, Odisha, India, and grew up in Titilagarh. He attended Sacred Heart School in Raygada, Odisha, and later completed his schooling from St. Johns Senior Secondary School. In 2011, he moved to Delhi for college but dropped out with a strong desire to become an entrepreneur.
At the age of 13, Ritesh started selling SIM cards and showed early signs of entrepreneurial spirit. In 2013, he became a winner of the prestigious Thiel Fellowship program, which was founded by Peter Thiel, the co-founder of PayPal and an early investor in Facebook. As part of the fellowship, Ritesh received a grant of $100,000, making him the first Asian to obtain this fellowship.
At 17, Ritesh began his entrepreneurial journey by establishing Oravel Stays, a platform for booking budget hotels. Eventually, it evolved into OYO Rooms in May 2013, an Indian hotel brand that aggregates hotel rooms and operates in multiple countries, including India, Malaysia, and Nepal.
OYO Rooms received funding from various investors, including VentureNursery, DSG Consumer, and LightSpeed Venture. The company has grown to encompass over 72,000 rooms in 8,000 hotels across 250 towns in India, with a valuation of over $600 million. Notably, it secured $1 billion in funding in September 2018, with support from investors like Greenoaks Capital, Softbank Group, Lightspeed India, and Sequoia Capital.
Today, Ritesh Agarwal serves as the CEO and founder of OYO Rooms, providing travelers with affordable and comfortable budget accommodations. He is rightfully one of the youngest self-made billionaires in India.
Cross-Reference: India’s youngest self-made billionaire regrets not going to college
9. Ankit Bhati
- Age: 33 years
- Real Time Net worth: Rs. 2,500 crores
Ankit Bhati, born in 1987 in Jodhpur, India, is a self-described introvert who spends much of his time engrossed in coding. He attended the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, in 2004, pursuing a B. Tech in Mechanical Engineering and later an M. Tech in CAD and automation, completing his Master’s in 2010.
During his academic journey, Ankit showed little interest in extracurricular activities, preferring to immerse himself in the world of computers. He became an administrator at the college computer center, where he would often spend his time. He enjoyed developing websites and even took on freelance projects to earn money while in college.
Beyond his passion for computers, Ankit also loved cycling and going on adventure trips with his friends. The idea for creating the trip website, Olatrips.com, stemmed from his enthusiasm for exploring new places.
Following his studies in Mumbai, Ankit Bhati, along with his college senior Bhavish Agarwal, co-founded ANI Technologies in Bangalore, Karnataka, in 2010. The company is an online transportation service, and its platform, Ola Cabs, facilitates cab booking, riding, and rentals for customers worldwide.
Ankit was responsible for handling the technical aspects of Ola Cabs, ensuring a smooth, convenient, and efficient experience for both customers and partners. In addition to Ola, he ventured into a new Software as a Service startup called Amnic. This platform serves engineering teams, providing instant provision and micro-services runtime with continuous delivery, all hosted in the cloud. With such successful ventures, he has become one of the youngest billionaires in India.
10. Deepinder Goyal
- Age: 40 years
- Real Time Net worth: Rs. 2,300 crores
Deepinder Goyal, hailing from a middle-class background, had a modest upbringing. Following his graduation from the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, he developed a keen interest in food, which inspired him to conceive a venture that would offer people the convenience of ordering their meals through a mobile app.
Upon completing his graduation, Deepinder joined Bain and Company as a Senior Associate Consultant in January 2006. During his time at Bain, he came up with an innovative solution to save time spent on food ordering, as everyone had to endure long queues. Collaborating with his colleague Pankaj, Deepinder created a website for food ordering exclusively for Bain employees using the company’s intranet. The website gained unexpected popularity and attracted a significant amount of traffic, leading Deepinder to realize the immense potential in revolutionizing the food tech industry.
This pivotal moment marked the beginning of a new era. Deepinder and his colleagues were amazed by the response and found themselves compelled to expand the list of restaurants on their website. In August 2011, Info Edge invested $1 million in the venture, prompting Deepinder and Pankaj to make the bold decision of quitting their jobs at Bain and Company. They fully dedicated their time and efforts to the growth and development of their company, which they rebranded as Zomato.
The infusion of funding not only provided a much-needed morale boost but also fueled their determination to make Zomato one of the most popular food aggregation brands in the market. The platform has become an integral part of millennials’ lives, and imagining life without it seems impossible. Under Deepinder’s leadership, Zomato has achieved remarkable success, propelling him to become one of India’s youngest billionaires.
Also Read: Zomato Net Worth, Share Price, Revenue
These were some of the youngest billionaires in India. Their stories encourage everyone to chase their passion and start preparing to make their dreams come true.
