Akshata Murty Biography
Akshata Narayana Murty, an Indian heiress, businesswoman, fashion designer, and venture capitalist, was born on April 25, 1980. She is wed to Rishi Sunak, the head of the Conservative Party and the prime minister of the United Kingdom. With a combined worth of £529 million (US$645 million), Murty and Sunak are ranked 275th out of the richest persons in Britain as of 2023, according to the Sunday Times Rich List.
British media discussed her personal riches in 2022 in relation to her claim of non-domiciled status, a move perceived as helping the “super-rich.” Later, Murty freely gave up the financial advantages of her non-domiciled status.
She is the daughter of Sudha Murty and N. R. Narayana Murthy, the founder of the global Indian IT business Infosys. She owns shares in multiple other British companies in addition to her 0.93 percent interest in Infosys.
| Akshata Murty Bio/Wiki | |
|---|---|
| Profession | • Venture capitalist • Fashion designer |
| Famous For | Being the first person of color to hold the position of prime minister in British history, Rishi Sunak is the wife of Infosys co-founder N. R. Narayana Murthy. |
| Physical Stats & More | |
| Height (approx.) | in centimeters– 163 cm in meters– 1.63 m in feet & inches– 5’ 4” |
| Eye Colour | Black |
| Hair Colour | Black |
| Personal Life | |
| Date of Birth | Year, 1980 |
| Age (as of 2022) | 42 Years |
| Birthplace | Hubli, Karnataka |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Hometown | Bangalore (now Bengaluru), Karnataka |
| School | Baldwin Girls High School, Bangalore |
| College/University | • Claremont McKenna College, California • Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, California • Stanford University Graduate School of Business, California |
| Educational Qualification(s) | • Bachelor of Arts in Economics & French • Diploma in Apparel Manufacturing Technology • Master of Business Administration |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Controversy | Numerous British newspapers revealed on April 7, 2022, that Akshata Murty had applied for a non-domiciled tax status in the United Kingdom. This implies that she is exempt from paying taxes on dividends she receives from foreign corporations under British law. In addition, Ms. Murthy’s income from Infosys, which was still performing some of its operations in Russia, was questioned by the opposition during the Russia-Ukraine War. At the same time, her husband, Mr. Sunak, was constantly pleading with British businesses to leave Russia to “inflict maximum economic pain” on the Vladimir Putin administration. Subsequently, there emerged news that Infosys has chosen to stop providing its services in Russia. |
| Relationships & More | |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Affairs/Boyfriends | Rishi Sunak (a British politician of the British Conservative Party) |
| Marriage Date | 30 August 2009 |
| Family | |
| Husband/Spouse | Rishi Sunak |
| Children | Daughter(s)– Krishna Sunak, Anoushka Sunak |
| Parents | Father– N. R. Narayana Murthy (Co-Founder of Infosys) Mother– Sudha Murthy (Co-Founder of Infosys Foundation) |
| Siblings | Brother– Rohan Murty (Founder of the Murty Classical Library of India) |
| Money Factor | |
| Assets/Properties | • a about £1.5 million 12-acre Georgian Manor residence in the Yorkshire village of Kirby Sigston. Akshata Murty is the owner of this property, according to sources.
• A £7.5 million penthouse apartment on Santa Monica, California’s Ocean Avenue. The name Akshata is on the registration for this property • A £6.6 million mansion in Kensington, West London, situated in a mews. Rishi Sunak is her husband’s property owner. •A $300,000 first-floor apartment in Kensington’s Old Brompton Road. Rishi Sunak is the owner of this land. |
| Net Worth (approx.) | • £200 million (individual net worth) (as of 2022) • £730 million (collective net worth along with his wife) (as of 2022) |
Akshata Murty’s Early life and education
Born in Hubli, India, in April 1980, Akshata Murty was reared by her maternal grandparents while her mother, Sudha Murty, and father, N. R. Narayana Murthy, toiled to establish their technology business, Infosys. Her mother became a philanthropist after being the first female engineer to work for the TATA Engineering and Locomotive Company, which was the biggest automobile manufacturer in India at the time. Murty was raised in Jayanagar, a Bangalore suburb, alongside his brother Rohan Murty. Her maternal grandparents were schoolteacher Vimala Kulkarni and surgeon R. H. Kulkarni.
Murty attended Baldwin Girls’ High School in Bangalore throughout the 1990s then Claremont McKenna College in California in 1998 to study economics and French. She graduated from Stanford University with a Master of Business Administration and the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising with a diploma in clothing manufacturing.
Akshata Murty Career and Investments
Murty began working as the marketing director for the Dutch cleantech company Tendris 2007. She left the company after two years to launch her fashion brand. 2012 saw the closure of her fashion label.
She was appointed director of Catamaran Ventures, a venture capital fund, in 2013. She and her husband, Rishi Sunak, co-founded the London office of her father’s Indian company, N. R. Narayana Murthy. Not long before Sunak was chosen to represent Richmond as a Conservative MP in 2015, he gave her his shares.
Since 2015, she has held shares in two of Jamie Oliver’s restaurant companies, Wendy’s in India and Koro Kids, as well as 0.91% or 0.93% of her father’s technology company Infosys, which is estimated to be worth approximately £481 million in 2023. Because of this, she became wealthier in April 2022 than Queen Elizabeth II and in October 2022 richer than King Charles III. Murthy served as a director of Soroco and Digme Fitness as of 2022.
Akshata Murty’s Personal Life
Murty is a citizen of India. She states that she speaks French, Hindi, Kannada, and English. Murty wed Rishi Sunak in August 2009; the two met while attending Stanford University in 2004. Their two daughters are named Krishna and Anoushka. They possess a mews home in Earl’s Court in central London, an apartment on Old Brompton Road in South Kensington, a penthouse apartment on Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica, California, and Kirby Sigston Manor in the village of Kirby Sigston, North Yorkshire. It was announced in April 2022 that Sunak and Murty had left 11 Downing Street for a freshly renovated house in West London.
When Murty’s riches came to light in April 2022, the British media took notice of her fortune and pointed out that she was eligible to pay no tax on her income earned outside of the UK as long as she paid an annual payment of £30,000. Subsequently, that same month, Murty declared that she would willingly renounce her non-domiciled status and pay UK taxes on her income earned abroad. A 1956 treaty contains a provision that allows Murty to profit from not being taxed twice on her income, both in India and the UK, provided she pays UK taxes on it while maintaining her non-domiciliary status.
Marriage and Family of Akshata Murthy
Akshata Murthy wed British politician Rishi Sunak in 2009, and Sunak has since risen to prominence in UK politics. Conservative Party member Rishi Sunak has served in some significant capacities within the British government, most notably as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Akshata and their family have received much attention thanks to his political career.
The couple lives in the United Kingdom and has two daughters. Interest in how Indian politics, business, and culture connect on a worldwide scale has also increased as a result of their unification. Together with her husband’s political career, Akshata has a history in business and investments, making them a powerful duo with a distinct set of influences.
The Charitable Projects of Akshata Murthy
In addition to being a prosperous investor and businesswoman, Akshata Murthy has a strong commitment to philanthropy. She has supported numerous philanthropic projects with her wealth and influence, especially those that deal with women’s empowerment, healthcare, and education.
Her work with the Akshata Murthy Foundation, which she established to advance social development and well-being, is one of her noteworthy charitable undertakings. She has provided funding for projects that promote women and girls, healthcare programs, and scholarships for underprivileged students through this organization.
Furthermore, Akshata has been actively associated with the Infosys Foundation, a company that her mother Sudha Murthy started to assist philanthropic projects throughout India with money and in kind. Numerous people’s lives as well as the areas in which they live have been improved by her contributions to these foundations.
Akshata Murthy: Privacy and Public Perception
Despite her noteworthy accomplishments, Akshata Murthy has been able to keep a modest public profile. She has been able to concentrate on her profession, investments, and charitable endeavors thanks to her solitude, as opposed to the continual scrutiny that frequently accompanies being a public figure.
But the public and media are also curious about her because of her modest profile. Given the prosperity of her family and her own, some have questioned her reticence to participate more fully in public life. However, it is important to respect Akshata’s decision to put her privacy first because it is a personal one.
Akshata Murthy: Obstacles and Remarks
Like many people from wealthy families, Akshata Murthy has had her fair share of backlash and scrutiny. Some have questioned the morality of her investments, especially in businesses that might have encountered moral ambiguities or scandals. Her family’s ties to the political and commercial realms have prompted concerns from others over possible conflicts of interest.
It is important to note that these charges are not specific to Akshata Murthy; rather, they are frequently leveled at people who are descended from powerful families. It can be difficult to balance business, family, and personal interests, so it’s important to take the bigger picture into account while making decisions and taking action.
Akshata Murthy: Investments and Business Initiatives
The investment portfolio of Akshata Murthy demonstrates her readiness to back creative entrepreneurs and her wide range of interests. Among her investments are:
Myntra
As was previously mentioned, Akshata invested in the online fashion and leisure marketplace Myntra. The business’s performance and ultimate acquisition by Flipkart proved her ability to recognize worthwhile endeavors.
IN-Dx
Additionally, Akshata contributed to the healthcare technology startup IN-Dx. The company’s goal is to provide cutting-edge methods for infectious disease early detection.
Nua Woman
She supported Nua Woman, a direct-to-consumer company that offers feminine hygiene products. Her support for women’s health and female-led companies is evident in this investment.
Urban Ladder
Additionally, Akshata has invested in the online furniture and home décor retailer Urban Ladder. Her participation demonstrates her interest in consumer products and the e-commerce industry.
Her dedication to supporting entrepreneurship and innovation in India is evident in her investments, which span a range of industries from consumer goods and healthcare to fashion and technology.
Akshata Murthy’s Continued Philanthropic Initiatives
Akshata Murthy’s philanthropic efforts
go beyond her roots and encompass her advocacy for subjects that are near and dear to her. Here are a few more noteworthy projects she has worked on:
Women’s Empowerment
Akshata has consistently supported women’s emancipation. She has backed programs that help women and girls reach their full potential and break down barriers by giving them access to opportunity, education, and skills.
Education
For Akshata, education is a very vital cause. Her charitable endeavors include grants and scholarships for deserving students, increasing the accessibility of high-quality education for those who cannot afford it.
Healthcare
She has contributed to healthcare programs, particularly those that aim to increase underserved communities’ access to healthcare services. Her commitment to improving healthcare service and technology in India is shown in her investments in healthcare businesses.
Community Development
The foundations of Akshata have provided funding for community development projects, including the construction of school infrastructure, the provision of safe drinking water, and the encouragement of rural development programs.
Her charitable endeavors reveal a sincere desire to address social concerns and enhance the lives of underprivileged and marginalized people and communities in India.
Akshata Murthy: Past, Present, and Future Projects
As she makes her imprint in the commercial and charitable spheres, Akshata Murthy leaves behind a legacy of social responsibility, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Others are inspired by her efforts, especially young women, who are encouraged to follow their hobbies and have a constructive impact on society.
It would be interesting to watch how Akshata Murthy’s professional and charitable endeavors develop in the future. Her special combination of investments, economic savvy, and philanthropic dedication makes her a prominent figure in India and around the world.
What language does Akshata Murthy speak?
Murty is a citizen of India. She states that she speaks French, Hindi, Kannada, and English. Murty wed Rishi Sunak in August 2009; the two met while attending Stanford University in 2004. Their two daughters are named Krishna and Anoushka.
Where did Rishi meet his wife?
In 2004, while Rishi was enrolled at Stanford University in the United States as a recipient of a distinguished Fulbright scholarship, Akshata got to know him. ‘An artistic and fashion-loving student with a great interest in India’s traditional craftsmanship,’ Tatler praised her.
