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In the world of business, fashion, and venture capital, Akshata Murty stands as a prominent figure. Born in India and raised amidst the founding of the tech giant Infosys, Akshata’s unique journey led her to become an accomplished businesswoman and fashion designer. Her impressive wealth and diverse investments in both India and the United Kingdom have placed her in the spotlight. In this article, we delve into her early life, educational background, career ventures, and the intriguing facets of her personal life, including her marriage to the UK’s Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak. Akshata Murty’s journey is a testament to the intersection of wealth, business acumen, and public attention in the modern world.
Akshata Murty: The Multifaceted Indian Heiress and Business Magnate
Akshata Narayana Murty, born on April 25, 1980, is an Indian heiress, businesswoman, fashion designer, and venture capitalist. She is wed to Rishi Sunak, who holds the position of Prime Minister in the United Kingdom and is the leader of the Conservative Party. As of 2022, they are ranked as the 222nd richest individuals in Britain, with a combined wealth of £730 million (approximately US$830 million), according to the Sunday Times Rich List.
In 2022, her personal wealth stirred a discussion in the British media due to her claim of non-domiciled status, which is an arrangement often associated with benefiting the very wealthy. However, later on, Akshata Narayana Murty voluntarily gave up the fiscal advantages linked to her non-domiciled status.
She is the daughter of N. R. Narayana Murthy, one of the founders of Infosys, a prominent Indian IT company. Akshata holds a 0.93% stake in Infosys and has investments in various British businesses.
Akshata Murty Early Life and Education
Akshata Murty, born in April 1980 in Hubli, India, had a unique upbringing. While her parents, N. R. Narayana Murthy and Sudha Murty, were busy launching Infosys, she was primarily raised by her maternal grandparents. Her mother, Sudha Murty, was India’s first female engineer to work for the TATA Engineering and Locomotive Company and later became a philanthropist. Akshata has a brother named Rohan, and they grew up in Jayanagar, a suburb of Bangalore. Her maternal grandparents were R. H. Kulkarni, a surgeon, and Vimala Kulkarni, a school teacher.
During her schooling years in the 1990s, Akshata attended Baldwin Girls’ High School in Bangalore. In 1998, she pursued a bachelor’s degree in economics and French at Claremont McKenna College in California. Additionally, she holds a diploma in clothes manufacturing from the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising and a Master of Business Administration from Stanford University.
Akshata Murty Career and Investment
In 2007, Nisa Murty took on the role of marketing director at a Dutch cleantech company called Tendris, where she worked for two years. Later, she ventured into the fashion industry, starting her own fashion label. Unfortunately, her fashion venture closed in 2012.
In 2013, she became the director of a venture capital fund called Catamaran Ventures. Nisa, along with her husband Rishi Sunak, also set up the London branch of her father’s Indian firm, which is owned by N. R. Narayana Murthy. Sunak eventually transferred his shares to her just before he was elected as the Conservative MP for Richmond in 2015.
Since 2015, Nisa has held a 0.91% or 0.93% stake in her father’s technology company, Infosys, which was valued at around £700 million in April 2022. She also owns shares in two of Jamie Oliver’s restaurant businesses, Wendy’s in India, and Koro Kids. These investments have made her wealthier than Queen Elizabeth II as of April 2022 and wealthier than King Charles III as of October 2022.
In 2022, Nisa Murthy held a director position at Digme Fitness and also at Soroco, a digital transformation company co-founded by her brother Rohan Murty.
Akshata Murty Personal Life
In August 2009, Natarajan Murty, an Indian citizen, tied the knot with Rishi Sunak, whom she met while studying at Stanford University in 2004. The couple has two lovely daughters named Anoushka and Krishna.
They own several properties, including Kirby Sigston Manor in North Yorkshire, a mews house in Earl’s Court, London, a flat in South Kensington, and a penthouse apartment in Santa Monica, California.
In April 2022, there was a lot of buzz in the British media about Murty’s wealth and her non-domiciled resident status in the UK. This status allowed her to pay no tax on income earned outside of the UK, with just an annual payment of £30,000. However, later that month, Murty made an announcement that she would voluntarily give up her non-domiciled status and start paying taxes in the UK on her worldwide income.
By paying taxes in the UK while retaining her non-domiciliary status, she can benefit from a provision in a 1956 treaty designed to avoid double taxation for Indian citizens living in both India and the UK.
This move garnered significant attention and discussion in the UK media.
Meet Akshata Murty’s Husband Rishi Sunak and her Family: A Peek into Their Private Life
Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the UK, and his wife Akshata Murty, share a loving family with two adorable daughters. Their daughters, Krishna, 11, and Anoushka, 10, are students at a prestigious private all-girls school in South Kensington. Interestingly, their schoolmate includes none other than Harper Beckham, daughter of Victoria and David Beckham. While the Sunak-Murty family prefers to keep their children out of the limelight, the girls occasionally join their parents for public appearances, providing glimpses into their close-knit family life.
Akshata Murthy’s Ongoing Philanthropic Endeavours:
Akshata Murthy helps lots of people in India. She cares about different things and does many good deeds. Here are some of the things she does to help:
- Helping Women: Akshata wants to make sure that women and girls have the same chances as men. She supports projects that give them a good education, teach them useful skills, and open up opportunities for them.
- Education: Education is very important to Akshata. She gives money to poor students to help them go to school and learn. This way, more people can get a good education.
- Healthcare: Akshata also helps with healthcare. She supports projects that make it easier for people to get medical help, especially in places where it’s hard to find. She also helps with new medical ideas and technologies.
- Community Improvement: Akshata’s foundations do things to make communities better. They build schools, give clean water, and help rural areas grow.
All of these things show that Akshata cares about people who are struggling and wants to make their lives better in India.
Akshata Murthy: A Role Model for the Future
As Akshata Murthy continues to do well in business and helping people, she leaves behind a strong legacy of working hard, coming up with new ideas, and doing good things for the community. Her work is like a shining example for everyone, especially young girls, who want to follow their dreams and make the world better.
Looking into the future, it will be exciting to see what Akshata Murthy does in her career and in her efforts to help others. She has a special mix of knowing how to do business, making smart investments, and caring about helping people, and that makes her important not only in India but all around the world.
FAQs on Akshata Murthy – Wife of Rishi Sunak
Who is Akshata Murty?
Akshata Murty is an Indian entrepreneur, fashion designer, venture capitalist, and inheritor of a significant fortune. She is well-known for her association with Infosys and her marriage to Rishi Sunak, the UK Prime Minister
What is Akshata Murty's connection to Infosys?
N. R. Narayana Murthy is the father of Akshata Murty, one of the founders of Infosys. She holds a 0.93% stake in the company.
What is Akshata Murty's educational background?
Akshata studied economics and French at Claremont McKenna College, and she holds a diploma in clothing manufacturing from the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising. She also has done MBA from Stanford University.
What are Akshata Murty's career and business ventures?
She worked in marketing at a Dutch cleantech company and ventured into the fashion industry. Later, she became a director at Catamaran Ventures, a venture capital fund. She also owns shares in various businesses.
What is Akshata Murty's connection to Rishi Sunak?
Akshata is married to Rishi Sunak, who is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. They have two daughters together.
