Zerodha's Nikhil Kamath shares life lessons with young entrepreneurs: ‘Nothing is permanent…hum sab marne wale hain’

| TOI Business Desk | TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Apr 19, 2024, 19:59 IST

Nikhil Kamath said, "I hated school growing up, was scared of all... Read More

Nikhil Kamath, India's youngest billionaire and Zerodha co-founder, recently spoke to young entrepreneurs about his life philosophy. Despite dropping out of school, Kamath's rise to success, with a net worth of $3.1 billion, is remarkable. According to ET, Kamath has stressed on the need to lighten up in life, drawing from his own school days filled with fear and insecurity. Kamath's motto, ‘Hum sab marne wale hain’ (We all are going to die), urges him and others not to fret over minor setbacks or worries.

Kamath shared a video on his social media handle, X (formerly known as Twitter), in which he told young entrepreneurs, “Whenever something small has happened and I have let it affect me more than it should, there is one motto I follow in life now... . at the end of it if you don't do well in exam, you are jealous of another friend in school or college or that girl you like does not not like you back...don't take life more seriously than it has to be. 'Hum sab marne wale hain'. Have more fun in life.”

Also Read | ‘It’s not real money...': What Zerodha’s Nikhil Kamath has to say about Bengaluru's tech companies driven paper wealth

He captioned the video with the statement, “I hated school growing up, was scared of all my teachers, and lived in fear of everything. Don't be me. Nothing is permanent, to where the world is going, time spent on conformity/judgement is just time wasted…”

At the event, the Zerodha co-founder urged entrepreneurs to take risks and pursue their dreams. He introduced the WTFund, a fund that doesn't diminish ownership stakes, aimed at supporting entrepreneurs aged 25 and under. With a grant of Rs 20 lakh per recipient, founders can retain full ownership of their ventures while receiving mentorship and support for growth.

This initiative shows Kamath’s faith in young entrepreneurs to innovate and make a difference, the report said. He wants to create a nurturing environment where new founders can succeed. The WTFund will choose 40 entrepreneurs for funding and mentorship, guiding them through a tough selection process until they receive institutional funding.

Looking back on his journey, the billionaire remembered how he first got into the stock market while working at a call center. His achievements as a trader and entrepreneur inspired his love for investing, which led him to create True Beacon, an investment management firm catering to ultra-high net worth individuals.

India’s Richest Billionaires 2024: Check Top List

India’s Richest Billionaires 2024: Mukesh Ambani has topped the list of Indian billionaires in the latest Forbes ranking of World’s Billionaires 2024. He is the only Indian billionaire and the sole Asian member in the coveted $100 billion club. Forbes' '2024 Billionaires' list reveals a rise in Indian billionaires, totaling 200 individuals compared to 169 last year. The combined wealth of Indian billionaires has spiked to $954 billion, a significant 41% increase from the previous year's $675 billion. We take a look at the richest Indian billionaires:

India’s Richest Billionaires Rank 1: Mukesh Ambani leads Reliance Industries, a conglomerate with a revenue of $110 billion. The company's diverse portfolio includes petrochemicals, oil and gas, telecom, retail, and financial services. According to Forbes, Mukesh Ambani has a net worth of $116 billion.

India’s Richest Billionaires Rank 2: Gautam Adani heads the Adani Group with a revenue of $32 billion. The conglomerate is involved in various sectors including ports, airports, power generation and transmission, as well as green energy initiatives. According to Forbes, Gautam Adani has a net worth of $84 billion.

India’s Richest Billionaires Rank 3: Shiv Nadar, an Indian IT trailblazer, collaborated with five friends to establish HCL in 1976, starting out in a garage. The initial goal was to manufacture calculators and microprocessors. According to Forbes, Shiv Nadar has a net worth of $36.9 billion.

India’s Richest Billionaires Rank 4: Savitri Jindal, widow of founder Om Prakash Jindal, chairs the Jindal Group, which has diverse interests spanning steel, power, cement, and infrastructure. According to Forbes, Savitri Jindal & Family have a net worth of $33.5 billion.

India’s Richest Billionaires Rank 5: Dilip Shanghvi, the son of a pharmaceuticals distributor, started Sun Pharmaceutical Industries in 1983 with a $200 loan from his father. The company was established with a focus on manufacturing psychiatric drugs. According to Forbes, Dilip Shanghvi has a net worth of $26.7 billion.

India’s Richest Billionaires Rank 6: Cyrus Poonawalla, the son of a horse breeder, established Serum Institute of India in 1966. Over the years, he transformed it into the world's leading vaccine manufacturer by doses. According to Forbes, Cyrus Poonawalla has a net worth of $21.3 billion.

India’s Richest Billionaires Rank 7: Kushal Pal Singh left an army posting back in 1961 to become a property baron. He joined DLF, a company founded by his father-in-law in 1946. According to Forbes, Kushal Pal Singh has a net worth of $20.9 billion.

India’s Richest Billionaires Rank 8: Kumar Birla, leading the Aditya Birla Group, which boasts a revenue of $65 billion, is a fourth generation head at the helm. Over half of its revenue is generated internationally, with operations spanning across 41 countries. According to Forbes, Kumar Birla has a net worth of $19.7 billion.

India’s Richest Billionaires Rank 9: Experienced Mumbai investor Radhakishan Damani ascended to the position of India's retail leader following the March 2017 IPO of his supermarket chain, Avenue Supermarts. According to Forbes, Radhakishan Damani has a net worth of $17.6 billion.

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