🌱 Early Life & Education
Akshata was born into India’s entrepreneurial elite. Her father, N. R. Narayana Murthy, co‑founded Infosys, and her mother, Sudha Murty, is an engineer‑turned‑philanthropist (en.wikipedia.org).
After her birth in Hubli, she moved to live with her maternal grandparents while her parents built Infosys in Bangalore (en.wikipedia.org). She attended Baldwin Girls' High School in Bangalore, then pursued Economics and French at Claremont McKenna College (USA), studied fashion manufacturing at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, and earned an MBA from Stanford’s Graduate School of Business in 2006 (en.wikipedia.org).
💼 Career & Business Ventures
Fashion & Cleantech
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Began her professional journey in 2007 as Marketing Director at Dutch cleantech firm Tendris
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Launched her own fashion label, which closed in 2012 (en.wikipedia.org)
Venture Capital & Investments
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In 2013, became a director at Catamaran Ventures, a venture capital fund she co‑founded with her husband (en.wikipedia.org)
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Investor and director at Digme Fitness, Soroco, New & Lingwood, and had stakes in Koru Kids, Jamie Oliver’s ventures, and others (en.wikipedia.org)
Infosys Stake
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Owns approximately 0.91–0.94% of Infosys, valued at nearly £650 million (en.wikipedia.org)
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In 2024, received around £10.5 million in dividends from her share (thetimes.co.uk)
❤️ Meeting Rishi Sunak & Family
Akshata met Rishi Sunak in 2004 at an MBA program at Stanford. Their romance flourished—Sunak once took a class just to sit next to her (people.com). He proposed in Kannada, her native language, honoring her roots (indianexpress.com). They married in August 2009 and have two daughters, Krishna and Anoushka (en.wikipedia.org).
🏡 Lifestyle & Properties
The couple’s property portfolio includes:
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Kirby Sigston Manor, North Yorkshire
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Mews house, Earl's Court, London
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Flat, Old Brompton Road, South Kensington
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Penthouse, Santa Monica, California (theguardian.com, en.wikipedia.org)
They moved out of 11 Downing Street into a newly converted West London home in 2022 (en.wikipedia.org).
🏛️ Public Profile & Philanthropy
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Delivers a blend of business, education, and social initiatives (news.stanford.edu)
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At No. 10, hosted “Lessons at 10”—inviting schoolchildren for sessions in business, art, and beyond (thetimes.co.uk)
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Alongside Sunak, planned a private office to support educational contributions in Britain (m.economictimes.com)
🔥 Controversies & Recent News
Non‑dom Tax Status
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Held non-domicile status in the UK, legally paying £30,000 annually on foreign income instead of full UK taxes (en.wikipedia.org)
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Faced public backlash and scrutiny over perceived tax avoidance
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Subsequently relinquished non-dom benefits to pay UK tax on worldwide income (en.wikipedia.org)
Catamaran Ventures Closure
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Closed Catamaran Ventures UK in late 2023, transferring its holdings to charity (ShareGift) amid Labour’s probe over potential conflicts (m.economictimes.com)
Stake in Koru Kids
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Donated her 1% stake in childcare firm Koru Kids in 2024 to remove distraction after media scrutiny (independent.co.uk)
Stanford Commencement 2025
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On 14 June 2025, Akshata and Rishi returned to Stanford GSB as commencement speakers, celebrating 20 years since they met and sharing heartfelt reflections on life and learning (stanforddaily.com)
🤓 Top Interesting Facts About Akshata Murty
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Dividends richer than royalty – Owns more wealth than Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III combined (en.wikipedia.org).
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First‑generation engineer – Her mother was the first female engineer at Tata Motors .
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Cross-cultural proposal – Sunak’s proposal in Kannada is symbolic of their blended relationship (indianexpress.com).
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Non‑dom switcher – She voluntarily abandoned UK non-dom advantages to quell public disgust (en.wikipedia.org).
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Educational leader – Founder of “Lessons at 10,” inspiring children in real-world subjects (thetimes.co.uk).
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Matchmaking Stanford – Their commencement speech joked about Stanford being an unexpected cupid .
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What citizenship does Akshata hold?
She remains an Indian citizen, speaking Kannada, Hindi, English, and French (en.wikipedia.org).
Q2: What is her net worth?
As of 2024, Forbes and The Sunday Times estimated her personal fortune at roughly £650–730 million; the couple jointly has about £651 million (news.sky.com).
Q3: What businesses does she manage?
She has held roles in Catamaran Ventures, Digme Fitness, Soroco, New & Harris New & Lingwood, and briefly owned fashion, fitness, and childcare stakes (en.wikipedia.org).
Q4: Why was she criticized over taxes?
Her non-dom status let her legally pay reduced tax on overseas income; public outrage led her to rethink and start paying UK-wide taxes (independent.co.uk).
Q5: What are her philanthropic pursuits?
Through “Lessons at 10,” her upcoming private office, and charitable donations like transferring Koru Kids shares, she promotes education and social engagement (independent.co.uk).
✍️ Final Thoughts
Akshata Murty stands at the confluence of global business, philanthropy, and political influence. She balances her multi-hundred-million-pound investment portfolio with a grounded public life—spanning schools, children’s programs, and her ongoing efforts to normalize cultural diversity within the UK. Her story illustrates how confidence, cross‑cultural respect, and financial empowerment define her unique narrative in today’s world.
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