Nikhil Kamath, co-founder of Zerodha, became the country’s youngest billionaire to be part of ‘The Giving Pledge’. The initiative, launched in 2010 by Warren Buffett, Melinda French Gates, and Bill Gates to encourage the world’s wealthiest individuals and families to commit a significant portion of their wealth to philanthropic endeavours.
Kamath, 35, becomes only the fourth Indian to join this esteemed community, following in the footsteps of Azim Premji, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Rohini and Nandan Nilekani. Notably, he holds the distinction of being the youngest Indian ever to be a part of ‘The Giving Pledge’.
Through ‘The Giving Pledge’, Kamath pledges to donate a minimum of 50% of his net worth to charitable causes focusing on areas such as climate change, energy, education, and health.
“The Giving Pledge offers a great platform to learn, exchange ideas, and work collaboratively to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges. I look forward to engaging with the Giving Pledge community and exploring new ways to create positive change,” the country’s youngest billionaire noted in his pledge letter.
He expressed enthusiasm for engaging with the Giving Pledge community, exchanging ideas, and collaboratively addressing pressing global challenges.
Reflecting on his commitment, Kamath stated: “Despite my age, I am committed to positively impacting the world and believe that the foundation’s mission of creating a more equitable society aligns with my values and aspirations.”
With around 19 years of experience in the stock market, Kamath primarily focuses on investing, dedicating significant time to assessing opportunities in both public and private markets.
In addition to ‘The Giving Pledge’, Nikhil Kamath is actively involved with various organizations and foundations, including Rainmatter, Giving Pi, Bridgespan, British Asian Trust, YUVA, and his own foundation, the ‘Young Indian Philanthropic Pledge (YIPP)’.
The Giving Pledge, an initiative aimed at promoting philanthropy and encouraging individuals to establish their giving plans earlier, has seen the addition of several new philanthropists since its last gathering in June 2022. The organisation boasts 241 members from 29 countries.