Akshata Murthy: Who Is Rishi Sunak’s Wife?

Rishi Sunak’s sudden claim to be the first Indian-origin Prime Minister of Britain has drawn a lot of attention, especially in India and its diaspora. But what has also come to the forefront is his wife, Akshata Murthy, a British-based Indian businesswoman who is the daughter of the Infosys chief, Narayana Murthy, one of the richest men in the world.

Akshata holds a 0.93% stake in Infosys, making her one of the wealthiest women in Britain, making her richer than the Queen, at least on paper.

An heiress, she came under scrutiny when it emerged earlier this year that she held a non-domiciled status, which meant she did not need to pay taxes on her earnings from outside the UK. However, she later agreed to pay taxes on her worldwide income. But there's more to know about her. Read on to find out who Akshata Murthy is.

Early Childhood

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Despite having a fortune worth billions, she comes from a humble background.

In a letter to his daughter, published in 2013, Narayana Murthy wrote that once upon a time he and his wife were struggling to find their feet in their careers. They tried to bring Akshata two months after her birth in Hubli (city near Goa) to Mumbai, but quickly discovered that it was a difficult task to nurture a child and manage their careers along with that. So, they decided that Akshata would spend the initial years of her life with her grandparents in Hubli.

A year later, Mr Murthy co-founded Infosys, an IT services company that would change the path for his family.

Akshata’s parents instilled values of hard work and a deep focus on education on their two children. There was no television in their house, so that they could prioritise time for things like “studying, reading, discussions and meeting friends.”

Even though the family could afford a private car and driver to take Akshata to school, she still preferred sticking to the “regular autorickshaw” where she made “great friends with the rickshaw uncle.”

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Education and Career

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She went to do her undergraduate degree in economics and study French at the Claremont McKenna College in California. She then earned a diploma at a fashion college before working at Deloitte and Unilever. While completing her MBA from Stanford University, she met Sunak at the university.

They got married in 2009 and have two daughters.

Akshata began her career in finance in California before launching her own fashion label under the name, Akshata Designs, with its first collection in 2011. In an interview with Vogue India, she said that she worked with artists in remote areas such as Indian villages to create her designs which should be known for their “authenticity, craftsmanship and protection of rich heritage.” However, the business collapsed after three years, according to the Guardian.

Akshata’s entrepreneurial spirit did not end at that as she and Sunak own the London-based Catamaran Ventures UK, a firm that invests in startups. Sunak transferred his shares to her before entering the parliament, making her the sole owner.

She also has direct shareholdings in at least six other UK companies, including Jamie Oliver’s Pizzeria and gentlemen’s outfitters New & Lingwood, which sells high-end menswear. Akshata also holds shares in Jamie’s Italian and Wendy’s outlets in India, the nanny agency Koru Kids, and Digme Fitness, a gym chain where she holds the position of director. During the pandemic, both New & Lingwood and Digme cut down on staff.

Holding shares in her parent’s company, Infosys, became a subject of controversy following the Russia-Ukraine crisis, when the firm was put under pressure to close down its operations in Moscow. In April, the BBC reported that Infosys would be closing down its offices following the backlash.

Moreover, the couple’s immense wealth has led some people to question whether Mr Sunak is too privileged to understand the common person’s problems, especially the cost-of-living crisis. Time will tell how his policies pan out.

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