Akshata Murty: Remarkable Journey from Fashion to Impact

Introduction

Akshata Murty is an Indian businesswoman, investor, philanthropist and former fashion designer. She is also known as the daughter of Infosys co-founder N. R. Narayana Murthy and the wife of former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Her public journey is wider than her family connections. She created a fashion label, spent more than a decade investing in British businesses and later focused on education, museums, creativity and numeracy.

In simple terms: she is 46 years old as of July 2026, holds Indian nationality and lives in the United Kingdom. Official company records identify her as Akshata Narayan Murty.

Quick Facts

Who Is Akshata Murty?

She is an Indian entrepreneur whose career connects fashion, investment, education and charitable work.

She first gained professional attention through a fashion company inspired by Indian materials and craftsmanship. She later ran Catamaran Ventures UK, which invested in early-stage consumer businesses.

Public interest increased when her husband entered senior British politics. However, she has continued to develop projects under her own name, particularly in education, design and numeracy.

Her career can be viewed alongside other internationally connected investors such as Shravin Mittal, whose work also links British business with a prominent Indian entrepreneurial family.

Akshata Murty Age and Birthplace

Official UK company records state that she was born in April 1980. She is therefore 46 years old as of July 2026.

She was born in Hubli, a city now officially known as Hubballi, in the Indian state of Karnataka. During her earliest years, she lived with her grandparents while her parents worked to establish their careers.

Her exact birth day is widely reported as 25 April, but Companies House publicly confirms only the month and year. The month-and-year record is therefore the strongest official information.

Nationality and Indian Background

Her nationality is Indian, according to Companies House. The same record lists the United Kingdom as her country of residence.

She grew up in a Kannada-speaking family in Karnataka. Her childhood was closely connected with Bengaluru and Hubballi.

An exact ethnic classification has not been added because reliable public records describe her through her Indian nationality and Karnataka family background rather than through a formally confirmed ethnicity.

Parents and Family Background

Her father, N. R. Narayana Murthy, co-founded Infosys in 1981. The technology services company later became one of India’s best-known international businesses.

Her mother, Sudha Murty, trained as an engineer before becoming an author, educator and philanthropist. She has written books for adults and children and has supported education, healthcare and social-development programmes.

Her younger brother, Rohan Murty, works in technology and is associated with the software company Soroco.

Despite the family’s later wealth, public accounts of her childhood describe a structured home built around education, books, discussions and personal discipline.

Childhood and Early Life

Shortly after her birth, her parents moved to Mumbai for work. They decided that she would initially remain with her grandparents in Hubli.

Her father later described how difficult this decision was and how he travelled regularly to see her. When she returned to live with her parents, the family followed a disciplined routine that placed strong importance on reading, studying and spending time together.

This environment appears to have influenced her later interest in education. Her recent projects repeatedly focus on helping children discover ideas through stories, objects, creativity and numbers.

Education

She studied Economics and French at Claremont McKenna College in California and graduated in 2002.

She then attended the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles, where her studies focused on clothing and fashion production.

She later earned an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business. It was at Stanford that she met Rishi Sunak.

She has remained closely connected with Claremont McKenna College. She joined its Board of Trustees in 2011 and has served on committees linked with academic affairs, student affairs, buildings and public art.

Early Professional Career

Before launching her own company, she gained experience at Deloitte and Unilever.

In 2007, she joined a Dutch clean-technology business in a marketing position. She later left the role to pursue her interest in clothing, textiles and entrepreneurship.

Her combination of economics, marketing, fashion and business education gave her a varied professional foundation.

Readers interested in how education influences business decision-making may also explore Tazeeb Rajwani’s business strategy work.

Fashion Career and Akshata Designs

She launched her fashion company, commonly known as Akshata Designs, around 2009.

The label was inspired by Indian craftsmanship. Its designs aimed to bring traditional textiles and production techniques into modern clothing.

The business did not become a long-running fashion house and closed within approximately three years. However, it remains an important part of her public career because it showed her early interest in design, cultural heritage and independent entrepreneurship.

Her connection with the fashion world now continues mainly through design, museum and cultural projects rather than an active clothing label. Spark Daily readers can also learn about David Pemsel’s British fashion leadership, which connects business management with the UK creative sector.

Catamaran Ventures UK

From 2013 until 2023, she ran Catamaran Ventures UK.

The investment platform supplied funding and strategic guidance to early-stage, consumer-focused companies, mainly in Britain. Her work included assessing new businesses and helping founders with growth plans.

Catamaran Ventures UK was later wound down. It should not be described as her current active investment company.

Her decade of investment experience places her among business figures who moved from running a personal venture to advising and supporting other founders. A related example is Rachel Watkyn’s entrepreneurial journey, which centres on developing a British company from an original commercial idea.

Infosys Shares and Source of Wealth

A major part of her wealth comes from shares in Infosys, the company co-founded by her father.

The company’s official Infosys filing recorded that she held 38,957,096 shares, equal to approximately 0.94% of Infosys, as of 31 March 2025. Later 2025 filings continued to show the same number of shares.

These shares can produce dividend income, but their market value changes whenever the Infosys share price rises or falls.

Akshata Murty Net Worth

There is no audited public document showing her complete individual net worth.

The Sunday Times Rich List 2026 estimated that she and Rishi Sunak had a combined fortune of £563 million. It valued her Infosys holding at approximately £403.1 million at the time of its calculation.

This figure is an estimate, not a fixed bank balance. Share prices, property values, taxes, debts, private investments and other assets can change the total.

It is more accurate to describe £563 million as the couple’s estimated combined wealth in the 2026 Rich List rather than claiming it as her exact personal fortune.

Marriage to Rishi Sunak

She met Rishi Sunak while they were MBA students at Stanford University.

They married in Bengaluru in 2009 and have two daughters. Sunak later became Chancellor of the Exchequer and served as UK Prime Minister from October 2022 until July 2024.

She lived at Downing Street during his premiership but did not hold an elected or government position.

In a public speech at the 2023 Conservative Party Conference, she called her husband her best friend and spoke about his personality and public-service motivation.

Life at Downing Street

During her time at 10 Downing Street, she created Lessons at 10.

The programme brought schoolchildren through the famous black door of Number 10. Special guests and experts introduced pupils to subjects, careers and practical life lessons.

The project reflected her interest in making education exciting and accessible rather than limiting learning to textbooks and examinations.

The Richmond Project

In 2025, she and her husband founded The Richmond Project, a UK-wide charity focused on numeracy.

Its mission is to reduce fear of numbers and improve confidence with everyday maths. The organisation works across different age groups and connects numeracy with household budgets, education, careers, shopping and financial choices.

She serves as the charity’s co-chair. Its stated aim is to help people stop thinking that they are simply “not a numbers person.”

In February 2026, the organisation announced Books Count, which uses number-themed stories to support literacy and numeracy. The project planned to send book bundles to 305 primary schools, potentially reaching about 93,000 pupils aged five to eleven.

V&A Museum Role

Her four-year term as a trustee of the Victoria and Albert Museum began on 10 March 2025.

The official V&A trustee appointment highlights her experience in education, creativity, investment and Indian craftsmanship.

The trustee position is unpaid, although reasonable expenses may be claimed. Her work with the museum fits her long-standing interests in fashion, design, cultural objects and storytelling.

Other Current Roles

Companies House records show that she became a director of The Office of Akshata Murty and Rishi Sunak on 5 November 2024.

She is also publicly connected with:

• The Richmond Project as co-founder and co-chair.
• The V&A as a trustee.
• Claremont McKenna College as a trustee.
• The Murty Trust.
• The Murty Classical Library of India.

These positions show that her current work is more strongly focused on education, charity, culture and public projects than on running a fashion label.

Her experience also connects with the wider world of founders who build organisations around technology and new ideas, including Torsten Reil’s founder story.

Tax Status Controversy

In April 2022, her former UK non-domiciled tax status became the subject of major political and media debate.

The arrangement was legal and related to her Indian citizenship and overseas income. Critics argued that it created a political problem because her husband was serving as Chancellor of the Exchequer.

She later announced that she would pay UK tax on her worldwide income while keeping her Indian citizenship.

The issue was a debate about tax arrangements, political judgement and transparency. It was not a finding that she had illegally avoided tax.

Public Image and Values

Her public image combines wealth and business connections with education, design and philanthropy.

Her projects suggest several recurring interests:

• Giving children broader learning opportunities.
• Supporting confidence with numbers.
• Using stories and objects to explain culture.
• Promoting creativity and Indian craftsmanship.
• Funding and advising growing businesses.

She has also supported educational projects at Claremont McKenna College, including work related to quantitative and computing skills.

Current Status in 2026

As of July 2026, she is not publicly operating an active fashion label or Catamaran Ventures UK.

Her main verified work is connected with The Richmond Project, the V&A, Claremont McKenna College, the Murty Trust and the Office of Akshata Murty and Rishi Sunak.

She continues to be an Infosys shareholder and remains involved in projects combining education, creativity, social mobility and public engagement.

Interesting Facts

1. Her official registered name is Akshata Narayan Murty.
2. She was born in April 1980.
3. She holds Indian nationality and lives in the UK.
4. She studied Economics and French before moving into fashion and business.
5. She met her husband while studying for an MBA at Stanford.
6. She founded a fashion label inspired by Indian craftsmanship.
7. She ran Catamaran Ventures UK from 2013 to 2023.
8. She owns more than 38.9 million Infosys shares.
9. She launched Lessons at 10 while living in Downing Street.
10. She co-founded a national numeracy charity in 2025.
11. She became a V&A trustee in March 2025.
12. She has served on the Claremont McKenna College Board of Trustees since 2011.

Frequently Asked Questions

How old is Akshata Murty?

She is 46 years old as of July 2026. Official records state that she was born in April 1980.

What is her nationality?

She is Indian.

Where was she born?

She was born in Hubli, now called Hubballi, in Karnataka, India.

Who are her parents?

Her parents are Infosys co-founder N. R. Narayana Murthy and author-philanthropist Sudha Murty.

Who is her husband?

She is married to Rishi Sunak, who served as UK Prime Minister from 2022 to 2024.

How many children does she have?

She and her husband have two daughters.

What did she study?

She studied Economics and French at Claremont McKenna College, completed fashion-related studies in Los Angeles and earned an MBA from Stanford University.

Is she still a fashion designer?

She previously created a fashion label, but her current public work is mainly connected with education, charity, museums and cultural projects.

How many Infosys shares does she own?

Public company filings recorded 38,957,096 shares, representing about 0.94% of Infosys.

What is her current role?

Her current roles include co-chair of The Richmond Project, V&A trustee, Claremont McKenna College trustee and director of the Office of Akshata Murty and Rishi Sunak.

Conclusion

Akshata Murty’s public journey has moved through several different worlds.

She began with economics, fashion and business education, created a clothing label and later spent a decade supporting British start-ups. Her Infosys shareholding made her one of the most financially prominent spouses in modern British political life.

Her recent work shows another direction. Education, numeracy, museums, storytelling and social mobility now form the clearest parts of her public profile.

As of 2026, she is best understood as an Indian businesswoman and philanthropist whose work connects British public life with Indian family heritage, international education and long-term investment experience.