An India-origin entrepreneur, Baiju Bhatt, has made it to the prestigious Forbes 400 list of America’s richest, ranking among the 10 youngest billionaires in 2025.
At 40 years old, Bhatt is the only person of Indian origin in this exclusive group, which also includes well-known names like Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg, 41, and Walmart heir Luke Walton, 38. Baiju Bhatt is the co-founder of Robinhood, the popular stock trading app that revolutionized commission-free trading in the financial market.
His significant role in building Robinhood has been key to his wealth. According to the latest Forbes rankings, Bhatt’s current net worth stands at $6 billion. A large part of this wealth comes from the 6% stake he holds in Robinhood. His inclusion on the list highlights not only his personal success but also the growing influence of tech entrepreneurs of Indian origin in the global business landscape.
Baiju Bhatt’s Journey: From Robinhood Co-Founder to Influential Board Member
Baiju Bhatt, the India-origin entrepreneur, first met Vlad Tenev, the co-founder of Robinhood, while they were both studying at Stanford University. Sharing a vision to democratize finance, they launched the Robinhood financial services app in 2013, aiming to make stock trading accessible to everyone by offering commission-free trades.
Bhatt served as co-CEO of Robinhood alongside Tenev until 2020, playing a key role in shaping the company’s innovative approach to financial services.
After stepping down as co-CEO, he took on the role of Chief Creative Officer, focusing on user experience and product development. In 2024, Bhatt stepped away from his executive position but remained actively involved as a board member, continuing to influence the company’s strategic direction while holding a 6% ownership stake.
Over the past year, Robinhood’s stock surged by 400%, driven by increased crypto transactions, the introduction of new financial products like IRAs and high-yield savings accounts, and achieving a record $3 billion in revenue in 2024. give a title for this paragrph.
Baiju Bhatt is the only son of two Gujarati immigrants who moved to the United States after his father was accepted into a PhD program at the University of Huntsville, Alabama.
Bhatt grew up in the small town of Poquoson, Virginia, where he was raised in a close-knit family environment. Inspired by his father’s academic path, Bhatt pursued higher education at Stanford University, where he earned a degree in physics.
He further advanced his studies by completing a master’s degree in mathematics from Stanford in 2008. His strong academic background laid the foundation for his future success as an entrepreneur.
From Financial Struggles to Billionaire Success
In a recent interview with Shawn Ryan, Baiju Bhatt opened up about the difficult challenges his family faced during his childhood. His father, originally pursuing a PhD, was suddenly diagnosed with kidney failure when Baiju was only about five years old.
This devastating medical condition required extensive and ongoing treatment, placing a heavy financial burden on the family. As medical expenses rapidly accumulated, Bhatt’s father was forced to abandon his academic ambitions and enter the workforce to support the family and cover the cost of treatment.
Growing up as an overweight and non-athletic only child in the small town of Poquoson, Virginia, Baiju often felt isolated and powerless. The difficult circumstances at home weighed heavily on him, especially as his father’s health continued to deteriorate.
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Despite the family’s determination, their financial struggles became so severe that they could not afford to visit their native India, with their last trip taking place in 1997. This prolonged separation from their cultural roots was a painful consequence of the family’s circumstances.
Bhatt’s early life was marked by a sense of responsibility and resilience. Witnessing his parents’ sacrifices and his father’s health battles, he developed a deep sense of purpose to succeed and overcome adversity.
These formative experiences shaped his drive to co-found Robinhood later in life, aiming to democratize finance and provide opportunities for others to gain financial empowerment. His story stands as a powerful example of perseverance in the face of adversity, illustrating how personal struggles can fuel ambition and lead to impactful success.
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