Indian-American entrepreneur Baiju Prafulkumar Bhatt, with a net worth of $6.9 billion, has been named one of the ten youngest billionaires in the United States, according to Forbes’ latest list of the 400 richest Americans. He is the only Indian-origin founder to make it into this youngest category.
Early life and education
Bhatt, 41, was born to Gujarati immigrant parents. He grew up in Alabama before moving to Virginia. His father pursued a PhD but faced kidney failure, leaving the family with financial difficulties that even prevented travel to India. Bhatt last visited India in 1997.
He earned a physics degree from Stanford University and completed a master’s in mathematics in 2008.
Building Robinhood
In 2013, Bhatt co-founded fintech startup Robinhood with college friend Vlad Tenev. The platform disrupted traditional brokerages by offering commission-free stock trading, making investing accessible to young, first-time traders. Robinhood went public in 2021 with a $32 billion valuation.
The company experienced rapid growth, including a 400% surge in stock value and record $3 billion revenue in 2024. Expansion into IRAs and high-yield savings accounts has further contributed to Bhatt’s fortune, now estimated at $6 billion. Bhatt retains a 6% stake in Robinhood and serves on the board, despite stepping down from executive roles in 2024. He previously held positions as co-CEO and Chief Creative Officer.
Recognition and peers
Forbes lists Bhatt alongside notable figures like Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg and Walmart heir Lukas Walton.
Context in global wealth
In related wealth news, Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently regained the title of the world’s richest person after Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison briefly surpassed him following a single-day net worth gain of $101 billion. Musk had held the top spot for the previous four years.
