Beyond the headlines: The business and background of Akshata Murty
In short: Akshata Murty is more than the spouse of a former British prime minister. An heiress to the Infosys fortune, a venture capitalist, and a former fashion entrepreneur, her personal wealth and tax status have frequently intersected with high-stakes British politics, sparking national debates about privilege and fiscal responsibility.
Born in 1980 in Hubballi, India, Akshata Murty was raised by her grandparents in Bengaluru while her parents, N. R. Narayana Murthy and Sudha Murty, built the multinational IT giant Infosys. Her upbringing was rooted in a family of high achievers; her mother was the first female engineer at the TATA Engineering and Locomotive Company, and her father co-founded the technology firm that would eventually define the family's global financial footprint. Murty later pursued an international education, studying Economics and French at Claremont McKenna College in California before earning an MBA from Stanford University.
Murty’s professional life has spanned cleantech, fashion, and venture capital. After working as a marketing director for the Dutch firm Tendris, she launched her own fashion label, which operated until 2012. In 2013, she became a director at Catamaran Ventures, a fund she co-founded in London with her husband, Rishi Sunak. Her portfolio is diverse, including shares in Koru Kids, Wendy’s in India, and restaurant businesses associated with Jamie Oliver. However, her most significant asset remains her stake in Infosys, which has consistently placed her among the wealthiest individuals in Britain.
Her financial status became a flashpoint in 2022 when British media scrutinized her non-domiciled tax status. This arrangement allowed her to avoid UK taxes on foreign income for an annual fee of £30,000. Following intense public discussion, Murty voluntarily renounced these benefits, opting to pay UK taxes on her worldwide income. This move highlighted the complexities of international wealth, as she navigated both her status as an Indian citizen and her life in the United Kingdom. Today, she remains a prominent figure, balancing her roles as a businesswoman and a public personality in the British political landscape.
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