Akshata Murty is not only known as UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's wife but also as an heiress to a fortune worth billions. At 43 years old, the Indian businesswoman, fashion designer, and venture capitalist serves as a director in three companies, making her one of the prominent figures in the business world. The UK’s first lady faced accusations in 2022 for allegedly exploiting her non-domicile status as a means to evade UK tax obligations. Who is Rishi Sunak's wife Akshata Murty?

Akshata Murty, born in April 1980 in Hubli, India, was raised by her maternal grandparents in Jayanagar, a suburb of Bangalore. Her maternal grandfather, R. H. Kulkarni, is a surgeon, while her grandmother, Vimala Kulkarni, is a teacher.

Akshata Murty is the daughter of N. R. Narayana Murthy, the IT billionaire who cofounded the technology company, Infosys Technologies Ltd. The software engineer is known as the “Bill Gates of India” with an estimated net worth of $4.1 billion.

Sudha Murty (born Kulkarni) made history as the first female to join India's largest auto manufacturer, TATA Engineering and Locomotive Company (TELCO). Apart from being an engineer, she is also a writer and a philanthropist.

As the chancellor’s wife is the daughter of Indian IT billionaire N. R. Narayana Murthy, she is the heiress to her father's fortune worth billions.

There are two different spellings for Akshata's surname, 'Murty' and 'Murthy,' which her family has differing preferences for. To address this, Akshata has chosen to adopt her mother's spelling, 'Murty,' while her father uses 'Murthy.'

Following her time at Baldwin Girls' High School in Bangalore, India, the heiress headed to California, where she enrolled in Claremont McKenna College and studied economics and French.

After completing her studies at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, she enrolled in Stanford University, where she earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree.

At Stanford University in California, Akshata Murty met Rishi Sunak, who secured a Fulbright scholarship to join the prestigious academic community.

Sunak and Murtywere married in her hometown of Bengaluru in a two-day wedding ceremony that took place in August 2009. They are parents to two daughters, Anoushka and Krishna.

The UK’s first lady's directorship spans three diverse companies: Catamaran Ventures, a capital and private equity firm; New & Lingwood, a gentlemen's outfitters; and Digme Fitness, a leading gym chain.

While her husband, the UK head of government, Rishi Sunak, holds British citizenship, Akshata Murty remains a citizen of India, the country of her birth and her parents' origin.

As the daughter of India's IT sector pioneer, Mrs. Murty possesses a 0.91% stake in her father's company, valued at around 700 million dollars.

The Leader of the Conservative Party and his wife possess at least four residences. These include a mansion in Sunak's constituency of Richmond, Yorkshire, a townhouse in the heart of Kensington, London, and a residence in the sunny city of Santa Monica, California.

In April 2022, the Fashion Designer was accused of seeking tax refuge in the UK through non-domiciled status. Akshata Murty asserted her full compliance with taxes on all UK income and explained that this structure is a legal requirement due to her Indian citizenship.

The billionaire heiress’s passion for clothes emerged when she was a little girl. Her mother, who was an engineer, couldn't understand why she would devote so much time to assembling different ensembles from her wardrobe.

While formerly in finance and marketing, Rishi Sunak's wife is now dedicated to fashion design. Her fashion style melds heritage pieces with designer fashion.

The chancellor’s wife is also actively involved as a shareholder in multiple companies, such as Jamie Oliver's Pizzeria, Bloom & Wild, and Wendy's restaurants in India.

With a 0.91% stake in her father's company and her own fortune, Akshata Murty is wealthier than the late Queen Elisabeth II. The combined fortune of the tech billionaire heiress and her husband makes them twice as wealthy as King Charles III.

Initially residing in California, the couple decided to move to the UK, with their two daughters. Their current residence is in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, while they continue to maintain ownership of a flat in Santa Monica, California.