Rishi Sunak, 57th Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (UK) is one of the youngest leaders in the country’s history. Elected at 42 years, he is second only to William Pitt. Sunak is also Britain’s first Prime Minister of ethnic minority descent and the first Hindu to hold the office. Now as he eyes a second term, here’s everything about him.
Born in Southampton in 1980 to Indian parents who immigrated from East Africa, Sunak’s father was a General Practitioner and his mother owned a pharmacy. He was the eldest of three siblings and attended Winchester College, a prestigious private boarding school where he served as head boy. He has since made significant donations to his educational institutions, including sums over £100,000.
Sunak pursued his higher education at the University of Oxford, where he studied politics, philosophy, and economics, got a first-class degree. He later earned a master’s in business administration (MBA) from Stanford University.
Sunak is married to Akshata Murty, daughter of Indian billionaire NR Narayana Murthy, founder of Infosys. Murty holds a substantial stake in Infosys valued at approximately £700 million (5,880 crore Indian rupees approx.). The couple married in Bengaluru in 2009 in a grand ceremony attended by 1,000 guests. They have two daughters, Krishna and Anoushka.
In recent months, there has been controversy surrounding Murty’s tax status as a non-domiciled UK resident, allowing her to avoid UK taxes on international earnings in exchange for a yearly fee. Following public scrutiny, she announced plans to begin paying UK taxes on her overseas income.
Together, Sunak and Murty’s combined wealth is estimated at £730 million (73,000 crores INR) surpassing even the royal family’s estimated wealth.
Rishi Sunak’s joined Conservative Party in 2010 and his rise within the Party has been swift. His election as prime minister marks a high point of his career, which includes various positions within the government and significant contributions to economic policy.
As Rishi Sunak gets ready to become prime minister, his background, wealth, and family connections give him a special view on how to lead the UK. This could bring new changes to the country’s future.