An Indian-American entrepreneur, Baiju Bhatt, has been recognised among the 10 youngest billionaires in the United States on the 2025 Forbes 400 list. Co-founder of the innovative stock trading platform Robinhood, Bhatt is the only person of Indian origin in this elite group. At 40, he joins other notable young billionaires, including Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg, 41, and Walmart heir Luke Walton, 38, highlighting his remarkable achievement in the world of finance. Bhatt’s fortune primarily comes from his continued equity stake in Robinhood, a platform that has revolutionized commission-free stock and crypto trading. His inclusion underscores his impact as a self-made billionaire shaping the US financial and fintech landscape.
Baiju Bhatt: Indian-American Robinhood co-founder and youngest US billionaire
Baiju Bhatt, 40, is a trailblazing Indian-American entrepreneur and co-founder of Robinhood, a platform that has democratized stock and cryptocurrency trading. Bhatt’s journey with Robinhood began at Stanford University, where he met Vlad Tenev, his future co-founder. Together, they launched the financial services platform in 2013, aiming to make investing accessible to everyone, eliminating traditional brokerage fees.Bhatt served as co-CEO alongside Tenev until 2020 before transitioning to the role of Chief Creative Officer. In 2024, he stepped down from day-to-day executive responsibilities but remained an active member of Robinhood’s board of directors, retaining his 6% equity stake. Over the past year, Robinhood stock surged 400%, driven by increased crypto trading, expansion into IRAs, high-yield savings accounts, and record-breaking revenues of $3 billion in 2024.From the son of Indian immigrants facing financial struggles to a billionaire shaping the future of fintech, Baiju Bhatt represents a new generation of young Indian-American innovators redefining wealth creation in the United States.
Baiju Bhatt: From Gujarati immigrant roots to overcoming family hardships
Bhatt is the son of Gujarati immigrants who moved to the United States when his father was accepted into a PhD program at the University of Huntsville, Alabama. Growing up in the small town of Poquoson, Virginia, Bhatt followed in his father’s academic footsteps, studying physics at Stanford University. He later earned a master’s degree in mathematics from the same institution in 2008.His background reflects a story of dedication, resilience, and the classic immigrant pursuit of the American dream. Bhatt’s path to success was far from easy. In interviews, he has shared that his family endured severe financial challenges, particularly after his father was diagnosed with kidney failure. Beginning when Baiju was only five years old, his father had to undergo extensive medical treatments, forcing him to leave his PhD studies to manage mounting expenses.As an only child, Bhatt often felt powerless watching his father struggle with health and finances. The family’s hardships were so significant that they couldn’t afford trips back to India, with their last visit recorded in 1997. Despite these obstacles, Bhatt transformed early challenges into motivation, ultimately co-founding Robinhood and amassing a fortune that now places him among the youngest US billionaires of Indian origin.
Baiju Bhatt’s wealth and Robinhood’s rise
According to Forbes, his current net worth is $6 billion, largely attributed to the 6% stake he continues to hold in Robinhood. This primarily stems from his Robinhood equity stake, which remains a significant portion of his financial portfolio. Robinhood’s success has been fueled by its disruptive approach to commission-free trading, a surge in cryptocurrency transactions, and expansion into new financial products like IRAs and high-yield savings accounts.The company’s remarkable growth trajectory, with record revenues of $3 billion in 2024, has solidified Bhatt’s standing as a billionaire and positioned him as a notable figure among Indian-origin tech entrepreneurs in America.Even after stepping down from executive duties, Bhatt’s continued influence on Robinhood demonstrates his lasting impact on the financial services sector. His story is a testament to resilience, innovation, and the power of entrepreneurial vision.Also Read | Top 10 richest Americans in 2025: Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg and other billionaires shaping the US wealth
