Baiju Bhatt’s rise isn’t the usual billionaire tale you hear. He is best known as the co-founder of Robinhood, and joins the 2025 Forbes 400 as one of the 10 youngest U.S. billionaires. His achievements put him in the same league as other young billionaires, including Mark Zuckerberg (41) and Luke Walton (38).
In 2013, alongside Vlad Tenev, he launched Robinhood with a simple but disruptive idea: to let ordinary people trade stocks without paying steep brokerage fees. What looked risky at first soon turned the investing world upside down. Millions of new investors rushed in, and even Wall Street’s biggest players had to adapt.
As of 2025, Bhatt’s wealth is pegged between US$6 and 6.9 billion, a figure that puts him on the list of the youngest billionaires of Indian origin. His story is less about chasing wealth and more about changing how ordinary people interact with money, and where the next big disruption might come from.
Baiju Bhatt – Biography
| Name | Baiju Prafulkumar Bhatt |
|---|---|
| Born | 1985 |
| Nationality | American (of Indian origin) |
| Profession | Entrepreneur, Fintech Innovator, Investor |
| Education | Studied B.S. in Physics and M.S. in Mathematics from Stanford University |
Baiju Bhatt – Early Life and Education
Baiju Bhatt – Career Journey
Robinhood and Bhatt’s Stake
Baiju Bhatt – Founding Aetherflux and Space Energy
Baiju Bhatt – Rising Above Hardship
Baiju Bhatt – Early Life and Education
Baiju Bhatt was born to Gujarati immigrants who moved to the U.S. after his father was accepted into a PhD program at the University of Huntsville in Alabama. He grew up in the small town of Poquoson, Virginia, and followed in his father’s academic footsteps by studying physics at Stanford University, later completing a master’s degree in mathematics in 2008.
His story reflects the reality and determination often tied to the immigrant pursuit of the American dream. But the road wasn’t easy. In several interviews, Bhatt has spoken about his family’s financial struggles, especially after his father was diagnosed with kidney failure. At just five years old, Baiju watched his father abandon his PhD to manage the mounting costs of treatment.
As an only child, Bhatt often felt helpless watching his parents battle both health and financial pressures. Yet, these early challenges became Bhatt’s motivation. He turned setbacks into fuel, eventually co-founding Robinhood and building a fortune that has made him one of the youngest U.S. billionaires of Indian origin.
Baiju Bhatt – Career Journey
During his years at Stanford, Baiju Bhatt crossed paths with Vlad Tenev, a meeting that would eventually build both their futures. Sharing an interest in finance and technology, the two teamed up and, in 2013, launched Robinhood, an app built on a simple but bold promise: to make investing accessible to everyone by eliminating the heavy commission fees that kept many first-time investors out of the market.
What started as a disruptive idea soon turned into a movement. Robinhood gained massive traction, particularly during the pandemic, when millions of new investors flocked to the platform in search of opportunities.
At first, Bhatt poured his efforts into design and product development. He would ask fellow students for feedback, making sure Robinhood felt simple and user-friendly. That attention to users helped the app stand out, and in 2015, it earned the Apple Design Award.
Bhatt initially led the company as co-CEO until 2020, before moving into the role of Chief Creative Officer. In 2024, he stepped back from his executive duties, but his connection to Robinhood remains strong. He still serves on the board and holds a 6% stake in the company, a share that Forbes estimates to be worth around $6 billion.
Robinhood itself has continued to thrive. In 2024, it reported $3 billion in revenue, fueled by a surge in cryptocurrency trading and new offerings such as retirement accounts and high-yield savings products. Over the past year, its stock price has skyrocketed by 400%, cementing its reputation as one of the fastest-growing fintech companies in the world.
Robinhood and Bhatt’s Stake
Robinhood made its public debut in 2021 with a blockbuster $32 billion valuation. Baiju Bhatt, who still holds roughly 6% of the company, has remained closely tied to its journey. Though he stepped back from executive duties in 2024, after earlier serving as co-CEO and later as chief creative officer, he continues to play a key role on Robinhood’s board.
Baiju Bhatt – Founding Aetherflux and Space Energy
Baiju Bhatt’s ambitions stretch far beyond fintech. In October 2024, he launched Aetherflux, a space-based solar energy startup designed to harvest solar power from satellites and beam it down to underserved regions on Earth. The idea is as bold as it is futuristic, tapping the limitless energy of space to solve global energy challenges.
His passion for space innovation doesn’t end there. Bhatt has also backed several private space ventures, including Reflect Orbit and Apex, reinforcing his vision of combining energy and technology to build solutions on a planetary scale.
Baiju Bhatt – Rising Above Hardship
Bhatt has often shared stories of his family’s financial struggles. In a conversation with Shawn Ryan, he recalled how everything changed when his father was diagnosed with kidney failure at the time Bhatt was just five. “He had to give up his PhD and start working to cover the medical bills,” Bhatt said.
With a tight budget, even visiting India became impossible; the family’s last trip was back in 1997. As an only child, Bhatt described feeling powerless, especially as his father’s health declined.
Yet, those difficult years built his resilience. What began as the journey of a boy weighed down by challenges eventually turned into the rise of one of America’s youngest billionaires, and the creation of Robinhood, a trading platform now known around the world.
Michelle D’souza
FAQs
Who is Baiju Bhatt?
Baiju Bhatt is the co-founder of Robinhood, a popular stock trading platform that revolutionized investing by offering commission-free trading. He is also one of the youngest U.S. billionaires of Indian origin.
Where was Baiju Bhatt born and what is his nationality?
Baiju Bhatt was born in 1985 to Gujarati immigrant parents in the United States. He is an American of Indian origin.
What is Baiju Bhatt’s educational background?
Baiju Bhatt studied Physics (B.S.) and Mathematics (M.S.) at Stanford University, graduating in 2008. His time at Stanford was also when he met Vlad Tenev, his future Robinhood co-founder.
