The Sunday Times Rich List has been unveiled, declaring Rishi Sunak and wife Akshata Murty above King Charles in terms of personal wealth.

The king’s fortune increased from £600 million to £610 million this year, but the Prime Minister and his wife’s combined net worth has risen from £529 million in 2023 to an impressive £651 million, surpassing him. They are now marked as the wealthiest couple to ever reside at No. 10 Downing Street and are richer than King Charles, according to the yearly list of the wealthiest people in the UK. In the overall list they hold the 245th spot— an incredible compliment to their financial status. 

Rishi Sunak and wife Akshata Murty
Source: odishabytes

The Modest Fortune of Rishi Sunak and Wife Akshata Murty

This wealth is mostly credited to Murty’s ownership stake in Infosys that her father is a co-founder of. Murty, Narayana and Sudha Murthy’s daughter, holds an ownership of 3.89 crore Infosys stocks marking her down with a 1.05% stake in the company. The value, however small in representation, is considerably huge for a large company like Infosys and it means that she has influence over company decisions, especially when taking into context the combined shares her family owns. 

But the Murty’s are a modest family. Narayana Murthy was once called ‘corporate India’s Mahatma Gandhi’ by Suhel Seth, an Indian marketing expert who is close to the family. Narayana Murthy leads a notably simple life, with the lack of a TV in his house and a learned habit of cleaning his own toilet, having been ingrained with these values by his father. In a conversation with BBC in 2011, he is known to have said “We have a caste system in India where the so-called lowest class…is a set of people who clean the toilets.” 

Rishi Sunak and wife Akshata Murty
Source: Newsx

“My father believed that the caste system is a wrong one and therefore he made all of us clean our toilets …. and that habit has continued, and I want my children to do that. And the best way to make them do it, is if you did it yourself.”

He has made a point of setting this example for his children, teaching them the ‘importance of simplicity and austerity.’ 

But regardless of how well groomed Murty and Sunak may be, their ascent in wealth also highlights a broader economic context marked by disparity. The Sunaks’ financial growth contrasts sharply with the ongoing cost of living crisis gripping the UK.

The increase in the cost of essential goods and services have outpaced the the growth of household income, leading to financial strain for many individuals and families. Inflation, energy costs, housing costs, stagnant wages, food prices and public services are all factors that play a major role in this crisis. According to recent data from the Trussell Trust, a record 3.1 million food parcels were distributed over the past year— establishing the current scenario of hardships faced by many British households. 

The Prime Minister’s wealth, then, is a stark contrast to this concern. Only 6.5% of his income derives from his investments and a total of £172,153 come from his earnings as MP and Prime Minister. Murty’s wealth, primarily from her Infosys shares, is a significant factor in the Sunak family’s financial standing. 

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