Vivek Ganapathy Ramaswamy, an American entrepreneur and presidential hopeful, was born on August 9, 1985, in Cincinnati to Indian immigrant parents. A Harvard College alumnus with a bachelor’s degree in biology, he furthered his education by obtaining a J.D. from Yale Law School. Ramaswamy, the founder of Roivant Sciences, a pharmaceutical company established in 2014, entered the political arena in February 2023 by declaring his candidacy for the Republican Party nomination in the upcoming 2024 United States presidential election.
Before venturing into the pharmaceutical sector, Ramaswamy worked as an investment partner at a hedge fund and co-founded the investment firm Strive Asset Management. A vocal critic of what he terms “new secular religions” such as COVID-ism, climate-ism, and gender ideology, Ramaswamy also opposes environmental, social, and corporate governance initiatives (ESG). Forbes estimated his net worth at over $950 million in August 2023, attributing his wealth to biotech and financial ventures.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Born | August 9, 1985 (age 38) |
| Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S. | |
| Education | Harvard University (BA) |
| Yale University (JD) | |
| Occupations | Businessman |
| Author | |
| Political Candidate | |
| Title | Co-founder of Strive Asset Management |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Apoorva Tewari (m. 2015) |
| Children | 2 |
| Net Worth | $1 billion |
Early Life: Vivek Ganapathy Ramaswamy, born on August 9, 1985, in Cincinnati, Ohio, to Indian Hindu immigrant parents, hails from a family of Tamil-speaking Brahmins with roots in Kerala. His father, V. Ganapathy Ramaswamy, an engineer and patent attorney at General Electric, and his mother, Geetha Ramaswamy, a geriatric psychiatrist, immigrated from the Palakkad district in Kerala, where the family had an ancestral home in Vadakkencherry.
Raised in Ohio: Growing up in Ohio, Ramaswamy’s upbringing was influenced by visits to the local Hindu temple in Dayton with his family. His conservative Christian piano teacher, who provided private lessons throughout his elementary to high school years, also played a significant role in shaping his social views. Ramaswamy spent numerous summer vacations traveling to India with his parents. In high school, he distinguished himself as a nationally ranked tennis player.
Education: Ramaswamy attended public schools until eighth grade and later enrolled in Cincinnati’s St. Xavier High School, a Catholic institution affiliated with the Jesuit order. Graduating as valedictorian in 2003, he set the stage for his academic journey.
Harvard Years: In 2007, Ramaswamy graduated from Harvard University with a Bachelor of Arts, summa cum laude, in biology. His time at Harvard marked him as a brash and confident libertarian. Actively involved in the Harvard Political Union, he became its president, showcasing his contrarian spirit and love for debate. During his college years, he even performed Eminem covers and libertarian-themed rap music under the stage name “Da Vek.” Interning for the hedge fund Amaranth Advisors and investment bank Goldman Sachs, he wrote his senior thesis on the ethical considerations of human-animal chimeras, earning a Bowdoin Prize.
Postgraduate Fellowship and Yale Law School: In 2011, Ramaswamy was awarded a postgraduate fellowship by the Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans, which he utilized to attend Yale Law School. By this time, he was already financially successful from his ventures in finance, pharmaceuticals, and biotech, boasting a net worth of around $15 million before graduating from law school in 2013. During his time at Yale, he developed a friendship with future U.S. Senator J.D. Vance and earned a Juris Doctor.
Campus Involvements: Ramaswamy’s campus engagements extended to being a member of the Jewish intellectual discussion society Shabtai while at Yale Law School.
Current Status: As of 2023, Vivek Ganapathy Ramaswamy stands as an American entrepreneur and a presidential candidate, reflecting on a journey that blends academic excellence, entrepreneurial spirit, and political aspirations.
Vivek Ramaswamy: A Glimpse into Personal and Family Life & net worth
Marriage and Family: Vivek Ramaswamy’s personal life is intertwined with his marriage to Apoorva Tewari Ramaswamy, a laryngologist and surgeon. The couple first crossed paths at Yale, where Vivek was pursuing law and Apoorva was immersed in medical studies. Their connection blossomed into marriage in 2015, and today, they are proud parents to two sons. Shankar, Vivek’s younger brother, played a role in his professional journey, working with him at Axovant and eventually co-founding Kriya Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company.
Faith and Values: Ramaswamy identifies as a monotheistic Hindu, upholding cultural and linguistic ties to his roots. Fluent in Tamil and with an understanding of Malayalam (though he doesn’t speak it), he embraces a vegetarian lifestyle. In a 2020 expression of his beliefs, he articulated, “I believe it is wrong to kill sentient animals for culinary pleasure.”
Wealth and Residences: As of 2023, conflicting reports surround Ramaswamy’s net worth. While his campaign advisor asserted it exceeded $1 billion, Forbes estimated it at over $950 million. His residence history includes Manhattan in 2016 and a house in Butler County, Ohio, in 2021. However, in 2023, the only real estate he disclosed ownership of was a house in Columbus, Ohio, located in Franklin County. A Politico profile from the same year shed light on his residence in a $2 million estate in the Columbus suburb of Upper Arlington, adding an intriguing layer to his lifestyle.
Vivek Ramaswamy’s personal and family life offers glimpses into a diverse and culturally rich tapestry, complementing his dynamic professional and political journey.
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