Rishi Sunak Family Tree : Parents, Wife, Children

After the defeat, he briefly served as Leader of the Opposition from July to November 2024 before stepping down.Before becoming Prime Minister, Sunak held key roles in Boris Johnson's government, most notably as Chancellor of the Exchequer from 2020 to 2022, where he played a major part in the UK’s economic response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He has been an MP since 2015, representing Richmond and Northallerton.

Early Life and Family Background

Rishi Sunak was born on May 12, 1980, at Southampton General Hospital in Hampshire, England. His parents, both of Indian descent, were born in East Africa—his father in Kenya and his mother in what is now Tanzania. Their families had originally migrated from Punjab before eventually moving to the UK in 1966, where they later met and married in 1977.

Sunak grew up in Southampton, where his mother ran a pharmacy, and his father worked as a doctor in the NHS. He attended Stroud School, a preparatory school in Romsey, before moving on to Winchester College, where he became head boy. During his summer holidays, he worked as a waiter at Kuti’s Brasserie, a well-known curry house in Southampton.

He went on to study Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) at Lincoln College, Oxford, graduating with a first-class degree in 2001. While at university, he interned at Conservative Campaign Headquarters and joined the Conservative Party. In 2006, he earned an MBA from Stanford University as a Fulbright Scholar.

Sunak is the eldest of three siblings. His brother is a psychologist, and his sister holds a senior role at the UN’s Education Cannot Wait initiative in New York.

Rishi Sunak Family Tree

Rishi Sunak Wife and Children

Rishi Sunak is married to Akshata Murty, the daughter of Narayana Murthy, the co-founder of Infosys, one of India’s largest IT companies. The couple met while studying at Stanford University and got married in 2009 in a grand ceremony in Bengaluru, India.

Akshata is a fashion designer and businesswoman with investments in various companies. She also owns a stake in Infosys, making her one of the wealthiest women in the UK.Sunak and Murty have two daughters, Krishna and Anoushka. The family primarily resides in London, with properties in the UK and the US.

Early Politics Career

During his time at Oxford University, Rishi Sunak took an internship at the Conservative Central Office, which sparked his interest in politics. He officially joined the Conservative Party during this period. After graduating, he began his career at Goldman Sachs, working as an analyst. However, his ambitions soon led him into the world of finance, where he became a partner at The Children's Investment Fund Management (TCI), a hedge fund. Later, he co-founded Theleme Partners, managing substantial investments.

Political Career

Sunak entered politics in 2015, winning the seat for Richmond (Yorks) in the House of Commons. As a new MP, he quickly aligned himself with the pro-Brexit wing of the Conservative Party, supporting the campaign to leave the European Union in the 2016 referendum. His commitment to party values and financial expertise helped him rise through the ranks. In 2019, then-Prime Minister Theresa May appointed him as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Local Government. Later that year, Boris Johnson promoted him to Chief Secretary to the Treasury, making him a key figure in economic policy.

In 2020, Sunak’s career took a major leap when he was appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer. He played a central role in managing the UK's financial response to the COVID-19 pandemic, introducing major economic relief measures like the furlough scheme, which supported millions of workers, and the Eat Out to Help Out program, aimed at reviving the hospitality industry. These initiatives initially made him one of the most popular politicians in the country. However, as the cost-of-living crisis worsened in 2022, his popularity declined. That same year, tensions within the government led to his resignation as Chancellor, ultimately contributing to Boris Johnson's downfall.

After Johnson resigned, Sunak ran for Conservative Party leader in July 2022. Although he won the most support from MPs, he lost the final members' vote to Liz Truss. However, Truss's tenure lasted only 44 days, as her economic policies led to financial instability. In October 2022, Sunak was elected unopposed as Prime Minister, making him the youngest PM since 1812 at age 42 and the first British Prime Minister of Indian heritage.

As Prime Minister, Sunak prioritized economic stability and attempted to rebuild trust in the government. He set out five key goals:

Stopping illegal small boat crossings by implementing the Rwanda asylum plan.
On the global stage, Sunak supported Ukraine with military aid following Russia’s invasion and backed Israel in the Israel–Hamas war, later advocating for a ceasefire in Gaza. Despite his efforts, the Conservative Party continued to lose public support, struggling in the 2023 and 2024 local elections.

Facing mounting pressure, Sunak surprised many by calling a general election in July 2024, rather than waiting until the autumn. The decision backfired, as the Labour Party, led by Keir Starmer, won a landslide victory, ending 14 years of Conservative rule. After the defeat, Sunak became Leader of the Opposition, leading the party while a new leader was chosen. In November 2024, he stepped down, handing over to Kemi Badenoch.

Now, Sunak plans to continue as an MP for the next five years, but his future in frontline politics remains uncertain. While he remains a significant figure in the Conservative Party, his next move—whether staying in politics or returning to finance—will shape the next chapter of his career.