A viral LinkedIn submit claimed Zerodha co-founder Nithin Kamath gifted over 20 luxurious automobiles to his high staff in 2023. Finance educator Minal Udeshi known as it a genius transfer in “strategic compensation.” Everybody liked it. Sensible boss. Cool perks. Tax-savvy.
There was only one drawback.
Kamath says it by no means occurred.
“What!!! Until there may be another Nithin Kamath from Zerodha, that is positively not true,”
Kamath commented, shutting down the hypothesis in a single line.
However not earlier than the submit had already sparked a full-blown dialogue about wealth, taxes, and the artwork of rewarding high performers.
Right here’s what Udeshi initially wrote:
“In 2023, Indian billionaire Nithin Kamath of Zerodha gifted over 20 luxurious automobiles to high staff.
Not bonuses. BMWs. Audis. Mercedes.”
She framed the alleged gifting not as extravagance however as a strategic monetary transfer.
“A automobile, gifted as a non-cash perk, usually attracts decrease taxes than wage,” Udeshi wrote.
“Depreciating asset? Sure. However when purchased below an organization, might be claimed as an expense.”
“No dividend tax. No ESOP paperwork. No annual tax reporting chaos.”
“And extra importantly—emotionally memorable in a approach no payslip ever is.”
She painted an image of a new-age compensation playbook—the place emotional influence, tax effectivity, and retention intersect.
“Whereas the center class counts on year-end value determinations, the ultra-wealthy are constructing loyalty and transferring cash in methods which are sensible, authorized, and… properly, parked within the driveway.”
“This isn’t simply gifting.
That is strategic compensation.”
“It’s not all the time about greater financial institution accounts.
Generally, it’s about understanding learn how to spend smarter—and go away everybody smiling.”