Early Life
Vivek Ganapathy Ramaswamy was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on August 9, 1985. His parents immigrated from India. His mother worked as a geriatric psychiatrist, and his father was an engineer and patent lawyer. Ramaswamy was raised in Ohio and attended a Jesuit high school, graduating as valedictorian. He was also a nationally ranked junior tennis player.
Education and Early Career
Ramaswamy graduated summa cum laude from Harvard University with a bachelor's degree in biology in 2007. He then earned a J.D. degree from Yale Law School in 2013. Before founding Roivant Sciences, he worked as a successful biotech investor at a hedge fund. At Yale Law School, he befriended fellow Ohio native and future vice president of the United States JD Vance. Ramaswamy said in 2023 that he had a net worth of around $15 million before graduating from law school.
Rise to Success
In 2014, at age 29, Ramaswamy founded Roivant Sciences, a biotechnological pharmaceutical company. The company focused on acquiring and developing overlooked pharmaceuticals. In 2020, Sumitomo Dainippon purchased a portfolio of five Roivant drugs and a 10% company stake for $3 billion. This sale provided Ramaswamy with an estimated $176 million in capital gains. Roivant Sciences went public in 2021. In 2023, Roivant's stock rose, increasing the value of Ramaswamy's holdings. He also co-founded the investment firm, Strive Asset Management, in 2022.
Political Career
Ramaswamy entered national politics as a presidential candidate in the 2024 Republican primaries. He withdrew his bid and endorsed Donald Trump for the 2024 presidential election. Ramaswamy was appointed as co-lead of President-elect Trump's new Department of Government Efficiency alongside Elon Musk. He is currently running for Governor of Ohio in 2026.
Philanthropy
Ramaswamy serves on the board of directors of the Philanthropy Roundtable.
