Ayesha Thapar, an Indian heiress with a lineage steeped in business, has carved her own path to success. From her days as a style icon in Delhi, she has transformed into a flourishing restaurateur in the United States. Her husband, Nikesh Arora, is the CEO of Palo Alto Networks, a billion-dollar cybersecurity company, and is reportedly the richest Indian-origin CEO in the US. With a net worth exceeding Rs 16,700 crore, Nikesh is among the world’s wealthiest Indian CEOs, while Ayesha hails from the renowned Thapar Group, a prominent Indian business conglomerate.
Ayesha’s journey began with her education at Delhi’s Modern School, followed by an economics degree from Wellesley College. She holds the position of Managing Director at Indian City Properties Limited, a prominent real estate company. Her lineage traces back to her grandfather, the esteemed business magnate Karam Chand Thapar, who laid the foundation for the family’s success. The Thapar Group’s coal-trading business generated immense wealth through various ventures in trading, real estate, textiles, and education, even owning the Oriental Bank of Commerce at one point. Currently, the KCT Group is led by Ayesha’s brother Varun Thapar and father Vikram Thapar.
Ayesha’s entrepreneurial spirit extends beyond her family’s legacy. She has always aspired to start her own business, a dream she nurtured since the age of twelve. This ambition has led her to launch a jewelry line, several fashion labels including Sansaar, and even own a telecom company in Miami. Previously, she was married to Turkish business magnate Engin Yesil. Her current culinary ventures include Ettan and Copra, popular eateries in California, run in partnership with celebrity chef Srijith Gopinathan.
Ayesha’s journey from Delhi’s social scene to the US business world reflects her drive and ambition. The opulent 2014 wedding of Ayesha and Nikesh in Italy, attended by Hollywood celebrities Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis, further underscores her successful and captivating life story.
