Vivek Ramaswamy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Vivek Ramaswamy
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Ramaswamy in 2026
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| Born |
Vivek Ganapathy Ramaswamy
August 9, 1985 Cincinnati, Ohio, US
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| Education | Harvard University (BA) Yale University (JD) |
| Spouse(s) |
Apoorva Tewari
(m. 2015) |
| Children | 3 |
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Vivek Ganapathy Ramaswamy (born August 9, 1985) is an American businessman and politician. He started a company called Roivant Sciences in 2014. This company develops new medicines. He was its chief executive officer until 2021. Ramaswamy became known in national politics as a presidential candidate in the 2024 Republican primaries. He later stopped his campaign and supported Donald Trump. As of July 2026, he is the Republican candidate for governor of Ohio in the 2026 election. Both Donald Trump and the Ohio Republican Party have supported his campaign.
Ramaswamy was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. His parents were immigrants from India. He studied biology at Harvard University and law at Yale University. Before starting Roivant Sciences, Ramaswamy worked as an investment partner. In 2022, he also co-founded an investment firm called Strive Asset Management.
Ramaswamy was not very involved in politics until 2020. He supported Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election. In 2021, Ramaswamy wrote his first book, Woke Inc. He often appeared on TV to discuss his views against certain modern social policies. He also became a regular donor to the Republican Party.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Vivek Ganapathy Ramaswamy was born on August 9, 1985, in Cincinnati, Ohio. His parents came from India. His father, Vadakanchery Ganapathy Ramaswamy, was an engineer for General Electric. His mother, Geetha Ramaswamy, was a psychiatrist.
Ramaswamy grew up in Ohio. He often went to the local Hindu temple with his family. His piano teacher, who was a conservative Christian, also influenced his social ideas. He spent many summer vacations traveling to India with his parents. In high school, Ramaswamy was a skilled tennis player.
Schooling and College
Ramaswamy attended public schools until eighth grade. He then went to St. Xavier High School, a Catholic school in Cincinnati. He graduated as the top student in 2003.
In 2007, Ramaswamy earned a bachelor's degree in biology from Harvard University. While at Harvard, he was known for his confident and independent views. He was also the president of the Harvard Political Union. During college, he performed rap music. He also worked as an intern for investment firms.
He later received a law degree from Yale University in 2013. While at Yale, he became friends with JD Vance, who later became Vice President of the United States.
Business Career
Starting Out
In 2007, Ramaswamy helped start Campus Venture Network. This company created a social networking website for university students who wanted to start businesses. The company was sold in 2009.
From 2007 to 2014, Ramaswamy worked at an investment firm called QVT Financial. He was a partner and helped manage investments in biotech companies.
Roivant Sciences: Developing Medicines
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In 2014, Ramaswamy founded Roivant Sciences. The company's goal was to buy patents for medicines that larger companies had not fully developed. Then, Roivant would try to bring these medicines to the market. The company created many smaller companies, called subsidiaries, focusing on different areas like skin conditions or diseases in Asia.
One of these subsidiaries, Axovant Sciences, tried to develop a medicine for Alzheimer's disease. Roivant bought the patent for this medicine from another company. However, the medicine did not work as hoped in clinical trials. As a result, the company's value decreased significantly. Axovant later tried to focus on gene therapy but closed down in 2023.
Roivant also partnered with other investment firms, including SoftBank. In 2019, Roivant sold its shares in some of its subsidiaries to Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma.
Ramaswamy stepped down as CEO of Roivant Sciences in January 2021. He became the executive chairman. In February 2023, he left his role as chair to focus on his presidential campaign. Roivant Sciences was listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange in 2021. The company was not profitable during Ramaswamy's time leading it.
Roivant Social Ventures
In 2020, while Ramaswamy was CEO, Roivant Sciences created a nonprofit group called Roivant Social Ventures (RSV). This group focused on social impact. RSV worked to promote fairness and diversity in the healthcare and biotech industries. Ramaswamy has since downplayed his role in creating this group.
Strive Asset Management: "Anti-Woke" Investing
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In early 2022, Ramaswamy co-founded Strive Asset Management with his high school friend Anson Frericks. This firm raised money from investors like Peter Thiel and JD Vance.
Strive describes itself as "anti-woke" and "anti-ESG." This means the company focuses on helping businesses succeed financially. It aims to do this without mixing in political or social causes. Ramaswamy believes that large investment firms sometimes let social agendas harm their investors' returns.
Ramaswamy has written books like Woke, Inc. and Nation of Victims. In these books, he argues against companies focusing on social issues instead of just profits. Strive's main fund, DRLL, invests in the energy sector. It encourages energy companies to produce more oil and natural gas.
Ramaswamy was the executive chairman of Strive before he resigned in February 2023. He left to focus on his presidential campaign.
Other Business Activities
In 2020, Ramaswamy also co-founded Chapter Medicare, a platform that helps people understand Medicare. He was also part of the Ohio COVID-19 Response Team.
In May 2024, Ramaswamy bought a significant share in BuzzFeed, a media company. He suggested that the company should hire new directors and commentators with different viewpoints.
Political Career
Early Steps in Politics
Ramaswamy has said he voted for the Libertarian Party candidate in 2004. He did not vote in the 2008, 2012, or 2016 presidential elections. He described himself as not political during those years. In 2020, he supported Donald Trump. In 2021, he registered as an "unaffiliated" voter in Ohio but said he was a Republican.
He has donated money to both Democratic and Republican political campaigns. He considered running for the U.S. Senate in Ohio in 2022.
2024 Presidential Campaign
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On February 21, 2023, Ramaswamy announced he was running for the Republican nomination for president in 2024. He shared his financial information publicly. His campaign was largely funded by his own money.
During his campaign, Ramaswamy sought support from religious voters. He often said he was an "unapologetic American nationalist." He frequently criticized other candidates but generally avoided directly criticizing Donald Trump.
His campaign admitted to paying an editor to change his online biography before he announced his candidacy.
After finishing fourth in the Iowa caucuses in January 2024, Ramaswamy ended his campaign. He then endorsed Donald Trump. For the rest of the 2024 election, Ramaswamy represented the Trump campaign at events.
Department of Government Efficiency
A week after the 2024 election, President-elect Donald Trump announced that Ramaswamy and businessman Elon Musk would lead a new group. This group was called the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). However, Ramaswamy later decided not to work with the DOGE team. He chose to focus on a potential campaign for governor of Ohio instead. His departure was due to differences in approach with other leaders.
2026 Ohio Gubernatorial Election
On February 15, 2025, Ramaswamy filed to run in the 2026 Ohio gubernatorial election. He officially announced his campaign on February 24. On the same day, President Donald Trump endorsed Ramaswamy. Trump said Ramaswamy would be a "GREAT Governor of Ohio." Elon Musk also endorsed him.
On May 9, 2025, the Ohio Republican Party officially endorsed Ramaswamy. This was the earliest the state Republican Party had ever endorsed a candidate for governor who was not already in office.
On January 6, 2026, Ramaswamy announced that Ohio State Senate President Rob McColley would be his running mate for lieutenant governor. The next day, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine also endorsed Ramaswamy.
Later that month, Ramaswamy's campaign ended its contract with a private security firm. This happened after issues arose with the guards' licensing.
In the Republican primary election on May 5, 2026, Ramaswamy won with 82.5% of the votes. He defeated Casey Putsch. If elected, Ramaswamy would make history as the first Indian American governor in Ohio.
Political Views
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Ramaswamy often describes himself as an American nationalist. He believes the United States faces challenges to its national identity. He strongly supported Donald Trump during his campaign. He also promised to pardon individuals like Julian Assange, Ross Ulbricht, and Edward Snowden if he became president.
"Anti-Woke" Stance
Ramaswamy is known as an "anti-woke" candidate. His book, Woke Inc., discusses his views on how businesses sometimes focus too much on social and political causes. He argues that traditional values like faith, patriotism, and hard work are being challenged.
Education and Fairness
He has spoken against critical race theory, saying it influences public school children. Ramaswamy also opposes affirmative action programs. He believes that American-style capitalism can help overcome social divisions.
Government and Voting
Ramaswamy has pledged to make big changes to the government if elected. He has suggested reducing the number of federal employees and changing how some government agencies operate. He has also criticized the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
He proposed changing the standard voting age from 18 to 25. Under his idea, citizens between 18 and 24 could vote only if they served in the military, worked as first responders, or passed a civics test. He also supports ending birthright citizenship. Ramaswamy wants to make Election Day a federal holiday but would remove Juneteenth as one.
Climate and Energy
Ramaswamy has stated he is not a climate denier. However, he has expressed skepticism about the climate change agenda and its policies. He acknowledges that burning fossil fuels causes climate change but highlights their benefits, such as providing cheap energy. He criticizes what he calls the "climate cult" and would change U.S. climate policies. He also opposes government subsidies for electric vehicles.
Personal Life
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Ramaswamy's wife, Apoorva Tewari Ramaswamy, is a surgeon. They met at Yale and married in 2015. They have two sons and a daughter. Ramaswamy also has a younger brother, Shankar, who has worked in the biopharmaceutical industry.
Ramaswamy is a monotheistic Hindu. He is a vegetarian. He has written that he believes it is wrong to kill animals for food. His parents say he tries to understand both Eastern and Western culture.
In July 2026, Forbes estimated Ramaswamy's net worth to be $3 billion. His wealth comes from his biotech and financial businesses. He has lived in Manhattan and currently owns a house in Columbus, Ohio.
Published Works
- Woke, Inc.: Inside Corporate America's Social Justice Scam (2021)
- Nation of Victims: Identity Politics, the Death of Merit, and the Path Back to Excellence (2022)
- Capitalist Punishment: How Wall Street Is Using Your Money to Create a Country You Didn't Vote For (2023)
See also
In Spanish: Vivek Ramaswamy para niños
