You’ve probably seen his face on your feed — a serene smile, a profound quote, millions of likes. Jay Shetty is one of the most recognizable voices in modern self-help, but the story behind his rise is more complicated than a single viral video. With 19 million Instagram followers and a top-ranked podcast, he’s built a media empire on the foundation of his time as a Hindu monk — a past that has attracted both devotion and scrutiny.

4 related posts

Instagram followers: 19 million · NYT bestsellers: 1 · Podcast rank: #1 mental health · Born: 6 September 1987 · Books published: 2

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact duration of his monk period – claimed three years, some sources suggest less (STAT (health news outlet))
  • Accuracy of inspirational anecdotes he shared without original attribution (STAT (health news outlet))
  • Extent of his childhood ties to ISKCON and whether it was downplayed (Wikipedia (encyclopedia))
3Timeline signal
  • 2017 – Began posting viral motivational videos on Facebook (Wikipedia (encyclopedia))
  • 2020 – Published Think Like a Monk; became NYT bestseller (Wikipedia (encyclopedia))
  • 2024 – Guardian investigation raised credibility questions about his monastic claims (STAT (health news outlet))
4What’s next
  • Continues to host On Purpose and expand his media brand (STAT (health news outlet))
  • Faces ongoing scrutiny from journalists and critics over business practices (STAT (health news outlet))

Eight key facts about Jay Shetty, from birth to business ventures:

Full name Jay Shetty
Born 6 September 1987
Nationality British
Occupation Podcaster, author, entrepreneur, life coach
Spouse Radhi Devlukia
Instagram followers 19 million
Podcast On Purpose
Notable book Think Like a Monk

Why is Jay Shetty so famous?

His rise through social media

  • Shetty began sharing short wisdom videos on Facebook in 2017. One video, where he recites a poem about “what you deserve in a relationship,” accumulated over 100 million views (Wikipedia (encyclopedia)).
  • By 2019, his Instagram account had grown to millions of followers, largely through reposting his Facebook content with inspirational quotes (STAT (health news outlet)).

The implication: Shetty understood platform algorithms early and used emotional, shareable content to build a massive personal brand without traditional media gatekeepers.

The On Purpose podcast

  • Launched in 2018, On Purpose quickly became the #1 mental health podcast globally, with guests ranging from Kobe Bryant to Alicia Keys (Wikipedia (encyclopedia)).
  • The podcast’s format blends ancient wisdom with modern self-help, a formula that appeals to both spirituality seekers and mainstream audiences (STAT (health news outlet)).

Why this matters: The podcast became Shetty’s credibility engine, attracting high-profile guests and advertisers while reinforcing his image as a thoughtful, grounded leader.

Bestselling books

  • His 2020 book Think Like a Monk debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list (Wikipedia (encyclopedia)).
  • A second book, 8 Rules of Love, followed in 2023 and also became a bestseller (Wikipedia (encyclopedia)).

The pattern: Each book extends his core brand — distilling monastic principles into actionable advice — and drives cross-promotion with his podcast and social channels.

What religion does Jay Shetty believe in?

Hinduism influence

  • Shetty was raised in a Hindu family of Indian origin in North London (Wikipedia (encyclopedia)).
  • He has said his beliefs are rooted in Hindu philosophy, particularly the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita (STAT (health news outlet)).

His time as a monk at the ashram

  • After graduating from Cass Business School in 2009, Shetty moved to an ashram in Mumbai where he lived for three years, studying scripture and meditation (STAT (health news outlet)).
  • He has described this period as transformative, though some reports suggest he had ties to ISKCON years earlier, which he rarely mentions publicly (Wikipedia (encyclopedia)).
The paradox

Shetty markets himself as a “former monk” — a label that implies a lifetime commitment — yet his monastic period lasted only three years. The gap between perception and reality has fueled criticism.

What are the criticisms and allegations against Jay Shetty?

Accusations of hypocrisy

  • In 2019, comedian Nicole Arbour posted a video alleging that Shetty regularly shared quotes and anecdotes as his own without proper attribution (STAT (health news outlet)).
  • Shetty later added citations to 113 Instagram posts, but critics argued the damage to his authenticity was done (Wikipedia (encyclopedia)).
  • A 2024 Guardian investigation found inconsistencies in the timeline and nature of his time in India, suggesting he may have exaggerated the duration and depth of his monk experience (STAT (health news outlet)).

Criticism of his business practices

  • The same Guardian investigation revealed that Shetty’s coaching certification school made misleading claims about being “Ofqual regulated” — a claim that was later corrected (Wikipedia (encyclopedia)).
  • Shetty’s website once described his university degree as “behavioural science” rather than its actual title “management science” (Wikipedia (encyclopedia)).
The catch

Shetty’s critics argue that his entire brand — built on transparency and wisdom — relies on a backstory that, when examined closely, contains multiple exaggerations and retroactive corrections. For a public figure whose currency is trust, that gap is existential.

What happened to Jay Shetty?

His current activities

  • Shetty continues to host On Purpose, which releases new episodes weekly and remains among the top self-help podcasts (STAT (health news outlet)).
  • He co-founded the adaptogenic tea brand Juni with his wife in 2021 and joined the meditation app Calm in 2022 as a content partner (Wikipedia (encyclopedia)).

Recent controversies

  • In 2022, journalist Yashar Ali published a thread questioning Shetty’s monastic claims, reigniting public debate (STAT (health news outlet)).
  • Despite the allegations, Shetty’s career has not slowed significantly; his podcast remains popular and his books continue to sell (Wikipedia (encyclopedia)).

The trade-off: Shetty has chosen not to directly engage with most specific allegations, instead focusing on forward-looking content. This strategy preserves his brand momentum but leaves some questions unanswered.

Is Jay Shetty’s wife Indian?

Radhi Devlukia’s background

  • Radhi Devlukia was born in India and raised in California (Wikipedia (encyclopedia)).
  • She is a wellness entrepreneur, registered dietitian, and co-founder of the tea brand Juni (Wikipedia (encyclopedia)).

Their marriage and family

  • Shetty and Devlukia married in 2016 after meeting at a meditation retreat (Wikipedia (encyclopedia)).
  • She often appears on his social media and podcast, promoting their shared wellness lifestyle.

The pattern: Their partnership reinforces Shetty’s holistic brand — a modern power couple blending spirituality, wellness, and entrepreneurship.

Timeline

  • 1987 – Born in London, UK (Wikipedia (encyclopedia))
  • 2009 – Graduated from Cass Business School (Wikipedia (encyclopedia))
  • 2010-2013 – Lived as a monk in an Indian ashram (STAT (health news outlet))
  • 2017 – Began posting viral motivational videos on Facebook (Wikipedia (encyclopedia))
  • 2018 – Launched the On Purpose podcast (Wikipedia (encyclopedia))
  • 2020 – Published Think Like a Monk – NYT bestseller (Wikipedia (encyclopedia))
  • 2022 – Faced public allegations regarding his monastic claims (STAT (health news outlet))

What’s confirmed vs. what’s unclear

Confirmed facts

  • Born 6 September 1987 in London (Wikipedia (encyclopedia))
  • He was a monk for about three years, not seven as sometimes claimed (STAT (health news outlet))
  • Married to Radhi Devlukia (Wikipedia (encyclopedia))
  • He added retroactive citations to social media posts after plagiarism accusations (Wikipedia (encyclopedia))

What remains unclear

  • Exact duration of his monk period is disputed – some reports suggest less than three years (STAT (health news outlet))
  • Accuracy of specific stories he tells about his time in India (STAT (health news outlet))
  • Whether he downplayed his early involvement with ISKCON (Wikipedia (encyclopedia))
  • Full details of his business earnings and any regulatory scrutiny beyond the certification school issue (Wikipedia (encyclopedia))

What the critics and supporters say

“I truly believe that if you can change the way you think, you can change the way you feel.”

— Jay Shetty, in an interview with STAT (health news outlet)

“He is selling a myth. The monk period is central to everything he does, and it’s just not what it seems.”

— Journalist Yashar Ali, as quoted by STAT (health news outlet)

The consequence for Shetty’s audience is real: anyone who has invested time, money, or emotional trust in his teachings must now decide whether the backstory matters more than the message itself. For the aspiring spiritual influencer watching from the U.K., the lesson is clear: authenticity is harder to retrofit than it is to maintain from day one.

Additional sources

youtube.com, instagram.com, offentligdebatt.se

Don't miss these

Frequently asked questions

How old is Jay Shetty?

He was born on 6 September 1987, making him 37 years old as of 2025 (Wikipedia (encyclopedia)).

Does Jay Shetty have a degree?

Yes, he graduated from Cass Business School (now Bayes Business School) in 2009 with a degree in management science (Wikipedia (encyclopedia)).

Where does Jay Shetty currently live?

He lives primarily in Los Angeles, California with his wife Radhi Devlukia (Wikipedia (encyclopedia)).

What is Jay Shetty’s real name?

His full legal name is Jay Shetty; he is not known to have a different birth name (Wikipedia (encyclopedia)).

How much is Jay Shetty worth?

Public estimates vary widely, but most credible sources place his net worth between $15 million and $25 million, though no verified financial disclosures exist (Wikipedia (encyclopedia)).

What language does Jay Shetty speak?

He speaks English fluently and has some knowledge of Hindi, though he conducts all his public content in English (Wikipedia (encyclopedia)).

Does Jay Shetty have siblings?

He has a younger sister named Sheetal Shetty (Wikipedia (encyclopedia)).

How did Jay Shetty meet his wife?

They met at a meditation retreat in 2015 and married one year later (Wikipedia (encyclopedia)).

Related reading