Jay Shetty, born in London in 1987, is a British author, podcaster, entrepreneur, and life coach. Raised in a Hindu family of Indian descent, he claims early exposure to the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). After studying Management Science at Bayes Business School, Shetty transitioned from a corporate career at Accenture to content creation. He gained prominence through his online videos, appearing on platforms like Huffington Post and later independently on Facebook and YouTube, attracting millions of followers. Shetty has also hosted the podcast 'On Purpose,' interviewing various public figures and discussing mental health. His work has received several awards and recognition, including features in Time magazine.

Shetty's public persona has been subject to scrutiny. While he has spoken about spending significant time living an ISKCON lifestyle in India, his actual activities during that period have been described differently by those familiar with his movements. Furthermore, his Jay Shetty Certification School faced investigations regarding misleading claims about its accreditation and university partnerships. Shetty's background and credentials have also been questioned by a former girlfriend with a background in mental health professional services.

Jay Shetty's early life was shaped by his Hindu upbringing and an early connection to the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), also known as the Hare Krishna movement. He states that a significant transformation occurred for him around 2006, leading to an appreciation for ISKCON. During his business school years, he reports meeting and following a monk, Gauranga Das, who spoke about selflessness and minimalist living. Shetty claims to have spent time interning with ISKCON and training in India. He has also stated that he lived the ISKCON lifestyle at an ashram in Mumbai for three years between 2010 and 2013. However, accounts suggest that during this period, he spent a considerable amount of time creating promotional videos, with less than four months actually spent in India.

Following his corporate role at Accenture, where he focused on digital strategy and coached executives, Jay Shetty shifted to independent content creation. His work, particularly videos addressing topics like mental health and life purpose, attracted the attention of Arianna Huffington, leading to a collaboration with the Huffington Post. By 2017, Shetty began releasing his content independently on platforms like Facebook and YouTube, rapidly building a large online following. His podcast, 'On Purpose,' launched in 2019, achieved significant download numbers and was recognized by Forbes as the top health podcast globally. Shetty has used his platform to interview prominent figures, including US President Joe Biden, on various subjects.

Beyond his media presence, Jay Shetty has engaged in several entrepreneurial ventures. He co-founded a video production company called Icon Media. In 2021, he and his wife launched Juni, a brand of adaptogenic tea inspired by Ayurvedic principles. He also joined the meditation product company Calm in 2022 and is part of the ownership group for the Angel City National Women's Soccer League team. In 2020, Shetty established the Jay Shetty Certification School, an online platform offering life coach accreditation. This school faced scrutiny following an investigation by The Guardian, which highlighted alleged misleading claims about its accreditation status and progression arrangements with universities.