Who Is Charles Sobhraj? Age, Biography and Wiki
Charles Sobhraj, born on April 6, 1944, in Saigon, Vietnam, is a notorious French serial killer known for his cunning and manipulative nature. With a life marred by crime, Sobhraj gained infamy in the 1970s for a series of murders across Asia, particularly targeting Western tourists. As of 2025, he is 80 years old, and his life story has been the subject of numerous books, documentaries, and television adaptations, continuing to captivate audiences worldwide.
| Occupation | Serial Killers |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | April 6, 1944 |
| Age | 81 Years |
| Birth Place | Saigon, French Indochina |
| Horoscope | Aries |
| Country | China |
Popularity
Charles Sobhraj's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Charles Sobhraj's physical stature has often been mentioned in discussions about his persona. He stands approximately 5 feet 8 inches (173 cm) tall and weighs around 160 pounds (73 kg). His dark hair and charismatic yet sinister appearance have contributed to his enigmatic reputation.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Throughout his tumultuous life, Charles Sobhraj has had a complicated relationship history. He has been married multiple times, with his most notable relationship being with his long-time partner, Nihita Biswas. Their relationship garnered media attention, particularly due to their age difference and her outspoken support for him even during his imprisonment. As of 2025, Sobhraj remains in a committed relationship with Nihita, who continues to stand by him despite the controversies surrounding his past.
Sobhraj's birthplace being a French colonial territory made him eligible for French citizenship. His parents were never married and his father denied paternity. Sobhraj was taken in by his mother's new husband, a French Army lieutenant stationed in French Indochina. His name was entered as Charles Gurmukh Sobhraj in church records in 1959.
In his new family, he felt neglected in favour of the couple's later children. Sobhraj continued to move back and forth between Southeast Asia and France with the family.
Net Worth and Salary
As of 2025, Charles Sobhraj's net worth is estimated to be around $2 million. His wealth primarily arises from book deals, rights sold for documentaries, and various interviews. Despite his criminal background, Sobhraj's story has proven lucrative, allowing him to maintain a comfortable lifestyle while imprisoned.
Career, Business and Investments
Charles Sobhraj's "career" primarily centers around his criminal activities, which included theft, drug trafficking, and murder. After his capture, he turned to writing and has published a number of books detailing his experiences and thoughts. In addition to his literary endeavors, Sobhraj has been featured in various television specials that analyze his life of crime, allowing him to capitalize financially on his notoriety.
Described as "handsome, charming and utterly without scruple", he used his looks and cunning to advance his criminal career and obtain celebrity status; he is known to have enjoyed his infamy.
Sobhraj has been the subject of four biographies, three documentaries, a Bollywood film titled Main Aur Charles, a 2021 eight-part BBC/Netflix drama series The Serpent and a 2025 Netflix India series Black Warrant.
Social Network
Sobhraj has maintained a presence in digital discourse, particularly around his storied life and infamy. While he is not actively engaging on social media platforms, his name frequently trends on various discussions across social media sites, especially following any new adaptations of his life story or documentaries that surface.
Charles Sobhraj (born Hotchand Bhawnani Gurmukh Sobhraj; 6 April 1944) is a French serial killer, fraudster, and thief whose victims were mainly Western tourists travelling on the hippie trail of South Asia during the 1970s.
He was known as the Bikini Killer because of the attire of several of his victims, as well as the Splitting Killer and the Serpent for "his snake-like ability to avoid detection by authorities".
Education
Charles Sobhraj's formal education is sparse, largely overshadowed by his criminal lifestyle. However, he is believed to have had some education in France before embarking on a life of crime. His intellect and cunning nature have often been noted as factors that aided him in evading capture for many years.