India boasts many brilliant businessmen who’ve shaped industries, including Mukesh Ambani, Gautam Adani, Shiv Nadar, and Lakshmi Mittal. Their acumen and innovation contribute significantly to the nation’s economic landscape.
While it’s widely acknowledged that Gautam Adani, Shiv Nadar, Mukesh Ambani, and Lakshmi Mittal stand among the wealthiest individuals in India, the origins of their fortunes trace back to humble beginnings.
In this article, we will delve into the initial steps of their careers:
1. Gautam Adani:
Gautam Adani initially worked as a diamond sorter for Mahendra Brothers in Mumbai. He later founded his diamond brokerage firm at 19, laying the foundation for the diverse Adani Group. This conglomerate now spans infrastructure, logistics, power, and energy.
Current Net-worth: $79.8 Billion
2. Shiv Nadar:
Shiv Nadar’s first job was of an Engineer at Walchand Group’s Cooper Engineering (COEP) in Pune. He then founded Microcomp, a company selling calculators and microprocessors. Later, he entered the IT industry, establishing HCL in the mid-1970s, which has grown into a global IT services and consulting company today.
Current Net-worth: $35.3 Billion
3. Lakshmi Mittal:
Lakshmi Mittal’s first job was at his father’s steel mill, However, he later ventured out on his own, acquiring and turning around struggling steel companies. His major breakthrough came with the acquisition of Arcelor, creating the world’s largest steelmaker, ArcelorMittal.
Current Net-worth: $17 Billion
4. Azim Premji:
Azim Premji took charge of Wipro, his family’s vegetable oil business, at the age of 21 after the sudden demise of his father in 1966. It was his first job. Recognizing the potential in the emerging IT industry, he transformed Wipro into a global software powerhouse. Under his leadership, Wipro expanded its services, becoming one of India’s leading IT companies.
Current Net-worth: $11.8 Billion
5. Savitri Jindal:
Savitri Jindal, often regarded as the matriarch of the Jindal family, stepped into the business world following the tragic death of her husband, O.P. Jindal, in 2005. She inherited the responsibility of managing the diversified O.P. Jindal Group, which has interests in steel, power, infrastructure, and more.
Current Net Worth: $29.2 Billion
6. Dilip Shanghvi:
Dilip Shanghvi used to help his father in his medicine business. Later, he founded Sun Pharmaceuticals in 1982 with a vision to make quality medicines affordable. Starting as a manufacturing unit, Sun Pharma gradually expanded its presence and it is now one of India’s largest pharmaceutical companies, with a global footprint.
Current Net Worth: $23.6 Billion
7. Mukesh Ambani:
Mukesh Ambani, Dhirubhai Ambani’s oldest son, began working with his father to develop Reliance Industries. He played a crucial role in expanding the business, especially in petrochemicals and refining. Mukesh Ambani’s vision turned Reliance Industries into a major global conglomerate, involved in telecommunications, retail, and digital services.
Current Net-Worth: $23.6 Billion
