Some stories inspire us to be better versions of ourselves by going the extra mile. Gautam Adani’s journey is definitely one such account. Born into a small textile trading family, Adani dreamt big and was eventually able to culminate it into a reality to become one of the top 10 billionaires in the World. He is the founder and present chairman of the Ahmadabad-based multinational corporate, Adani Groups. He is also known to serve as the President of the NGO Adani Foundations that his wife, Priti, primarily leads.
How was Mr. Adani’s early life?
Gautam Adani was born on 24th June 1962 in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. He was born to parents Shantilal and Shanti. Adani has 7 other siblings. While he always had a knack for business, he did not want to join his father’s textile business. He had enrolled in Gujarat University for a degree in Commerce but dropped out midway. In 1978, a young Adani moved to Mumbai to become a diamond sorter for Mahendra Brothers.
In 1981, he was invited by his elder brother Mansukh Bhai Adani to manage the operations of a plastic unit that he had purchased in Ahmadabad. Little did anyone know that this would eventually become Adani’s tool to global trading through PVC imports.
In 1988, he started Adani Exports, which has now been converted into Adani Enterprises. The 1991 Economic liberalization was very beneficial to Adani’s company and he was able to expand his trading to metals, agro products, and textiles. The previously established Adani Ports & SEZ is, today, the largest private multi-port operator. Adani treaded into the power sector in 2006 after which he was able to acquire Abbot Point Port along with Carmichael coal mine (Queensland) in Australia, from between 2009-2012.
Who does his family comprise of?
Gautam Adani is married to educator and philanthropist Priti Adani. The coupe has 2 sons together Karan and Jeet Adani. Their son Karan currently holds the position of the CEO of Adani Ports & SEZ limited. Adani also has a granddaughter from son Karan and daughter-in-law Paridhi Adani.
What are the latest acquisitions that had briefly pushed him to become the richest man in India surpassing Reliance’s Mukesh Ambani?
In February of 2022, in a turn of events after almost a decade, Adani was briefly able to take over MukeshAmbani’s position as the richest man in India and in Asia which was a result of acquisitions like the World’s largest solar bid at $6 billion by the Solar Energy Corporation of India and 74% stake acquisition at the Mumbai International Airport in the past years. He was able to top this off with an acquisition of Ambuja Cements and its subsidiary ACC at $10.5 billion.
What are Mr.Adani’s philanthropic endeavours consist of?
The 1996 Gautam and PritiAdani founded the Adani Foundation (funded through Adani Group) is a non-profit organization that works relentlessly in the areas of Education, Healthcare, Sustainable livelihood, and community infrastructure. Under the foundation, programs like Udaan and SuPoshan were launched to initiate vocational training for children and reduce the problem of malnourishment.
During the commencement of the Coronavirus pandemic in 2020, Adani made a donation of INR 100 crores to the PM Relief Fund, INR 5 crores to the Gujarat CM fund and INR 1 crore to the Maharashtra CM Fund. The Adani group also provided assistance with the acquisition and provision of oxygen tank during the pandemic, as and when it was required, especially in hospitals in the Kutch region.
What is the estimated earning of India’s second and World’s 9th richest man?
The pandemic has seen a worldwide trend in the growth of incomes for most billionaire. In India, it is interesting to see two business giants Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani’s fight for the top positions, especially with their commercial acquisitions. While Adani was briefly able to take over Ambani as the richest man in India and in Asia, Ambani has taken his spot as #1 while Adani is now the 2nd richest man in India and in Asia. He is also the 9th richest according to Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index. The Bloomberg Billionaires index has estimated Adani’s net worth to be $96.9 billion while the Forbes published Real-Time Billionaires list place is wealth at $100.9 billion.