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Mukesh Ambani | |
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Born | Mukesh Dhirubhai Ambani 19 April 1957 |
Nationality | Indian |
Alma mater | |
Occupation | Businessman |
Years active | 1981-present |
Organization | Reliance Industries |
Title | Chairman and MD of Reliance Industries |
Spouse | [3] |
Children | 3, including Akash |
Parents |
|
Relatives | Anil Ambani (brother) Tina Ambani (sister-in-law) |
Mukesh Dhirubhai Ambani (born 19 April 1957) is an Indian billionaire businessman who is the chairman and managing director of Reliance Industries. [4] He is the richest person in Asia and 9th richest in the world. [5] [6]
Sometimes characterized as a plutocrat, [7] he has attracted both fame and notoriety for reports of market manipulation, political corruption, cronyism, and exploitation. [8] [9] [10] [11] [12]
In October 2024, Ambani was ranked 1st on the Forbes list of India's 100 richest tycoons, with a net worth of $119.5 billion. [13]
Ambani was born on 19 April 1957 in the British Crown colony of Aden (present-day Yemen) into a Gujarati Hindu family to Dhirubhai Ambani and Kokilaben Ambani. He has a younger brother Anil Ambani and two sisters, Nina Bhadrashyam Kothari and Dipti Dattaraj Salgaonkar. [14]
Ambani lived only briefly in Yemen because his father decided to move back to India in 1958 to start a trading business that focused on spices and textiles. [15] The latter was originally named "Vimal" but later changed to "Only Vimal". [16] [17] His family lived in a modest two-bedroom apartment in Bhuleshwar, Mumbai until the 1970s. [18] The family's financial status slightly improved when they moved to India but Ambani still lived in a communal society, used public transportation, and never received an allowance. [19] Dhirubhai later purchased a 14-floor apartment block called 'Sea Wind' in Colaba, where Ambani and his brother lived with their families on different floors. [20]
Ambani attended the Hill Grange High School at Peddar Road, Mumbai, along with his brother and Anand Jain, who later became his close associate. [21] After his secondary schooling, he studied at St. Xavier's College, Mumbai. [22] He then received a BE degree in chemical engineering from the Institute of Chemical Technology. [23] [24]
Ambani later enrolled for an MBA at Stanford University (where Steve Ballmer was his classmate [25] ) but withdrew in 1980 to help his father build Reliance, which at the time was still a small but fast-growing enterprise. [23] His father felt that real-life skills were harnessed through experiences and not by sitting in a classroom, so he called his son back to India from Stanford to take command of a yarn manufacturing project in his company. [19]
Ambani was influenced by his teachers William F. Sharpe and Man Mohan Sharma because they are "the kind of professors who made you think out of the box." [23]
Mukesh Ambani set up Reliance Infocomm Limited (later Reliance Communications Limited), which was focused on information and communications technology initiatives. [26] At the age of 24, Ambani was given charge of the construction of Patalganga petrochemical plant when the company was heavily investing in oil refinery and petrochemicals. [27]
Ambani directed and led the creation of the world's largest grassroots petroleum refinery at Jamnagar, India, which could produce 660,000 barrels per day (33 million tonnes per year) in 2010, integrated with petrochemicals, power generation, port, and related infrastructure. [28] In December 2013 Ambani announced the possibility of a "collaborative venture" with Bharti Airtel in setting up digital infrastructure for the 4G network in India. [29] On 18 June 2014, Ambani said he will invest Rs 1.8 trillion (short scale) across businesses in the next three years and launch 4G broadband services in 2015. [30]
In February 2014, a First Information Report (FIR) alleging criminal offences was filed against Ambani for alleged irregularities in the pricing of natural gas from the KG basin. [31]
Ambani was elected as a member of the National Academy of Engineering in 2016 for engineering and business leadership in oil refineries, petrochemical products, and related industries. [32]
As of 2015, Ambani ranked fifth among India's philanthropists, according to China's Hurun Research Institute. [33] He was appointed as a Director of Bank of America and became the first non-American to be on its board. [34] As of 2016, Ambani was ranked as the 36th richest person in the world and has consistently held the title of India's richest person on Forbes magazine's list for the past ten years. [35] He is the only Indian businessman on Forbes ' list of the world's most powerful people. [36] He surpassed Jack Ma, executive chairman of Alibaba Group, [37] to become Asia's richest person with a net worth of $44.3 billion in July 2018. [38] He is also the wealthiest person in the world outside North America and Europe. [39]
As of February 2018, Bloomberg's "Robin Hood Index" estimated that Ambani's personal wealth was enough to fund the operations of the Indian federal government for 20 days. [40]
Through Reliance, he also owns the Indian Premier League franchise Mumbai Indians and is the founder of the Indian Super League, a football league in India. [41]
Year of Award or Honor | Name of Award or Honor | Awarding Organization |
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2000 | Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year [44] | Ernst & Young India |
2010 | Global Vision Award at The Awards Dinner [45] | Asia Society |
2010 | School of Engineering and Applied Science Dean's Medal [46] | University of Pennsylvania |
2010 | ranked 5th-best performing global CEO [47] | Harvard Business Review |
2010 | Global Leadership Award [48] | Business Council for International Understanding |
2016 | Foreign associate, U.S. National Academy of Engineering [49] [50] | National Academy of Engineering |
2016 | Othmer Gold Medal [51] [52] | Chemical Heritage Foundation |
For manipulating shares of Reliance Petroleum Limited (RPL), Reliance Industries was fined Rs. 950 crores (9.5 billion), split into 447 crores (4.47 billion) in retracted gains and 500 crores (5 billion) in interest in 2007. [53] In April 2006, RPL went public as a Reliance subsidiary for Rs. 60 per share. The market crashed by 30% after it floated at roughly Rs. 100, and RPL was back at 60. By Securities and Exchange Board of India directive, RIL carried out an organised operation with the help of its agents to obtain unauthorised profits from the trading of its formerly listed unit, RPL, which was combined with the former in 2009. [54] [55] [56] [57] [58]
He married Nita Ambani in 1985 and they have two sons, Akash (born 23 October 1991) and Anant (born April 10, 1995), [60] and a daughter, Isha, who is Akash's twin. [61] [3] [62] They met after his father attended a dance performance which Nita took part in and thought of the idea of arranging a marriage between the two. [63]
They live in Antilia, a private 27-storey building in Mumbai, which was valued at US$1 billion and was the most expensive private residence in the world at the time it was built. [64] [65] The building requires a staff of 600 for maintenance, and it includes three helipads, a 160-car garage, private movie theatre, swimming pool, and fitness centre. [66]
Ambani was titled "The World's Richest Sports Team Owner" after he purchased the IPL cricket team Mumbai Indians for $111.9 million in 2008. [67] [68]
Mukesh Ambani is a strict vegetarian and teetotaler. [69]
During the fiscal year ending 31 March 2012, he reportedly decided to forgo nearly ₹240 million from his annual pay as chief of Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL). He elected to do this even as RIL's total remuneration packages to its top management personnel increased during that fiscal year. Mukesh Ambani holds a 50.4% stake in the company. [70] This move kept his salary capped at ₹150 million for the fourth year in a row. [71]
In early 2019, a court in Mumbai held his younger brother, Anil Ambani, in criminal contempt for non-payment of personally guaranteed debt Reliance Communications owed to Swedish gearmaker Ericsson. Instead of jail time, the court gave Anil a month to come up with the funds. At the end of the month, Mukesh Ambani bailed out his younger brother, paying the debt. [72] In 2021, he was the subject of a bomb scare when a green Mahindra Scorpio SUV packed with explosives was found near a Mumbai skyscraper housing Ambani. [73] In 2023, he received a death threat via email. [74]
On July 12 to 14, 2024, the wedding of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant was held as a 3-day event that took place at the Antilia building and Jio Convention Center in Mumbai. [75] [76] It had been described as India's "wedding of the year" [75] [77] and "India's own royal wedding". [78] The New York Times described it as introducing "the world to [India]'s Gilded Age". [79] Estimates for the wedding's cost range from $300 million [80] to $600 million, [78] [81] and had led to criticism regarding wealth inequality in India. [82] Anant Ambani recently donated a crown to Lalbaugcha Raja worth 15 crores. [83]
He has also recently acquired a Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft, becoming India's first private owner of the aircraft. Purchased for about Rs 1000 crore, the plane will be used by the Ambani family for their long-distance travels. [84]
Reliance Industries Limited is an Indian multinational conglomerate headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. Its businesses include energy, petrochemicals, natural gas, retail, entertainment, telecommunications, mass media, and textiles. Reliance is the largest public company in India by market capitalisation and revenue, and the 100th largest company worldwide. It is India's largest private tax payer and largest exporter, accounting for 7% of India's total merchandise exports.
Dhirajlal Hirachand "Dhirubhai" Ambani was an Indian billionaire businessman who founded Reliance Industries in 1958. Ambani took Reliance public in 1977. In 2016, he was honoured posthumously with the Padma Vibhushan, India's second-highest civilian honour for his contributions to trade and industry. Ambani faced numerous accusations of market manipulation, tax evasion, and cronyism.
Anil Dhirubhai Ambani is an Indian businessman, chairman, and managing director of Reliance Group. The Reliance Group was created in July 2006 following a demerger from Reliance Industries Limited. He led several listed corporations, including Reliance Capital, Reliance Infrastructure, Reliance Power, and Reliance Communications. Anil's net worth is currently estimated at around $30 million.
Tina Ambani is an Indian former actress. She is married to Anil Ambani, chairman of Reliance Group.
Ajay Gopikisan Piramal is an Indian billionaire businessman, and the chairman of the Piramal Group, a conglomerate with interests in pharmaceutical, financial services, real estate, healthcare analytics and glass packaging. As of July 2024, his net worth is estimated at US$2.8 billion.
Reliance BP Mobility Limited, is an Indian oil and gas company, owned by Mukesh Ambani of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL). It is based in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. It is vertically integrated and is involved in hydrocarbon exploration, production, refining and also has interests in the downstream business and operates over 1700 Retail Fuel Outlets in India. It also operates the largest oil refinery in the world, situated in Jamnagar.
The Dhirubhai Ambani International School (DAIS) is a private co-educational LKG-15 day school in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, built by Reliance Industries, named after the late patriarch of the conglomerate, Dhirubhai Ambani. The school was established in 2003 and has been an IB World School since January 2003. It offers the International Baccalaureate Program in its Diploma form. Nita Ambani, wife of Mukesh Ambani is the chairperson of the school.
Network18 Group is an Indian media conglomerate, based in Mumbai. It is owned by Reliance Industries. Rahul Joshi is the managing director, chief executive officer and group editor-in-chief of Network18 Group, and Adil Zainulbhai is the chairman of its board of directors.
Reliance Group is an Indian conglomerate, headquartered in Mumbai, India. The company, which was formed after Dhirubhai Ambani's business was divided up, is headed by his younger son Anil Ambani. Reliance Group has five listed companies, Reliance Power, Reliance Infrastructure, Reliance Home Finance, and Reliance Health. The group provides financial services, construction, entertainment, power, health care, manufacturing, defence, aviation, and transportation services.
Anand Jain is an Indian business executive. He is the Chairman of Jai Corp. Limited.
Viacom18 Media Private Limited is a formerly independent Indian media conglomerate, currently part of JioStar. It is a Joint venture between Reliance Industries, Network18 and Bodhi Tree Systems. The joint-venture had various channels and content production studios in India. Following merger of its assets with Disney Star, it continues to be largest shareholder in the newly formed merged entity.
Reliance Retail is an Indian retail company and a subsidiary of Reliance Industries. Founded in 2006, it is the largest retailer in India in terms of revenue. Its retail outlets offer foods, groceries, apparel, footwear, toys, home improvement products, electronic goods, and farm implements and inputs. As of 2023, it has over 245,000 employees at 18,000 store locations in 7,000 towns.
Lalit Jalan is the advisor and former chief executive officer of Reliance Infrastructure, part of the Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group, one of India's largest corporate houses. He is the Chairman of BSES Rajdhani Power Limited and BSES Yamuna Power Limited and serves as Director in several companies including Reliance Defence Ltd, which is associated with the Rafale deal between India and France.
The Polyester Prince: The Rise of Dhirubhai Ambani is an unauthorised biography of the Indian business tycoon and founder of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) Dhirubhai Ambani by Hamish McDonald, an Australian journalist and author. This book was published in 1998 in Australia by Allen & Unwin but never published in India.
Reliance Foundation is an Indian non-profit organisation which was founded in 2010 by Mukesh Ambani. It is wholly owned by Reliance Industries Limited and is one of the largest non-profit foundations in the country.
Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited is an Indian telecommunications company and a subsidiary of Jio Platforms, headquartered in Navi Mumbai. It operates a national LTE network with coverage across all 22 telecom circles. Jio offers 5G, 4G and 4G+ services all over India. Its 6G service is in the works.
Nita Ambani is an Indian philanthropist and businesswoman. She is the chairperson and founder of the Reliance Foundation, Dhirubhai Ambani International School and a director of Reliance Industries. She is married to Reliance Industries Limited's chairman and managing director Mukesh Ambani. With a family fortune estimated in excess of US$117.8 billion, the Ambani's are among the richest in the world. She is also an art collector and the owner of the Indian Premier League cricket team Mumbai Indians.
Radhakishan Shivkishan Damani is an Indian billionaire businessman and investor. He is the founder and chairman of retail chain DMart. Damani is referred to as the "retail king" of India.
Jio Platforms is an Indian multinational technology company, headquartered in Mumbai. It is a subsidiary of Reliance Industries. Established in 2019, it acts as a holding company for India's largest mobile network operator, Jio, and other digital businesses of Reliance. Since April 2020, Reliance Industries has raised ₹152,056 crore (US$18 billion) by selling a 32.97% equity stake in the company. In August 2021, it was ranked 155th on the 2021 Fortune Global 500 list of the world's biggest corporations.
The Dhirubhai Ambani Green Energy Giga Complex is a mega project being developed by Reliance Industries in Jamnagar, Gujarat, India. This is a fully integrated renewable energy manufacturing complex that will build gigafactories for photovoltaic panels, energy storage, green hydrogen, electrolyzers and fuel cells systems. The complex is being built on a 5,000 acres site and is expected to cost ₹75,000 crores. The first phase of the project, which includes the construction of a 20 GW solar photovoltaic module factory, is expected to be completed by 2023, 5 GWh annual cell to pack manufacturing facility by 2024, and further scale up to 50 GWh & 100 GWh annual capacity by 2027 & 2030.