Gautam Adani is an Indian billionaire industrialist who is the founder and chairman of the Adani Group, a multinational conglomerate involved in port development and operations in India. Adani has been described as being close to the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.
Early life and education
Gautam Adani was born on June 24, 1962, in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. He dropped out of college after the 10th grade to help his family with their small textile business. In 1988, he founded Adani Enterprises, which initially traded in commodities such as coal and metals.
Business career
Adani’s business grew rapidly in the early 2000s, as he took advantage of India’s economic liberalization. He expanded into new businesses, such as power generation, airports, and data centers. In 2015, Adani became the first Indian billionaire to be ranked among the world’s 500 richest people by Forbes magazine.
Political connections
Adani has been described as being close to the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In 2014, the BJP came to power in India, and Adani’s businesses have benefited from government contracts and policies. For example, in 2015, the government awarded Adani a contract to develop a new coal mine in Australia.
Criticism
Adani has been criticized for his close ties to the BJP and for his business practices. Some critics have accused him of using his political connections to win government contracts and of exploiting workers. In 2018, the Adani Group was accused of illegally diverting water from a river in Gujarat to its coal mine.
Personal life
Adani is married to Priti Adani and they have two sons, Karan and Jeet. He is a member of the Jain community and is a vegetarian.
Net worth
As of March 2023, Adani’s net worth is estimated to be $49.2 billion, making him the second richest person in India. His wealth comes from his ownership of the Adani Group, which is one of the largest conglomerates in India.