Gautam Adani Biography: Gautam Adani, an Indian business tycoon who founded the Adani Group in 1988.  Let us read more about Gautam Adani’s family, early life, education, career, philanthropy, etc.

In the most high-profile wager by billionaire Gautam Adani in the thriving media industry, Adani Group, in the latest, announced on August 23, 2022, that its media subsidiary will buy a majority share in New Delhi Television Ltd (NDTV), one of the nation’s most prominent media outlets. The media world has been enthralled by the news of Adani’s most recent acquisition.

The Gautam Adani company intends to initiate an open bid for an additional 26 percent share in NDTV and will purchase a 29.18 percent ownership indirectly. According to the official notification, the open offer would be valued at Rs. 493 crores. NDTV is a prominent media organization that runs three national news channels: NDTV Profit, NDTV India, and NDTV 24×7.

The founder and chairman of the Adani Group, an Indian multinational corporation with its headquarters located in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, is Gautam Adani. Priti Adani, his wife, is the head of the Adani foundation. As a first-generation businessman, he is motivated by the fundamental idea of combining “Growth with Goodness” through his vision of constructing nations. He was no longer regarded as Asia’s second-richest man on June 17, 2021, as a result of an abrupt decline in Adani Group shares.

Six companies that are publicly traded make up the Adani Group. Let’s examine Gautam Adani’s background, including his family, early years, education, work, and charitable work.

Gautam Adani Biography

Full Name	Gautam Shantilal Adani
Birth	24 June 1962
Place of Birth	Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
Age (as of 2024)	62
Known for	Founder and chairman, Adani Group President, Adani Foundation
School	Sheth Chimanlal Nagindas Vidyalaya School, Ahmedabad, India
College/University	Gujarat University, India
Educational Qualification	Started Bachelors in Commerce (Dropped out in IInd year)
Father’s Name	Shantilal Adani
Mother’s Name	Shanti Adani
Marital Status	Married
Spouse(s)	Priti Adani
Children	Karan Adani and Jeet Adani.
Net Worth	$90.1B (as of 1/14/22) Forbes
Source of Wealth	Infrastructure, Commodities, Self Made

Childhood & Early Life

• Gautam Adani was born on 24 June 1962, in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India, into a Bania family, to Shantilal and Shanta Adani. He has seven siblings. His family was involved in the textile business.
• He was ambitious and determined from a young age. He had little interest in academics and dropped out of school as a teenager. He later attended the Gujarat University but did not stay to complete his degree. While he was interested in business, he had no intention of joining his father’s textile unit.

Career

• His entrepreneurial spirit made him leave Ahmedabad and move to Mumbai when he was 18. Possessing just a few hundred rupees, the young man was determined to make it big. He began working as a diamond sorter at Mahindra Brothers and set up his own diamond brokerage business after a couple of years.
• His business did well and he became a millionaire by the time he was 20. By this time his elder brother had newly purchased a plastic factory in Ahmedabad and asked Gautam Adani to help him in running it.
• Adani returned to Ahmedabad and started working with his brother. He soon began commodity trading by importing Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), a key raw material for manufacturing plastic and visited South Korea where he made a deal for importing PVC.
• In 1988, he established Adani Exports Limited (now known as the Adani Enterprises Ltd). The company initially dealt in agricultural commodities and power and eventually expanded over the years.
• The liberalization and economic reforms of 1991 boosted Adani’s business and increased revenues and profits for his company. The favorable business environment allowed Adani to expand his company rapidly.

• In 1993, the Government of Gujarat invited private companies to run the Mundra Port and in 1995 Adani won the contract. It was initially operated by Mundra Port & Special Economic Zone Ltd which was later expanded into the Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited (APSEZ). It is today India’s largest private multi-port operator.
• Gautam Adani founded the Adani Power Limited, the power business subsidiary of Adani Group, in 1996. The company is India’s largest private power producer and also the largest solar power producer of India.
• Adani has also been the subject of considerable controversy. He has been accused of receiving special favors from the then-Chief Minister of Gujarat, Narendra Modi in return for supporting Modi in his political campaign in 2014. Adani has denied the accusations.

Major Works

• The Adani Group, an Indian global corporation with operations in a variety of industries including energy, agribusiness, and logistics, was founded by Gautam Adani. The Brand Trust Report 2015 named the group as India’s most trusted infrastructure brand.
• Currently operating eight ports in India, the Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited (APSEZ) is building a transshipment center in Kerala. It is the first port-based, multi-product special economic zone in India.

Philanthropic Works

• Via the Adani Foundation, the Adani Group is heavily active in charitable endeavors. In addition to Gujarat, the foundation works in other states and focuses on initiatives pertaining to education, expanding rural infrastructure, and sustainable livelihood prospects.
• Only children whose parents earn less than Rs. 1 lakh a year are admitted to the Adani Vidya Mandir, an Ahmedabad school administered by his wife.

• The foundation offers 500 fishermen in the coastal taluka financial assistance for the purchase of fishing equipment as part of a unique program for aiding fishermen. The children of fishermen are given access to educational opportunities.
• In order to provide skill-related courses in retail, hospitality, security, construction, and engineering, the Adani Foundation established a skills training center in Gujarat in 2012 in collaboration with IndiaSkills, a joint venture in vocational training, and City & Guilds, one of the top providers of work-related assessment and qualifications.

Awards & Achievements

• The Adani Foundation, the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of Adani Group, was awarded the 3rd Annual Greentech CSR Award in 2014.

Personal Life & Legacy

• Gautam Adani is married to Priti Adani and has two sons, namely, Karan Adani and Jeet Adani. His wife is a dentist and heads Adani Foundation as a Managing Trustee.

5 Gautam Adani Book Bombshells:

For Indian billionaire businessman Gautam Adani, this has been a historic year. With a projected net worth of approximately US$134 billion based on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Adani is currently among the world’s five wealthiest individuals. Considering how much of his wealth has been amassed in the last few years alone, it’s an amazing accomplishment.

Gautam Adani celebrated his 60th birthday by giving billions of dollars to charity.

This year, the industrialist turned 60. To commemorate the milestone, he gave a staggering US$7.7 billion to charity and celebrated with his family and coworkers at the Adani Group headquarters. However, very little is known about Adani despite his fortune and the notoriety that has accompanied it.

Gautam Adani has reportedly never been content with the status quo, and earned the nickname “toofani”

That’s why a new book, Gautam Adani: Reimagining Business in India and the World, by veteran journalist R.N. Bhaskar is making headlines. Here are five juicy revelations you need to know about …

1. The book ‘approval’

Despite knowing his biographer Bhaskar for many years, Adani is a well-known private individual who did not formally grant him permission to publish his book. Nevertheless, Mid-day said that Adani’s manager insisted on seeing a manuscript prior to the book’s release. According to the author, he chose to reply and include a copy of the billionaire in their email.

Adani asked for a meeting with Bhaskar and inquired about the author’s plans for handling contentious issues. After hearing his response, Adani reportedly urged his team to provide Bhaskar with any documentation he would need to fill in the holes, according to Mid-day, rather than instructing the author to stop writing the book. The action indicated approval from one of the wealthiest individuals on the planet, adding even more validation to the data presented in the book.

2. His ‘toofani’ nickname

According to NDTV, Adani’s peers called him “toofani” a lot. The easiest way to describe the nickname’s meaning in this context is “unconstrained.” According to the book, one instance of how he earned the nickname was when he and his family relocated to Ahmedabad in the early 1970s.

According to an NDTV book excerpt, Adani was intellectually bright and was awarded multiple scholarships that allowed him to pursue particular academic specializations in school. Later on, he relocated to Mumbai, where he enrolled in a university in South Mumbai. He attempted to trade diamonds at the same time. But he left college in a matter of months, deciding to devote all of his attention to diamonds.

According to the book, Adani is constantly working hard and looking for the next great thing, never satisfied with his life or the status quo. About the businessman, the former senior vice president of corporate relations at Adani Group claimed that his “lack of formal education [allows him to think out of the box and make swift decisions” It appears that his ability to trust his gut has served him well.

3. Twelve-hour days at the office

The billionaire isn’t showing any signs of slowing down at sixty either. Another passage from the book that NDTV reported claims that Adani continues to work 11 or 12 hours a day at his office. Moreover, despite his reputation as a strong delegator, he nevertheless demands that team members report directly to him on any tasks that are assigned to them. The book further says that Adani will not think twice to intervene and offer assistance if necessary.

Gautam Adani, pictured here with Boris Johnson, has great influence on the world stage thanks to his Adani Group, a conglomerate covering everything from energy to infrastructure.

4. His uncertainty in love

Priti Adani honored her husband on his 60th birthday in June. They’ve been married for 36 years, and she said in a tweet that she gave up her job to start a new life with him.

The Print claims that information from the book shows that Priti and Gautam were married in an arranged union, which is typical in many regions of India. But prior to their encounter, Priti seemed to be unsure if Gautam was the right person for her. He was pursuing a dental career at the time and hadn’t graduated. But in the end, Priti’s father persuaded her to speak with Gautam by getting her to meet him. Any doubts she had “melted away,” according to The Print, and the couple tied the knot in 1986.

5. Switching off to be with his kids

The Print claims that the book describes how Adani traveled frequently during the early years of his marriage in order to advance his career. But once he got home, he also supposedly had the capacity to “switch off,” which allowed him to spend quality time with his family and be totally present. According to the book, Adani never slowed down after becoming a parent to their two kids, Karan and Jeet. Instead, Priti concentrated on raising their kids in order to establish himself in the corporate sector.

Adani’s Business Empire

The Adani Group, under Gautam Adani’s leadership, has emerged as a major player in India’s business landscape. The conglomerate has diversified interests, including power generation and transmission, infrastructure development, logistics, and renewable energy. The group’s significant involvement in port development and operations has positioned it as a crucial player in facilitating trade and commerce in the country.

Controversies and Downfall

A major blow to Gautam Adani came in January 2023 when the activist American short seller Hindenburg Research charged him of fraud and stock manipulation. This set off a series of events that resulted in a significant loss in Adani and his family’s wealth. Their fortune is expected to have decreased by more than 50% by October 2023, when it was estimated to be worth US$54.2 billion.

Adani’s decline was not limited to money; it was also evident in his ranking, which saw him drop to 23rd on Forbes’ Real Time Billionaires list. The accusations presented by Hindenburg Research sparked questions regarding the larger governance and monitoring procedures in place within the Indian corporate environment, in addition to the financial practices of Adani’s enterprises.

Surprising Facts About Gautam Adani

• Adani enrolled in Gujarat University, but he left his commerce program in the middle of his second year.
• After quitting college and declining to work in his father’s textile company, Gautam Adani worked as a diamond sorter in Mumbai in the 1980s.
• Adani became a millionaire at the age of twenty after starting a diamond dealing company for a while. In 1988, he finally launched an import and export company for commodities.
• Adani and another person were said to have left an Ahmedabad club in 1998 when they were taken hostage at gunpoint and held for ransom.
• Adani also experienced the terror events on 26/11 up close; hotel workers assisted him in hiding in a basement from the terrorists attacking the Taj, where he was having dinner. According to reports, he observed militants entering the building from the table where he was seated.

Net Worth Of Gautam Adani

Gautam Adani, who is the Chairperson of the Adani Group, has a net worth of a little over $80 billion as of January 4, 2022, according to Forbes. At a net worth of $89.1 billion, on November 24, 2021, Adani was for a brief while the richest in Asia, displacing RIL’s Mukesh Ambani. The 59-year-old is #24 on the Forbes Billionaires List 2021 and is placed at #14 on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

Gautam Adani Abduction 

In the year 1998, Gautam Adani was abducted and held hostage in return for ransom. He was later released after the money was paid to the hostages. 

Gautam Adani Mumbai Attacks

Gautam Adani was also one of the people who got stuck during the Mumbai terror attack in 2008 as he was staying in the Taj Hotel. He was later rescued safely. 

Adani Exports

Later in 1985, Gautam started the business of importing primary polymers for small-scale industries. Following the business, he established Adani Exports in 1988. The company is related to agricultural and power commodities. Now the Adani Exports is called Adani Enterprises – the holding company of the Adani Group

Political views of Gautam Adani

As a prominent figure in the corporate world, Gautam Adani is renowned for taking a nonpartisan position on political problems and for not speaking out publicly on them. But as a corporate magnate with substantial holdings across a range of industries, the government and political parties frequently keep a close eye on the operations and business dealings of his company.

Several political parties and civil society organizations have criticized the Adani Group for what they see as its close ties to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is the ruling political party in India. It has been alleged that the government has given preferential treatment to the Adani Group in relation to contracts and regulations, such as the distribution of land, mining permits, and other concessions.

The Adani Group, however, denies any political favouritism and insists that all legal and regulatory requirements are met in the course of their business operations. Gautam Adani has mostly refrained from commenting on these disputes in favour of concentrating on developing and growing his commercial empire.

Overall, because of the Adani Group’s substantial economic clout in India, political attention and scrutiny have been directed at Gautam Adani’s commercial dealings and activities, even though his political views are not publicly known.

Corporate-political party nexus? Rise and rise of Gautam Adani under Narendra Modi regime

Achievement of Gautam Adani

Gautam Adani is a highly successful entrepreneur and business leader with significant achievements to his credit. Here are some of his notable achievements:

1. Building a successful business empire: Gautam Adani’s leadership has enabled the Adani Group to become one of the largest conglomerates in India, with a presence in multiple sectors, including ports, power generation, renewable energy, mining, and defense. The Adani Group’s market capitalization has grown significantly under his leadership, making it one of the top ten companies in India by market capitalization.
2. Expansion into international markets: Under Gautam Adani’s leadership, the Adani Group has expanded its business operations globally, with a presence in over 50 countries. The group’s international ventures include ports in Australia, coal mines in Indonesia, and renewable energy projects in the United States.
3. Contribution to sustainable development: Gautam Adani is committed to contributing to sustainable development in India through the Adani Foundation’s philanthropic initiatives. The foundation has undertaken various projects in education, healthcare, and sustainable livelihoods, benefiting underprivileged communities.
4. Recognition and awards: Gautam Adani has received numerous awards and recognitions for his contributions to the Indian business world. He was named the EY Entrepreneur of the Year in 2013 and received the Business Today Best CEO award in 2016.
5. Signing the Giving Pledge: In 2020, Gautam Adani signed the Giving Pledge, pledging to donate the majority of his wealth to philanthropic causes during his lifetime or in his will.

Overall, Gautam Adani’s achievements as a business leader, philanthropist, and global entrepreneur have made him a prominent figure in India’s business landscape.

Latest News

Mukesh Ambani loses ground to Gautam Adani as the richest person in India, and both rise in the global wealthy list

Mukesh Ambani is only one spot down at number thirteen, while Gautam Adani has seen his value rise into the top 12 worldwide rankings. Both have risen from their respective positions of 15 and 14 in December of last year.

According to the Bloomberg Billionaire’s Index (BBI), Gautam Adani, the chairman of the Adani Group of Companies, has surpassed Mukesh Ambani, the chairman of Reliance Industries, to become the richest person in both Asia and India.

Adani’s net worth has risen to the top 12 in the world, although Ambani is only one spot lower at number 13. Compared to last year, both have risen in rank.

The billionaire had risen to the fifteenth position earlier in December 2023, putting him in close proximity to Ambani, who was ranked fourteen at the time.

Net Worth
The founder of the Adani Group is currently the wealthiest Asian and Indian, ranking 12th in the world with a net worth of $97.6 billion. He has accumulated $13.3 billion year-to-date (YTD) and gained $7.67 billion from the last list place. Due to the Hindenberg accusations, Adani’s net worth dropped significantly earlier in the year.

The Adani Group was accused by New York-based short seller Hindenburg Research in January 2023 of sustained stock manipulation and violations in its bookkeeping. The Adani Group denied these allegations. Following these accusations, the stock prices of the Adani Group firms fell, causing Adani’s fortune to drop by as much as $69 billion, or about 60%.

Source of Wealth

Gautam Adani’s Adani Group, based in Ahmedabad, is one of India’s leading infrastructure conglomerates. It is a major player in the international coal trade and owns the biggest private port in the country. The group’s biggest business, Adani Enterprises, reported $17 billion in revenue for the fiscal year that ended on March 31, 2023.

The main source of Gautam Adani’s fortune is his ownership of six publicly traded businesses connected to the conglomerate he founded, the Adani Group.

The publicly traded companies Adani Enterprises (73 percent); Adani Green Energy (56 percent); Adani Ports (66 percent); Adani Power (70 percent); Adani Transmission (68 percent); Adani Energy Solutions (73 percent); and Adani Total Gas (37 percent) are among Adani’s companies and stakes (via promoter group and through the Adani family trust), according to the BBI.

Other Indians in Top50

At number thirteen, RIL’s Ambani has amassed a worth of $97 billion, making him the second richest man in both Asia and India. His fortune has increased by $665 million year-to-date and by $764 million since the previous adjustment.

Shiv Nadar, with $33 billion at position 45, and Shapoor Mistry, with $34.6 billion at position 38, round out the other Indians in the BBI Top 50.

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