He Started With Rs 100 And A Diamond-Sorting Job After Leaving College — Now He Has A $67.8 Billion Empire And One Of Delhi’s Most Expensive Rs 400...

There are rags-to-riches stories, and then there are the rare, absorbing sagas that start in the dusty lanes of a middle-class household and somehow stretch across continents, ports, power grids, coal mines, and skyscrapers. Gautam Adani's journey belongs to the second category. It is a tale layered with grit, improbable timing, wild ambition, uncanny instincts, and a determination that often reads like a chapter from a business thriller. Born into a Gujarati Jain family trading textiles, he was never supposed to be a boardroom regular or a billionaire with private jets. But through a distinctly Indian cocktail of hustle, intuition, and opportunity, Adani has built one of the world's biggest infrastructure empires. Today, he commands an estimated

net worth of $67.8 billion, according to Forbes 2025, controls India's largest private port, and oversees a business group that has become central to the country's industrial story. His rise is as compelling as it is instructive.

Gautam Adani: A Middle-Class Childhood That Sparked Big Dreams

Gautam Shantilal Adani was born on 24 June 1962 in Ahmedabad. The Adani household was large—eight siblings in all—and the family lived in a tight-knit neighbourhood where practicality trumped luxury. His father ran a small textile shop, and there was nothing in the early years that hinted at the skyscraper-scale ambitions the young boy would one day harbor. He attended Sheth Chimanlal Nagindas Vidyalaya and subsequently joined a degree in Commerce at Gujarat University. But the classrooms couldn't keep him engaged for too long. He much preferred solving real-life puzzles to textbook theory. Midway through the course, he walked out—something that scandalised relatives but thrilled the restless teenager.

Gautam Adani: The Teenage Hustler in Mumbai

At the age of 18, Adani boarded a train to Mumbai with barely a hundred rupees in his pocket. His first job was as a diamond sorter at Mahendra Brothers in Zaveri Bazaar—one of the world's busiest jewellery markets. The job paid little but taught him all he needed to know about risk, value, precision, and negotiation. By age 20, he had started his own diamond brokerage—and amazingly made his first million. If you think about it, that one fact is often the one that surprises: Gautam Adani's first fortune came not from ports or coal, but from diamonds. Trivia: Zaveri Bazaar handles nearly 60% of India's gold and jewellery trade, and working there is akin to a crash course in entrepreneurship.

Gautam Adani: A Plastics Unit That Changed Everything

In 1981, his brother Mahasukhbhai bought a small plastics unit in Ahmedabad and asked Gautam to run it. This wasn’t glamorous work, but the young businessman spotted a larger opportunity—PVC import. That single decision pulled him into global trade. He launched, by 1988, Adani Exports, now known as Adani Enterprises. The company began modestly with agricultural commodities and polymers. But the real inflection point was just around the corner.

Gautam Adani: Liberalisation Opened The Floodgates

When India opened its markets in 1991, Adani's risk appetite found its perfect playground. He expanded into metals, textiles, agro-products, and power trading. But the real game-changer arrived in 1995.

The Port That Built an Empire: Mundra

Winning the contract to build and operate Mundra Port was the stroke of boldness that defined Adani's career. Mundra, then an undeveloped stretch on the Gujarat coast, is now India's largest private port, handling over 200 million tonnes of cargo annually. This pivot—from trader to infrastructure pioneer—placed Adani in a different league.

Building India's Infrastructure Giant

From the mid-1990s, however, the pace and scope of diversification would catch many off guard: Power generation and transmission Coal Mining in India and Australia Edible oils: Fortune brand, in partnership with Wilmar International Airports: seven major airports presently operated by the group Solar energy, logistics, data centres, and defence

Gautam Adani: Real estate and media

By 2022, Adani Group's market capitalization had crossed $242 billion, making it one of India's largest conglomerates.

The Hindenburg Shock—and the Amazing Resurgence

The 2023 Hindenburg Research report triggered a precipitous fall in Adani Group stocks. But what followed surprised global observers: a measured and steady recovery impelled by asset sales, debt repayment, and investor confidence returning over time. By 2025, he was back among the world’s richest people.

Gautam Adani: Family: The Silent Strength Behind the Tycoon

Adani is married to Dr. Priti Adani, a qualified dentist, who now chairs the Adani Foundation, the philanthropic arm established in 1996. They have two sons: Karan Adani—MD of Adani Ports & SEZ, Purdue graduate Jeet Adani—Director overseeing airports, finance, and strategy; graduate of the University of Pennsylvania The Adani Foundation is known for education, health, rural upliftment, and disaster relief initiatives across the country.

Inside Gautam Adani's Multi-City Real Estate Portfolio

Ahmedabad Residence

A sprawling home in Navrangpura, surrounded by manicured lawns and tight security. This remains the family's main base.

The Rs 400-Crore Lutyens' Delhi Bungalow

The mansion was bought in 2020 and sits on a plot of 3.4 acres, measuring 25,000 sq ft in area. Earlier owned by Aditya Estates, the house contains seven bedrooms, large living rooms, staff quarters, and a stately driveway.

Gurgaon Property

A premium address in Sector 32, frequented for business stays and meetings.

International Assets

While not personal homes, the international portfolio of Adani Group includes: Abbot Point Port, Australia Carmichael Coal Mine, Australia Renewable Energy Projects in the US and Asia

Cars That Match His Billionaire Lifestyle

Adani's garage is a study in quiet luxury-no loud flaunting, but each vehicle speaks of thoughtful indulgence. Rolls-Royce Ghost - approx. Rs 6.21 crore BMW 7 Series – up to Rs 2.42 crore Ferrari California – approx. Rs 3 crore Range Rover 3.0 Diesel: approx. Rs 4 crore Audi Q7 – approx. Rs 80 lakh Toyota Vellfire – approx. Rs 95 lakh

Skies Are No Limit: Jets and Helicopters

Adani's fleet of aircraft is arguably among the most enviable among all billionaires of India. Bombardier Challenger 605 – seats 12, long-range luxury Hawker Beechcraft 850XP - Seats 15, famous for winglets Bombardier Challenger 650 and 350: These aircraft are very common to travel domestically or internationally. AgustaWestland AW139 helicopter – acquired in 2011

Philanthropy: A Major, Often Under-Reported, Focus

Gautam Adani gives about 3% of group revenues to philanthropic causes. Through the Adani Foundation, the group supports:

Gautam Adani: School Education in Rural India

Healthcare camps Skill development Empowerment of women Environmental conservation Disaster relief efforts

Gautam Adani: Interesting Facts You Probably Didn't Know

He started his first business at 19, not in ports but in diamonds. By the age of 20, he had become a self-made millionaire. He survived the 26/11 Mumbai attack--he was inside the Taj Hotel that night. He often says that he prefers "being on the field over being in front of cameras." He once disclosed that he searches for “value others overlook”—something quite evident throughout his career.

Gautam Adani: Net Worth: The Billion-Dollar Arc

Gautam Adani has an estimated net worth of about $67.8 billion in 2025, placing him among the world's wealthiest. His net worth has been hooked to mainly listed companies and consequently sees significant daily fluctuations, while generally maintaining its position among global rankings.