He Left Patna With A Tiffin Box And No Money — After 9 Failed Businesses, Battle With Depression, He’s Now Bihar’s Richest Man With Rs 35,000 Crore...

When a 19-year-old youth from Patna got on a train to Mumbai carrying only a tiffin box, a bedding roll, and a dream, no one suspected he would eventually become one of the world's most powerful business

leaders. That boy was Anil Agarwal, currently the Founder and Chairman of Vedanta Group, who is the wealthiest person from Bihar with an estimated net worth of Rs 35,000 crore, according to Forbes July 2025 rankings. Agarwal’s story is the sort that makes you sit up and take notes — not because it’s a tale of luck, but because it’s one of grit, failure, and a relentless refusal to give up. According to the M3M Hurun India Rich List 2025, he stands at 16th position nationally and 4th among non-resident Indian wealth creators globally. Quite the journey for someone who once couldn’t afford to finish his schooling.

Anil Agarwal: Nine Failures, One Vision

Before Vedanta became a global powerhouse, his entrepreneurial journey was nothing short of a rollercoaster ride. In his early years in Mumbai, he experimented with nine different business ventures, each one crashing harder than the last. Most people would have given up by then — but Agarwal wasn’t most people. As he once shared in interviews and on LinkedIn, those failures were his best teachers. They taught him resilience, financial discipline, and the art of staying calm when everything falls apart. Instead of giving up, he worked harder and decided to start again and that’s when Vedanta Group was born in 1976. Fun fact: The word Vedanta means “ultimate knowledge” in Sanskrit.

Anil Agarwal: From Scrap Metal to Global Metals

His beginnings were humble and rooted in the world of scrap metal trading during the 1970s. It was not glamorous, but it gave him a sharp understanding of industrial cycles and commodity pricing — knowledge that would one day become his biggest weapon. By 1986, he founded Sterlite Industries, which started with manufacturing jelly-filled cables. This was a turning point. In less than a decade, Sterlite went on to build India’s first private-sector copper smelter and refinery in 1993, setting the stage for Agarwal’s rise as India’s “metal king.”

The Big Leaps: BALCO and Hindustan Zinc

In 2001, a significant change occurred as Vedanta obtained a controlling interest in Bharat Aluminium Company (BALCO) and subsequently took a majority ownership in Hindustan Zinc Limited (HZL). These acquisitions not only turned Vedanta into an industrial giant but also redefined India’s non-ferrous metal industry.From aluminum and zinc to copper and silver, Agarwal established a dynasty that expanded well beyond India's frontiers. Currently, Vedanta functions in various industries such as energy, nickel, oil and gas, iron and steel, as well as semiconductor and display glass production — coinciding with India's goal for technological independence.

From Patna to Piccadilly: The London Segment

Currently, Anil Agarwal lives in the United Kingdom, yet his heart continues to yearn for Bihar. He frequently reflects on his initial challenges and how departing from home at 19 influenced him. Even as a global industrialist, he remains deeply connected to his roots — supporting initiatives in Bihar and encouraging young entrepreneurs from small towns to dream big. According to the Hurun India Report, Bihar now has six entrants on its rich list — up from four the previous year — and Agarwal’s global achievements have undeniably inspired the next generation of business talent from the state.

Anil Agarwal: The Philanthropist Behind the Billionaire

Agarwal is not just about metals and markets. He’s also one of India’s most generous philanthropists. He has committed 75% of his fortune to philanthropic efforts and is a signatory of The Giving Pledge, aligning himself with global figures such as Warren Buffett and Bill Gates.His main project, Nand Ghar, is revolutionizing rural India by enhancing Anganwadi centres — boosting child nutrition, empowering women via skills training, and modernizing education. In addition to this, he makes substantial investments in community sports and mentoring initiatives for young people.As he often says, “Be humble, be fearless — that’s the only mantra that works.”

Fun Facts About Anil Agarwal

He started his business career by collecting scrap from cable companies in Mumbai. He still carries his old tiffin box, a reminder of his modest beginnings. Vedanta was the first Indian company to be listed on the London Stock Exchange. Even with his riches, Agarwal is recognized for his modest vegetarian way of living and fondness for Indian home-prepared meals.

Full Circle: The Individual Who Persistently Maintained Faith

Anil Agarwal's path showcases a remarkable example of determination. Starting as a young person in Patna with few chances for advanced education to becoming a billionaire in London influencing worldwide sectors — his journey illustrates genuine resilience.