Alakh Pandey: How This 'Physics Wallah' Turned Failed Exams Into A ₹30,000 Crore Empire And Is Now Richer Than Shah Rukh Khan

Alakh Pandey, fondly called Physics Wallah and the founder of an Edtech unicorn with the same name, was 22 when he dropped out of his third year in college to teach physics. Dropping out of college isn't

as unique a story, but for Pandey, whose family circumstances were also tough, this was a bold call into new territory. His grit and determination paid off, and how. Today, Pandey is richer than India's biggest superstar, Shah Rukh Khan, and is valued at Rs 14,510 crore in the Hurun India Rich List 2025 with a remarkable 223% surge in his wealth, as compared to Shah Rukh Khan whose net worth rose to Rs 12,490 crores ($1.4 billion) this year.

Alakh Pandey's Modest Background

Born in 1991 in UP's Prayagraj, Alakh was born to a contractor father and his mother was a teacher. Between them, they struggled to make ends meet. So Pandey started to give tuitions to younger students right from school itself. While he couldn't crack IIT, Alakh took admission in Harcourt Butler College, an engineering school in Kanpur, but harboured secret ambitions of being an actor. His true calling, however, lay in teaching. After quitting college, Pandey’s journey began with a simple idea: teach students in a way they could actually understand. He started recording physics lessons on YouTube with just a laptop and a camera, and in 2016, launched his channel called 'Physics Wallah'. He aimed to help students across India, especially those who couldn’t afford expensive coaching. His approachable, clear teaching style quickly caught on.

What was once a small YouTube channel has grown into a full edtech empire. Millions of students now use Physics Wallah’s courses for exams like JEE and NEET. The company is reported to be generating thousands of crores in revenue, and received the status of a unicorn in 2023. Part of what makes his success so remarkable is his reach. By combining online lessons, mobile apps, and affordable pricing, he has made learning accessible to students in small towns and rural areas. While SRK and Alakh Pandey work in different spheres of lives, they have something in common: both have influenced millions in India, and show how influence can come from knowledge, not just fame.