India is currently in the third position in the list of countries with the most billionaires, as per Forbes. While the US is in the first place, China sits in the second place. Back in 2023, India had 167 billionaires, but in 2024, Asia’s third-largest economy had a record 200 billionaires on the 2024 World’s Billionaires List. It is a remarkable achievement for a developing nation like India, as it proves the mettle of our country’s economy in the world.
A look at the first jobs of India’s most successful and richest people: Gautam Adani, Dhirubhai Ambani, Sudha Murty, and many more
For the uninitiated, Mukesh Ambani is the richest person in India, Gautam Adani is in second place, third place has Savitri Jindal & Family, Shiv Nadar is in fourth place, and Dilip Shanghvi is in the fifth spot. According to multiple reports, in the coming years, we are going to see a significant rise in the number of ultra-rich people in India.
Over the years, we have seen a series of millionaires and billionaires come and go, but very few people have inspired generations with their journeys. Today, we have assembled a list of India’s most successful people in recent decades and will talk about their first job. The list includes the names of renowned billionaires, who have contributed heavily to the growth of our country through their business ventures. So, without further ado, let’s get started!
#1. Reliance Industries Limited founder, Dhirubhai Ambani’s first job
Dhirubhai Ambani is the founder of Reliance Industries Limited, which has now become India’s biggest conglomerate. The late visionary industrialist founded RIL back in 1958 despite having no prior experience in business. However, his determination paid off as he created generational wealth with his business venture. Well, not everyone is aware of the lesser-known fact that Dhirubhai Ambani’s first job was at a gas station in a British colony, Aden. As per reports, his first salary while working at the gas station was just Rs. 300.
#2. Godrej founder, Ardeshir Godrej’s first job
The lawyer-turned-businessman, Ardeshir Burjorji Sorabji Godrej was the one, who founded the iconic Indian company, Godrej Brother (now known as Godrej Group) back in 1897. The company became a part of almost every Indian household, courtesy of the exceptional quality they offered at affordable prices. The iconic businessman started his company, Godrej Brother, under a small shed but soon took it to unprecedented success.
Ardeshir Godrej’s first job was as an assistant at a chemist’s shop. This was when he developed an interest in surgical tools. He tried to establish a business around the manufacturing of surgical tools, but it didn’t materialised. Ardeshir failed, only to establish one of the biggest conglomerates in the world, Godrej Brothers.
#3. Former chairperson of Infosys, Sudha Murty’s first job
Sudha Murty is one of the richest women in India, but she is more famous for inspiring generations with her toiling professional journey. Talking about her first job, Sudha was the first woman engineer hired by TATA Engineering and Locomotive Company (TELCO), also known as TATA Motors. It wasn’t a cakewalk for Sudha to get a job at TELCO, as the company has strictly stated in its job posting that it doesn’t want women engineers.
As soon as Sudha Murty saw TELCO’s job posting, she sent a postcard to its then-chairman, JRD Tata, and told him that she was disappointed to read the line, “Lady students need not apply.” Upon receiving Sudha’s postcard, JRD Tata immediately changed TELCO’s hiring process, and she was hired for the position of Development Engineer.
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#4. Former chairperson of Tata Group, Ratan Tata’s first job
It’s impossible not to mention Ratan Tata when we are talking about India’s most successful billionaires. While most billionaires are renowned just for their net worth, Ratan Tata is loved by almost every Indian, courtesy of his humility and philanthropic activities. Talking about his first job, unlike other children of billionaires, who start their professional careers right from the top, Ratan Tata took the challenging route.
The much-loved businessman, Ratan Tata joined Tata Steel back in 1961 and started managing the operations on the shop floor. After getting a lot of experience of the work done on the ground level, Ratan Tata received a high-paying job offer from IBM, but he once again joined TELCO as a trainee for six months in order to know more about the roots of his company’s operations. Ratan Tata’s experience of working at the lowest level of his company is the reason why he knows his company and its employees inside out.
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#5. Founder of Biocon Limited, Kiran Mazumdar Shaw’s first job
Kiran Mazumdar Shaw is the founder of Biocon Limited and Biocon Biologics Limited, which are counted among the biggest companies in the biotechnology sector. The billionaire businesswoman has a net worth of Rs. 18,779 and is often regarded as one of India’s most inspiring women entrepreneurs. However, not everyone knows that Kiran Mazumdar started her professional career as a trainee brewer in Australia. Unfortunately, when she came back to India, she faced a low of discrimination on the basis of gender in the brewing industry. For the uninitiated, brewing is a business that makes or sells beer.
#6. Former CEO of PepsiCo, Indra Nooyi’s first job
When we talk about entrepreneurs, who have inspired the world with their accomplishments, Indra Nooyi is the kind of person we are referring to. For the uninitiated, she is the first non-white and an immigrant, who became the CEO of PepsiCo. What’s even more interesting is that she led the company for 12 long years and signed off on a high as PepsiCo was growing exponentially under her leadership. At the mere age of 18, when most of the teenagers were figuring out what to do in their careers, Indra Nooyi started working as a business strategist at a British textile firm.
#7. Adani Group’s founder, Gautam Adani’s first job
India’s second richest person, Gautam Adani has a staggering net worth of Rs. 6,75,000 crore. The billionaire came to Mumbai back in 1978 at the mere age of 16 in order to become successful. Before starting his own company, Adani Group, Gautam Adani did a lot of odd jobs and his first job was sorting diamonds for Mahendra Brothers. After gaining enough experience under the guidance of the Mahindra Brothers, Gautam Adani started his own diamond trading business at Mumbai’s Zaveeri Bazaar.
What are your thoughts on the first job of these famous and successful billionaires? Do you find their humble beginnings inspiring? Let us know.
Also Read: Who Is Priti Adani? Gautam Adani’s Dentist-Turned-Billionaire Wife, Who Has Rs 8,327 Crore Net Worth
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