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Rank #3392
INDIA•Metals & Mining•mining, metals

Anil Agarwal & family

Net Worth
$-0.725B
-114.18% (24h)
Anil Agarwal is an Indian billionaire businessman and the founder and chairman of Vedanta Resources Limited, a globally diversified natural resources conglomerate. Born in Patna, India, in 1954, Agarwal's journey began with a scrap metal business, which he transformed into a major mining and metals empire. His source of wealth is primarily from mining and metals. As of March 2026, his estimated net worth is $4.9 billion. Agarwal is known for his strategic acquisitions and his commitment to philanthropy, pledging to donate a significant portion of his wealth to social causes. His career has been marked by both successes and controversies, but he remains a prominent figure in the global natural resources industry.

How to read Anil Agarwal & family's profile

Public net-worth figures are estimates. They combine observable inputs—typically listed equity, disclosed transactions, and market prices—with editorial judgment where filings are incomplete (for example, private holdings, debt, or cross-holdings). For Anil Agarwal & family, we anchor the narrative to Mining and mining, metals, then update the headline number as markets move. The chart on this page is meant to show trajectory, not a certified balance sheet.

When you see $-0.725B alongside global rank #3392, interpret it as our best synthesis of widely cited ownership and price signals—not a claim about cash on hand. Estimates can diverge from other publishers because of different treatment of options, trusts, charitable vehicles, or illiquid assets. We document the general approach in methodology and welcome corrections via corrections.

Country (INDIA) and career milestones on this page are curated for reader context; they should be verified against primary sources when used for research. Editorial metadata for this profile is refreshed on a rolling basis, with deeper audits at least annually (last noted cycle: 2026).

Looking for depth? When available, the dossier and timeline sections below add long-form context beyond the headline number—prioritize those modules when evaluating claims about strategy, controversies, or philanthropic commitments.

The Full Dossier

Early Life

Anil Agarwal was born in 1954 in Patna, Bihar, India, into a Marwadi family. His father had a small business making aluminum conductors. At the age of 19, he moved to Mumbai (then Bombay) to seek career opportunities, foregoing a university education to join his father's business. He started trading in scrap metal in the mid-1970s.

Rise to Success

Agarwal's entrepreneurial journey took off when he acquired Shamsher Sterling Corporation, a manufacturer of enameled copper, in 1976. In 1986, he founded Sterlite Industries, a company that manufactured jelly-filled cables. Recognizing the need to control input costs, he decided to manufacture the metals himself, leading Sterlite Industries to become the first private sector company in India to set up a copper smelter and refinery in 1993. Over the years, he expanded through strategic acquisitions, including Madras Aluminium, Bharat Aluminium Company (BALCO), and Hindustan Zinc Limited (HZL).

Key Business Strategies

A key strategy for Agarwal was vertical integration, ensuring control over raw materials. He established Vedanta Resources in London in 2003 to access international capital markets. His expansion included acquisitions in Zambia, South Africa, and Namibia. In 2011, he acquired Cairn India, strengthening Vedanta's presence in the oil and gas sector. Agarwal's leadership has been characterized by aggressive acquisitions and a focus on expanding Vedanta's global footprint.

Philanthropy

In 1992, Agarwal established the Vedanta Foundation to manage philanthropic activities. In 2021, he joined The Giving Pledge, committing to donate over 75% of his wealth to charitable causes. The Anil Agarwal Foundation focuses on various social impact programs including nutrition, women and child development, healthcare, animal welfare, and grassroots-level sports.

Career Timeline

2011

Acquired Cairn India

Acquired Cairn India, consolidating Vedanta's presence in oil and gas.

2003

Founded Vedanta Resources

Incorporated Vedanta Resources Plc in London.

1993

Established Copper Smelter and Refinery

Sterlite Industries became the first private sector company in India to set up a copper smelter and refinery.

1986

Founded Sterlite Industries

Established a factory to manufacture jelly-filled cables.

1976

Acquired Shamsher Sterling Corporation

Acquired a manufacturer of enameled copper.

Philanthropic Impact

Community Development$200M

Vedanta Foundation

Invested in building hospitals, schools and infrastructure, conserving the environment, and funding community programs that improve health, education, and livelihood.

Women and Child DevelopmentRs 5,000 crore

Nand Ghar Project

Modernizing Anganwadis, women and child care centers, offering a range of services aimed at improving the health, nutrition, and overall well-being of children and women.

Key Business Ventures & Holdings

CompanyStakeValue
Vedanta Limited61.70%—

Net Worth History

In-Depth Analysis

Early Life

Anil Agarwal was born in 1954 in Patna, Bihar, India, into a Marwadi family. His father had a small business making aluminum conductors. At the age of 19, he moved to Mumbai (then Bombay) to seek career opportunities, foregoing a university education to join his father's business. He started trading in scrap metal in the mid-1970s.

Rise to Success

Agarwal's entrepreneurial journey took off when he acquired Shamsher Sterling Corporation, a manufacturer of enameled copper, in 1976. In 1986, he founded Sterlite Industries, a company that manufactured jelly-filled cables. Recognizing the need to control input costs, he decided to manufacture the metals himself, leading Sterlite Industries to become the first private sector company in India to set up a copper smelter and refinery in 1993. Over the years, he expanded through strategic acquisitions, including Madras Aluminium, Bharat Aluminium Company (BALCO), and Hindustan Zinc Limited (HZL).

Key Business Strategies

A key strategy for Agarwal was vertical integration, ensuring control over raw materials. He established Vedanta Resources in London in 2003 to access international capital markets. His expansion included acquisitions in Zambia, South Africa, and Namibia. In 2011, he acquired Cairn India, strengthening Vedanta's presence in the oil and gas sector. Agarwal's leadership has been characterized by aggressive acquisitions and a focus on expanding Vedanta's global footprint.

Philanthropy

In 1992, Agarwal established the Vedanta Foundation to manage philanthropic activities. In 2021, he joined The Giving Pledge, committing to donate over 75% of his wealth to charitable causes. The Anil Agarwal Foundation focuses on various social impact programs including nutrition, women and child development, healthcare, animal welfare, and grassroots-level sports.

Data Sources & Methodology

Figures for Anil Agarwal & family are synthesized from the sources below and cross-checked against our net worth methodology. Estimates may lag market moves; see corrections to report discrepancies.

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