Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, usually called the 'Warren Buffett of India,' once mentioned, "Growth comes from chaos, not order." While the exact meaning of this quote may be open to interpretation, looking at his net worth and his stock market earnings, which have experienced significant fluctuations over the past two decades, one can appreciate the essence of his words.
Unfortunately, Jhunjhunwala, known for his inspirational quotes on stock investments, passed away Sunday morning at Mumbai's Breach Candy Hospital.
He was a true exemplar of how to succeed in the stock market, and his achievements spoke for themselves. Even though he is no longer with us, his legacy as one of India's most prominent investors lives on. His wealth from stocks secured his place on Forbes' list of billionaires.
Yet, he remained humble, emphasizing the need for caution in embracing Success by saying, "You take success with paranoia."
Rakesh Jhunjhunwala had shared numerous insights on the subject of Success. He remarked, "Success should not make you think you are God's gift to humanity.
You should never forget that you are what you are because God chose you to be there." This quote highlights his perspective on humility and acknowledging divine grace in one's achievements.
Rakesh Jhunjhunwala emphasized that Success is not a linear path and shouldn't be extrapolated.
He shared his journey by revealing that his net worth was INR 1 crore in 1988, INR 200 crore in 1993, and around INR 250 crore in 2002, demonstrating that Success is not a constant upward trajectory.
Jhunjhunwala believed in taking Success cautiously and recognized that it is transitory and fleeting. Despite the volatility of his investments, he thrived over the long term, thanks to his role as a long-term investor.
He remained bullish on the market for extended periods and made strategic shifts and diversifications in his investment portfolio as new opportunities emerged.
Rakesh Jhunjhunwala had a deep understanding of market dynamics. He believed that while markets might experience short-term sentences, these corrections are sharp, swift, and brief in a bull market. He once remarked that markets tend to shake up investors before embarking on a bull run.
Over the years, Jhunjhunwala's wealth experienced significant fluctuations. His wealth was around $1.3 billion in 2013, decreased to $1.2 billion in 2014, but then surged to $2.1 billion in 2015, nearly doubling his wealth. The subsequent two years were less favorable, with his wealth at $1.8 billion in 2016 but rebounded to $2.2 billion in 2017.
In 2018, he crossed the $3 billion mark in wealth before it declined to $2.8 billion in 2019. The economic impact of the pandemic, which severely affected India's economy and markets, further reduced his net worth to $1.9 billion in 2020.
Between 2013 and 2020, Rakesh Jhunjhunwala's wealth saw relatively modest growth. However, what's noteworthy is that his net worth remained higher than he had achieved in 2002, emphasizing the importance of long-term growth.
In 2021, his wealth had a remarkable surge, more than doubling to reach $4.3 billion. The trend continued as of the latest available data, with his net worth reaching $5.8 billion in 2022.
As per Forbes, his net worth of $5.8 billion is based on real-time data as of August 14, 2022, equivalent to over ₹46,000 crores in Indian rupees. This places him as the 438th billionaire on the Forbes List for 2022. In India, he ranks as the 36th richest individual according to the 2021 list.
In 1984, after completing his Chartered Accountant degree, Rakesh Jhunjhunwala made a significant career choice by entering the world of investing and trading in the stock market. He embarked on his investment journey with a mere ₹5,000 in the stock market when the Sensex hovered around the 150 level.
His initial stock investment was in Tata Tea, which swiftly escalated from ₹43 per share to an astonishing ₹143 per share in three months. This successful investment marked the beginning of substantial gains for Jhunjhunwala. Over the next three years, his holdings in Tata Tea yielded profits of approximately ₹25 lakhs, marking his first major Success in the stock market.
Fast forward to 2022, the largest stock in Jhunjhunwala's portfolio is Titan Company, which the Tata Group backs. According to Trendlyne data, as of August 12, 2022, Jhunjhunwala's wealth in Titan was around ₹11,086.9 crores.
Rakesh Jhunjhunwala's portfolio currently encompasses 32 stocks, with an approximate net worth of nearly ₹32,000 crore in August.
In addition to his stock investments, Jhunjhunwala has diversified into various ventures, including investments in Bollywood movies and non-listed firms, including startups.
Notably, he also co-founded Akasa Air, a new airline in the aviation industry, which recently commenced its commercial operations. Jhunjhunwala is renowned for managing Rare Enterprises, an asset management firm.
The news of Rakesh Jhunjhunwala's passing has reverberated throughout India's business and financial landscape, with corporate India and the markets mourning the loss of this iconic investor.
Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences to Jhunjhunwala's family, recognizing his significant contributions.
Prime Minister Modi shared on Twitter, "Rakesh Jhunjhunwala was unstoppable. He was lively, clever, and had great insights. He's left a lasting impact on the financial world.
He was deeply committed to India's advancement. His passing is a sorrowful moment. My sympathies go out to his family and admirers. Rest in peace."
Rakesh Jhunjhunwala was married to Rekha Jhunjhunwala, and they have three children. He was born on July 5, 1960.