Anil Ambani

Chairman of Anil Dhirybhai Ambani Group

Net Worth: US$2.5 billion (December 2016)

In 1983, Anil Ambani joined Reliance, a conglomerate company founded by his late father, as the Co-Chief Executive Officer. He has also pioneered in initiating many financial innovations in the Indian capital market, some of which were leading India's first forays into overseas capital markets with international public offerings of global depositary receipts, convertibles and bonds.

Under his leadership Reliance has been raising around US$2 billion from the overseas financial markets, since 1991. The 100-year Yankee bond was launched under his leadership. The two Ambani brothers took Reliance Group to great heights and due to their effort and intelligence it enjoys its current status as India's leading textiles, petroleum, petrochemicals, power and telecommunication company. Anil Ambani was also elected as the Independent Member of the Rajya Sabha- Upper Sabha, Parliament of India with the support of the Samajwadi Party, in June 2004.

He has been linked with several Bollywood personalities like Amitabh Bachchan and Subrata Roy who are close friends. His major achievement in the entertainment industry has been the takeover of Adlabs. Though his professional life leaves him almost no time to rejuvenate, he makes a point to stay fit, physically and mentally. He's an active participant in various marathons. He is a vegetarian and abstains from alcohol. He wakes up early and goes for a run everyday.

Obstacles Faced by Anil Ambani

• In the late 2000s Anil Ambani's name was entered into the Business sheet's “World's biggest loser” list of business leaders after losing $32.5 billion in 2008, due to which he lost his position in the top ten list and came down to number 34 in 2009.
• He was even interrogated by the Central Bureau of investigation, and is allegedly a suspect in the 2G spectrum scam.

Awards and recognition

• Conferred the 'Businessman of the Year 1997' award. by India's leading business magazine Business India, December 1997.
• Voted 'the Businessman of the Year' in a poll conducted by The Times of India – TNS, December 2006.
• Voted the 'Best role model' among business leaders in the biannual Mood of the Nation poll conducted by India Today magazine, August 2006.
• Conferred 'the CEO of the Year 2004' in the Platts Global Energy Awards.
• Conferred 'The Entrepreneur of the Decade Award' by the Bombay Management Association, October 2002.
• Awarded the First Wharton Indian Alumni Award by the Wharton India Economic Forum (WIEF) in recognition of his contribution to the establishment of Reliance as a global leader in many of its business areas, December 2001.
• Selected by Asiaweek magazine for its list of 'Leaders of the Millennium in Business and Finance' and was introduced as the only 'new hero' in Business and Finance from India, June 1999.