Mukesh Dhirubhai Ambani was born on April 19, 1957. He is the chairman, managing director, and the largest shareholder of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL). Mukesh Ambani initiated Reliance's backward integration journey – from textiles to polyester fibres and further onto petrochemicals and petroleum refining, and venturing into oil and gas exploration and production
Mukesh Ambani was born to the late Dhirubhai Ambani and Kokilaben Ambani in Aden, Yemen. He has three siblings, a younger brother, Anil Ambani and two sisters Nina Bhadrashyam Kothari and Dipti Dattaraj Salgaocar.
In picture: Mukesh Ambani with father Dhirubhai Ambani
Mukesh Ambani lived in Yemen for a short time and then his family relocated to Mumbai. He attended the Hill Grange High School at Peddar Road, Mumbai, along with his brother Anil Ambani. He received his Bachelor's degree from Mumbai University (then University of Bombay). He later pursued his MBA at Stanford University in the US. He left the course after he was called back by his father to help in the family business
In picture: Mukesh Ambani with mother Kokilaben Ambani
In his youth, Mukesh Ambani played sports like football and hockey and also enjoyed travelling to villages. His father Dhirubhai Ambani wanted all-round development for him and not just good grades at school
In picture: Mukesh Ambani with brother Anil Ambani
The Ambanis initially lived in a modest two-bedroom apartment in Bhuleshwar, Mumbai until the 1970s. Initially, Mukesh Ambani used public transportation, and never received an allowance. Today, Mukesh Ambani's residence Antilia is one of the world's most expensive private residences
In the 90s, Mukesh Ambani led the creation of the world's largest grassroots petroleum refinery at Jamnagar in Gujarat, India and integrated it with petrochemicals, power generation, port, and related infrastructure. Jamnagar has now become the refining hub of the world
Mukesh Ambani also led Reliance's development of infrastructure facilities and implementation of a pan-India organised retail network. Reliance Retail is the largest organised retail player in India. Mukesh Ambani has created global records in customer acquisition for Jio, which is one of the world’s most expansive 4G broadband wireless network offering end-to-end solutions that address the entire value chain across various sections such as education, healthcare, security, financial services, government-citizen interfaces, and entertainment
Mukesh Ambani is a member of the Prime Minister’s Council on Trade and Industry, Government of India, and the Board of Governors of the National Council of Applied Economic Research, India. He is the Chairman of the Board of Governors, Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University in Gujarat. He is a Board Member of the Interpol Foundation, and a member of The Foundation Board of the World Economic Forum. Mukesh Ambani is an elected Foreign Member of the United States National Academy of Engineering
In 2019, Reliance Industries Ltd chairman Mukesh Ambani was listed among the Top 10 richest persons in the world with a net worth of 54 billion USD. Mukesh Ambani owns almost 52 per cent shares of Reliance Industries
Mukesh Ambani's father Dhirubhai Ambani spotted Nita Ambani at a dance recital and he called her a couple of days later and asked her if she would like to meet his elder son, Mukesh. She eventually met Mukesh Ambani and a few meetings later, Mukesh Ambani proposed to Nita at a busy intersection in Mumbai and insisted on an answer amidst the traffic. Mukesh Ambani and Nita Ambani got married on March 8, 1985
Mukesh Ambani and Nita Ambani have three kids - twins Isha Ambani and Akash Ambani and a younger son Anant Ambani. Isha Ambani got married to Anand Piramal in December 2018 while Akash Ambani got married to Shloka Mehta in March 2019
Mukesh Ambani and his family are very religious and are often spotted at various temples across India. They always visit Siddhivinayak Temple in Prabhadevi before starting something new.
Mukesh Ambani has close ties with all the members of his family. In an interview, Mukesh said that his favourite food is idli sambar and his favourite restaurant remains Mysore Cafe. Mukesh Ambani is a strict vegetarian and teetotaler.
In February 2018, Mukesh Ambani was among Indians who enrolled for e-Residency programme initiated by Estonia. Launched in 2014, Estonia's e-Residency programme saw an enrollment of over 2,174 Indians out of which 1,062 individuals applied in 2018.
In picture: Home Minister Amit Shah (C), Chairman of Pandit Dindayal Petroleum University (PDPU) and businessman Mukesh Ambani (L) and Gujarat state Chief Minister Vijaybhai Rupani at the 7th Convocation Ceremony at the PDPU campus in Gandhinagar
In March 2019, Mukesh Ambani bailed out his brother Anil Ambani by paying the dues Anil's company RCOM owed to Ericsson thus clearing RCOM's outstanding to the Swedish company.
Acknowledging his elder brother and RIL Chairman Mukesh' support, Anil Ambani, said, "My sincere and heartfelt thanks to my respected elder brother, Mukesh, and Nita, for standing by me during these trying times, and demonstrating the importance of staying true to our strong family values by extending this timely support."
In picture: Chairman of Pandit Dindayal Petroleum University (PDPU) and businessman Mukesh Ambani speaks during 7th Convocation Ceremony at the PDPU campus in Gandhinagar
Mukesh Ambani is well-respected among politicians cutting across all parties, Industialists, Bollywood actors and sportsperson alike.
In picture: Former prime minister Manmohan Singh listens to Mukesh Ambani during a signing ceremony with Russian president Dmitry Medvedev (not pictured) in New Delhi on December 5, 2008
In picture: Mukesh Ambani listens to senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani during the book launch function by city's former sheriff Nana Chudasama, in Mumbai on June 17, 2010
In picture: Late Shiv Sena Chief Bal Thackeray speaks to actor Amitabh Bachchan while Mukesh Ambani looks on at the inauguration of Thackeray's son Udhav's aerial photographic exhibition on the 'Forts of Maharashtra' at the Jahangir Art gallery in Bombay, January 19, 2004
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