Industrialist Anil Agarwal, Founder and Chairman of Vedanta Group, continues to be Bihar's richest individual. According to the Forbes July 2025 list, his family wealth is estimated at Rs 35,000 crore.
He is also ranked 16th in the M3M Hurun India Rich List 2025 and fourth among global Non-Resident Indian (NRI) wealth creators.
Anil Agarwal was born in Patna on January 24, 1954, into a Marwadi family. Due to financial difficulties, he could not continue formal education beyond Miller School in Patna. At the age of 19, he left his hometown with very little money. Carrying just a tiffin box and bedding, he travelled to Mumbai with the dream of starting his own business.
In his early years, Agarwal tried nine different business ventures, but all of them failed. He struggled financially and found it hard to survive. Despite repeated failures, he did not give up on his ambition to build a company. In 1976, his determination paid off when he founded the Vedanta Group.
Entry into Metals and Industrial Growth
Agarwal began his professional journey in the scrap metal trade during the mid-1970s. This gave him practical knowledge of industrial supply chains and commodity prices. In 1986, he entered manufacturing by setting up Sterlite Industries, initially producing jelly-filled cables. A major breakthrough came in 1993, when Sterlite established India's first private-sector copper smelter and refinery.
Rise as India's 'Metal King'
A key turning point came in 2001, when Agarwal acquired a controlling stake in Bharat Aluminium Company (BALCO). This was followed by a majority stake in Hindustan Zinc Limited (HZL). These strategic acquisitions strengthened his position in India's aluminium and zinc sectors and earned him the title of 'metal king' in business circles.
Today, Vedanta Group operates across a wide range of sectors, including zinc, copper, aluminium, silver, power, nickel, oil and gas, and iron and steel. Under Agarwal's leadership, Vedanta has grown from an Indian mining company into a global natural resources group. The company is also expanding into semiconductors and display glass manufacturing, supporting India's goal of electronics self-reliance.
According to Hurun, six individuals from Bihar feature in this year's rich list, up from four last year, highlighting the state's growing wealth base. Anil Agarwal has pledged 75% of his wealth for social causes and is a signatory of The Giving Pledge, joining global philanthropists committed to giving away most of their fortunes.
His flagship initiative, Nand Ghar, works to modernise Anganwadis, tackle child malnutrition, empower women through skill development, and improve education. Agarwal also supports grassroots sports development and actively mentors young entrepreneurs. He regularly advises young people to 'be humble, be fearless.'