By FMTeam Agarwal Anil is a famous figure in India’s business world and that’s mainly because he is the one who is at present the Chairman of Vedanta Resources. And just so you know, he is the man, whose title “Metal King of India,” is commonly used in mass media. Just to give you an idea of the magnitude of his business, he built up his empire around mining, commodities, and natural resources in a relatively short time, and that’s precisely what makes him special. The current worth of Anil Agarwal is Rs 17,600 crores or $2.01 billion. So, sure, this makes him one of the richest men in India. His company, Vedanta Resources, is the one that is the largest zinc, copper, aluminum, and oil producer in India as well as the world’s major supplier. Let’s take a closer look at how he reached this global standing.
| Features | Details |
| Name | Anil Agarwal |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Known For | Chairman of Vedanta Resources, Metal King |
| Net Worth | Rs 17,600 crore ($2.01 billion) |
| Age | 69-70 (as of 2024) |
| Company | Vedanta Resources |
| Title | Chairman |
| Industry | Mining, Metals, Oil & Gas |
Early Life and Education
It was in 1954 in Patna, Bihar, when Anil was born. And yes, being born in a Marwari family, his father Dwarka Prasad Agarwal was engaged in a minor aluminum conductor business. Anil finished Miller High School in Patna but he avoided the chance to get higher education. Instead, at age 19, he made a cool decision and went to Bombay (now Mumbai) for great opportunities. This crucial decision would start him on the move towards being one of the best businessmen in India thus far.
From Scrap Metal to a Billion-Dollar Empire
It is important for everybody who’s reading this post to know that back in the 1970s, Anil Agarwal started his career by trading scrap metal, mainly collecting scraps from cable companies and selling them in Mumbai, but this was only the start, you know? In 1976, he went and purchased Shamsher Sterling Corporation, which produced enameled copper products. This was the first real step for him into the metals industry.
Nevertheless, Agarwal soon realized that if he wanted to grow his business, he needed to control the production chain. Thus, he initiated Sterlite Industries in 1993, a company that would later be at the leading edge of India’s metals industry, and that’s what was set to happen. Sterlite was the initializer of the construction of the first private-sector copper smelter and refinery in India. The next giant step was achieved in 1995 when Sterlite bought Madras Aluminium, which was Anil’s entry point into the aluminum business. With raw material production under his control, the quick-paced expansion of his business started, and from there on, he never stopped growing this fast in the business scene of India.
The Rise of Vedanta Resources
The flip of the coin or as you like to call it the “turning point” came in the year 2003 when Anil Agarwal the founder of Vedanta Resources in London with the establishment of the firm, became the first Indian venture to hit the London Stock Exchange. If you think about it for a second, this really is a great achievement in itself, so yes, it is worth mentioning here and you should really know about it. Under Anil’s leadership, Vedanta became a global player with operations extending from India through Zambia to Australia. Right now though, the company is engaged in a host of resources which include zinc, aluminum, copper, oil, and gas.
And just so you know, Vedanta was able to lead the market in the global metals and mining industry through smart acquisitions with the most prominent ones being the buying of 51% of Bharat Aluminium Company (BALCO) and 65% of Hindustan Zinc Limited.
Net Worth and Financial Growth
Currently, in 2024, the CEO or Chairman of Vedanta Resources, Anil Agarwala has built up a wealth of a staggering 17,600 crores rupees, which in US dollars would amount to 2.01 billion dollars whereas the company has an estimated value of 1,03,919 crore rupees equivalent to 12.49 billion dollars. And in some way, yes, the credit for all this growth of Vedanta Resources can be given to Anil Agarwal because he really made some good moves and took some bold actions through the years which has led the company to this level. We must say that at least, and he deserves appreciation for that.