Asias’s 2nd richest person Mukesh Ambani turns 69:From heir to Titan, the birthday boy’s journey to the top

Asia’s second richest person Mukesh Ambani celebrates his 69th birthday on April 19, 2026. According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, the ace Indian entrepreneur is currently the world’s 20th richest person. How vast is Reliance’s empire? Reliance Industries Limited is India’s largest private sector corporation. The company’s journey, which started with textile and polyester later expanded into energy, retail, entertainment, and digital services. Reliance owns the world’s largest refinery. Reliance Industries Limited’s market cap stands at approximately ₹18.47 lakh crore as of April 19, 2026. Almost every Indian uses some product or service of the Reliance empire. Dhirubhai Ambani Laid Reliance’s Foundation Dhirubhai Ambani laid the foundation of the Reliance Group. He was born on December 28, 1933, in Junagadh district of Saurashtra, Gujarat. When he stepped into the business world, he had neither ancestral property nor bank balance. Dhirubhai married Kokilaben in 1955. They have two sons – Mukesh-Anil and two daughters – Deepti and Nina. After Dhirubhai’s death on July 6, 2002, his wife Kokilaben played a key role in the division of the family’s property. What Caused Tension Between Mukesh and Anil? – Mukesh Ambani joined Reliance in 1981 and Anil Ambani in 1983. Their father Dhirubhai Ambani passed away in July 2002 without leaving a will. Mukesh Ambani became Reliance Group’s chairman and Anil Ambani became managing director. – But their relationship became sour. The first conflict between brothers Mukesh and Anil surfaced in November 2004. Dhirubhai Ambani’s wife Kokilaben was troubled by this family dispute, which led to the business division. – This division occurred in June 2005, but the decision about which brother would get which subsidiary company continued until 2006. Even, the ICICI Bank’s then-chairman VK Kamath had to intervene in this division. – After the split, Mukesh Ambani received petrochemicals business, Reliance Industries, Indian Petrochemicals Corp Limited, Reliance Petroleum, Reliance Industrial Infrastructure Limited, and similar companies. – Younger brother Anil got companies like RCom, Reliance Capital, Reliance Energy, Reliance Natural Resources. The elder brother Mukesh scaled new heights in career, but the younger sibling Anil committed blundering mistakes and as a result companies under him began to sink. Interesting Facts About Reliance’s Business: 1. Largest Mango plantation Reliance owns Asia’s largest mango plantation in Jamnagar and the group was India’s largest mango exporter at least till March, 2024, according to Your Story. 2. Reliance is involved in sports: – Purchased Mumbai Indians in IPL for $100 million in 2008 – Started the Indian Super League in football – Organizes a tennis event 3. Media and Entertainment: – Owns Network 18 – Every second Indian watches a Reliance TV channel – Has major stakes in platforms like Money Control, BookMyShow, and Voot 4. Refinery Operations: – Owns world’s largest petroleum refinery in Jamnagar, Gujarat – During COVID-19’s second wave, the refinery produced medical-grade oxygen, supplying 1,000 MT daily 5. Retail Operations: – Owns Digital, Fresh, Jewels, and Hamleys toy stores – Has exclusive partnerships with international brands like Armani, Hugo Boss, Diesel, and Marks Spencer – Operates online platforms like AJIO, Jivame, Netmeds, and Urban Ladder 6. Technology Investments: – Partners with Skytrain for self-driving electric vehicles – Owns 51% stake in drone company Asteria Aerospace – Acquired majority stake in augmented reality company Tesseract – Launched Jio Glass 7. Hospitality Ventures: – Purchased New York’s luxury hotel Mandarin Oriental – Owns Britain’s iconic country club Stoke Park Future Challenges: – Faces retail competition from Amazon and DMart – Competes with Gautam Adani in new energy sector, who aims to become world’s largest renewable energy producer by 2030 This comprehensive business empire makes Reliance a significant force in India’s corporate landscape, with areas spanning from traditional industries to cutting-edge technology and sustainable energy solutions.