siliconindia | | JULY 20258In a country of 1.4 billion, a few remarkable individuals have risen from modest beginnings to reshape India's economic landscape. Fueled by grit, vision, and the wave of liberalization, these under-the-radar billionaires quietly built powerful empires, transforming industries and lives along the way. Their stories redefine success, proving that true power often emerges from the humblest roots.This article explores the journeys of five such billionaires Radhakishan Damani, Dilip Shanghvi, Cyrus Poonawalla, Kushal Pal Singh, and Shiv Nadar whose lives exemplify the transformative potential of resilience and vision in modern India.Radhakishan DamaniRadhakishan Damani, born in 1955 in Bikaner, Rajasthan, grew up in a modest Marwari family, living in a single-room apartment. Simple living and shortage of money were common during his childhood. After losing his father, who was a small-time trader, Damani chose to leave college and try the stock market, even though he did not have much education or expense in his name. During his early times, it was challenging and mostly involved making small transactions and stubbornly gaining market knowledge.The Retail King from a Single-Room ApartmentHe started his path to having billions by trading stocks with mentoring from Chandrakant Sampat. Because he could pick undervalued companies, he was seen as a smart investor. In the same year, he started a retail chain and founded Avenue Supermarts Limited, which is better known as DMart. By making operations low-cost and focusing on customer prices, DMart changed the retail sector in India. By 2025, the firm has grown to over 336 stores and its market value is listed as Rs 3.4 lakh crore. Such transactions as the sale of 1 lakh VST Industries shares for 4.4 crore strengthened his wealth, with sources placing it at $31.5 billion in January 2025. In spite of achieving great success, his simple lifestyle and support for education and healthcare help him remain down-to-earth.Damani went from trader to retail first-timer, reflecting his way of planning and taking risks, as DMart opened more jobs and changed the country's retail sector.Dilip ShanghviBorn in 1955 in Amreli, Gujarat, Dilip Shanghvi grew up in a EDITORIAL EXCLUSIVE· Each billionaire began life with modest means, from single-room homes and village back-grounds to small family businesses and army careers.· With limited resources, they launched ventures in retail, pharmaceuticals, vaccines, real estate, and IT, driven by sharp business insight and risk-taking.· Their companies DMart, Sun Pharma, Serum Institute, DLF, and HCL reshaped industries, cre-ated jobs, and contributed to India's economic rise.TOP 5 BILLIONAIRES WHO TURNED POVERTY INTO POWERBy M R Yuvatha, Senior Correspondent, siliconindia
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