Gautam Adani, who was rejected by Jai Hind College in the late 1970s, returned to the institution as a $100 billion business magnate to inspire students on Teachers' Day.

What Happened: Adani, who moved to Mumbai at 16, initially worked as a diamond sorter. He applied to Jai Hind College, where his elder brother Vinod had studied, but was rejected, said Vikram Nankani, President of the Jai Hind College Alumni Association.

Instead of pursuing higher education, Adani started his own business. He launched a commodities trading firm in 1998, diversifying into sectors like ports, power, and renewable energy over 25 years.

Now India's second-richest person, Adani operates 13 seaports and seven airports. He is also involved in infrastructure, real estate, and media.

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In his lecture, titled "Breaking Boundaries: The Power of Passion and Unconventional Paths to Success," Adani reflected on his decision to move to Mumbai and forego formal education, emphasizing the importance of dreaming beyond boundaries.

"The field of trading makes a good teacher. I learnt very early that an entrepreneur can never be frozen by over-evaluating the choices in front of him," Adani said.

Adani highlighted Mumbai as his training ground, where he learned the fundamentals of trading and entrepreneurship. He shared insights on building a successful trading business and the importance of speed and scale in achieving success.

Why It Matters: Adani’s return to Jai Hind College comes amid his soaring fortunes. According to the 2024 Hurun India Rich List, Adani and his family now possess a wealth of ₹11.6 lakh crore, marking a 95% increase over the past year.

This surge in wealth follows a period of recovery from the scrutiny of the Hindenburg report, which had initially impacted Adani Group companies. However, all Adani Group companies saw substantial share price increases, with Adani Ports experiencing a 98% surge.

Moreover, U.S.-based investment firm GQG Partners has shown significant confidence in the Adani Group, boosting its holdings to ₹61,898 crore. The investment, initially made in March 2023, has grown substantially, reflecting the market’s trust in Adani’s leadership.

Adani’s lecture also comes amid his plans to retire at 70 and pass down the reins of his empire to the next generation.

In an interview with Bloomberg, Adani revealed that his sons, Karan and Jeet, along with their cousins Pranav and Sagar, will become equal beneficiaries of the family trust upon his retirement.

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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Photo courtesy: Flickr