Sanjay Ghodawat is a name that you might have heard of if you are interested in the world of business, education, or philanthropy. He is the founder and chairman of the Ghodawat Group, a multi-billion dollar conglomerate that operates in diverse sectors such as agriculture, aviation, consumer products, energy, mining, real estate, and textiles.
He is also the founder and president of Sanjay Ghodawat University, a premier institution of higher learning that offers quality education and research opportunities to thousands of students. He is a visionary leader, a generous donor, and a respected figure in the Indian society. In this article, we will take a closer look at his life, achievements, and net worth.
Early Life and Education
Sanjay was born in 1966-1967 in a Marwari Jain family in India. His father, Rajaram Ghodawat, was a businessman who dealt in tobacco and spices. His mother, Saroj Ghodawat, was a homemaker who supported his education and ambitions.
Sanjay was interested in entrepreneurship from a young age and learned the basics of business from his father. He completed his schooling at a local high school and then pursued a degree in mechanical engineering from a reputed college. He graduated with flying colors and decided to start his venture.
Sanjay Ghodawat Wiki/Bio
| Name | Sanjay Ghodawat |
| Date of Birth | 1966-1967 |
| Age | 56-57 years (as of 2023) |
| Place of Birth | India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Religion | Hindu |
| Caste | Marwari Jain |
| Education | Mechanical Engineering |
| Occupation | Founder and Chairman of Sanjay Ghodawat Group |
| Net Worth | $2.2-3.1 billion |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Wife | Geeta Ghodawat |
| Children | Shrenik Ghodawat and Shreya Ghodawat |
| sanjay_ghodawat_05 | |
| Homepage | newsunzip.com |
Career and Business
Ghodawat started his career in 1988 by selling chewing tobacco in the states of Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Goa. He realized that there was a huge demand for pan masala, a popular mouth freshener and stimulant in India, and decided to enter this market.
In 1994, he established a company called Ghodawat Pan Masala Products to produce and distribute pan masala under the brand name ‘Star’. He invested in state-of-the-art technology, quality control, and marketing to make his product a household name. He also diversified his portfolio by adding other products such as namkeen, rice, salt, edible oils, turmeric powder, atta, jaggery, beverages, and fruit juices under the same brand.
In 1993, he founded the Ghodawat Group, a conglomerate that expanded into various sectors such as hi-tech agriculture, energy, realty, softech, aviation, textiles, marble mining, and consumer products. He leveraged his business acumen, innovation, and risk-taking ability to create a successful empire that employs over 15,000 people and has a turnover of over $2 billion. He also ventured into the aviation sector in 2017 by launching a new airline called Star Air, which operates under the Indian government’s UDAN scheme to provide regional connectivity and affordable air travel.
He also owns and operates several companies in different domains through his SG Group, such as Ghodawat Agro, Ghodawat Aviation, Ghodawat Consumer Products, Ghodawat Energy, Ghodawat Food, Ghodawat Mining, Ghodawat Realty, Ghodawat Softtech, Ghodawat Textiles, Ghodawat University, and Star Air.
House and Cars
Sanjay lives in a lavish mansion in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, which is worth more than 225 crore rupees. His house is very huge and has many luxurious features such as a car collection showroom, a service room for all his exotic cars, a helicopter stand, a swimming pool, a movie theatre for the family, and more. He also owns several other houses, farmhouses, guest houses, and properties across India and abroad.
Sanjay is a car enthusiast and owns more than 150 luxury and vintage cars, including his favorite Rolls-Royce, Ferrari, an old Plymouth, and Bentley. He also owns a private jet, a helicopter, and a yacht. He loves to travel and explore new places and cultures. He is also fond of sports and fitness and likes to play golf, tennis, and badminton.
Parents and Siblings
Ghodawat was born in a Marwari Jain family in India. His father, Rajaram Ghodawat, was a businessman who dealt in tobacco and spices. His mother, Saroj Ghodawat, was a homemaker who supported his education and ambitions. Sanjay was interested in entrepreneurship from a young age and learned the basics of business from his father.
He completed his schooling at a local high school and then pursued a degree in mechanical engineering from a reputed college. He graduated with flying colors and decided to start his venture. Sanjay also has a blood bank named after his mother, ‘Shree Acharya Tulsi Blood Bank’, under a charitable trust called ‘Sou Sushila Dhanchand Ghodawat Charitable Trust’
Religion and Caste
Ghodawat follows Hinduism as his religion and belongs to the Marwari Jain caste. He is a follower of the Shwetambar sect of Jainism, which is one of the two main branches of Jainism. He believes in the teachings of Mahavira, the 24th and last Tirthankara, or spiritual teacher, of Jainism.
Awards and Recognition
Sanjay Ghodawat has received numerous awards and recognition for his outstanding contribution to the Indian economy and society. Some of the notable ones are:
- Ahimsa International Award 2021 from the Governor of Maharashtra for his humanitarian work and promotion of non-violence.
- Times’s Most Powerful Leaders of 2022 for his leadership and vision in the business world.
- Vanashree Puraskar 2011 from the Government of Maharashtra for his excellence in the field of agriculture and horticulture.
- Bharatiya Udyog Ratna Award for his achievements in the field of industry and commerce.
- Jain Ratna Award for his exemplary service to the Jain community and society at large.
Personal Life, Spouse, and Philanthropy
Sanjay is married to Geeta Ghodawat, who is also a director in the Sanjay Ghodawat Group. They have two children, Shrenik and Shreya, who are also involved in the family business. Sanjay is a devout Jain and follows the principles of ahimsa, or non-violence, in his personal and professional life.
He is also a philanthropist who runs a charitable organization called the Ghodawat Foundation, which engages in various social welfare activities such as education, health, environment, women empowerment, disaster relief, and rural development. He has donated generously to various causes such as:
- Providing financial assistance to the flood victims of Kolhapur and Sangli in 2019.
- Donating Rs 51 lakh to former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to aid drought-affected farmers in 2019.
- Donating Rs 51 lakh to support the families of 44 army personnel who lost their lives in the Pulwama terror attack in 2019.
- Established Sanjay University in 2017 to provide quality education and research facilities to the students of rural India.
- Adopting several villages and providing them with basic amenities such as water, electricity, roads, sanitation, and education.
Net Worth and Lifestyle
Ghodawat has an estimated net worth of $2.2-3.1 billion, according to various sources. He is one of the richest and most influential businessmen in India. He lives a lavish lifestyle and owns several luxury and vintage cars, such as Rolls Royce, Bentley, Mercedes, BMW, Audi, and Jaguar.
He also owns a private jet, a helicopter, and a yacht. He loves to travel and explore new places and cultures. He is also fond of sports and fitness and likes to play golf, tennis, and badminton. He is a humble and down-to-earth person who believes in hard work, honesty, and integrity.
Sanjay is a remarkable entrepreneur who has built a successful business empire from scratch. He is a visionary leader, a generous donor, and a respected figure in the Indian society. He is an inspiration for many aspiring entrepreneurs and young minds who want to make a difference in the world. He is a true star who shines bright in the sky of success.
