Rakesh Radheshyam Jhunjhunwala
A stock market investor who built a fortune from Rs 5,000 and backed causes such as Ashoka University, honoured posthumously with the Padma Shri in 2023.
Rakesh Radheyshyam Jhunjhunwala was an investor, trader and philanthropist, widely seen as one of the most successful investors in India’s stock market. He was named for the Padma Shri posthumously in 2023 in the field of trade and industry, from Maharashtra [1].
From five thousand rupees
Jhunjhunwala was born on 5 July 1960 [2]. He took a commerce degree from Sydenham College in Mumbai and qualified as a chartered accountant [2]. In 1985 he began trading on the stock market with 5,000 rupees, and over more than 30 years of investing and trading he built that into a very large portfolio [2].
He looked for companies with strong prospects for growth, good management and an edge over competitors, and spread his holdings across sectors such as banking, pharmaceuticals and consumer goods [2]. Throughout, he was known for his strong faith in India’s economic future [2].
Giving back
He gave generously to education and health care, believing every Indian should have access to both at the highest standard [2]. Among the causes he supported were Ashoka University, Sankara Eye Hospitals and the Agastya foundation [2].
He died on 14 August 2022 [2].
Sources
- [1] Padma Awards 2023: list of awardees — Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. Accessed 21 October 2026.
- [2] Padma Awards 2023: citation for Rakesh Radheshyam Jhunjhunwala — Padma Awards, Government of India. Accessed 21 October 2026.
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