Early Life
Gautam Shantilal Adani was born on June 24, 1962, in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. He was born into a Gujarati Jain family. His father was a textile merchant. Adani attended Sheth Chimanlal Nagindas Vidyalaya school in Ahmedabad but dropped out at 16, showing an early inclination towards business.
Rise to Success
Adani started his career as a diamond sorter in Mumbai in 1978. In 1981, he returned to Ahmedabad to manage his brother's plastics unit. This experience led him to import polyvinyl chloride (PVC), marking his entry into global trading. In 1988, he established Adani Exports, now Adani Enterprises, which initially dealt with agricultural and power commodities. After India's economic liberalization in 1991, Adani expanded into trading metals, textiles, and agro products. A significant milestone was securing the contract for Mundra Port in 1995, transforming it into India's largest private port. He founded Adani Power in 1996, becoming the largest private thermal power producer in India.
Key Business Strategies
Adani's success is attributed to strategic diversification and infrastructure development. Key strategies include:
- Port Development: Developing Mundra Port into a major logistics hub.
- Power Generation: Establishing Adani Power to ensure energy security.
- Strategic Acquisitions: Expanding into airports, renewable energy, and cement through strategic acquisitions.
Philanthropy
Gautam Adani's wife, Priti Adani, chairs the Adani Foundation, which focuses on philanthropy, including sizable COVID-19 support. The Adani Foundation supports initiatives in education, healthcare, skill development, rural upliftment, disaster relief, and women empowerment. The Adani Group collaborated with ISKCON to organize Mahaprasad Seva, an initiative that provided free meals to devotees throughout the Maha Kumbh Mela in 2025.