Early Life
Motilal Oswal was born on May 15, 1962, in Padru, a village in Rajasthan, India. His father was a grain trader. Oswal chose to pursue higher education, which led him to SPU Jain College in Falna before moving to Mumbai.
Rise to Success
Oswal's career in finance began in 1987 when he co-founded Motilal Oswal Financial Services with Raamdeo Agrawal. Starting as a sub-broking unit, the company expanded into various financial services, including investment banking, asset management, and housing finance. The company went public in 2007. Oswal's leadership has been instrumental in the company's growth, which now serves over 7.3 million clients.
Key Business Strategies
Motilal Oswal Financial Services focused on research-driven investment strategies and built a strong presence in equity markets. They developed a diversified business model that includes wealth management, institutional broking, and asset management. In 2010, the company established Motilal Oswal Asset Management Company (MOAMC). MOFSL has been recognized as a Great Place to Work seven times.
Philanthropy
Motilal Oswal and Raamdeo Agrawal pledged 5% of their holdings to philanthropy. In 2023, they pledged 10% of their personal holdings in Motilal Oswal Financial Services. The Motilal Oswal Foundation supports initiatives in education, healthcare, and community development. In May 2025, the Foundation committed ₹100 crore to the Indian School of Business (ISB).