Anil Agarwal made his name in the tiny streets of Patna and the boardrooms of London, and his story is that of a man of bold ambition, uncompromising determination, and critical change. Agarwal is the creator and chairperson of Vedanta Resources Limited; he developed one of the largest natural resources empires in India; he did this in a controversial yet never without conviction manner.
Anil Agarwal has a net worth of 3.3 billion dollars according to a Forbes Real-Time Billionaires List, or to be precise, a major part of his wealth is as a result of his majority in Vedanta. But there is more to the figures and accounts than mere numbers and balance sheets–a very human story–of family, loss, philanthropy, and an unquenchable faith in nation-building.
Growing up, Patna, to Mumbai: Simple Starts.
Anil Agarwal was born in 1954, in a Marwadi family of Patna, Bihar. His father, Dwarka Prasad Agarwal, was a small aluminium conductor business–not large in size but full of teachings about discipline and hard work.
Schooled at Miller High School, Patna, Agarwal did not venture into university education. He, instead, entered into the business of his father and got to know the realities of trade at the bottom level.
He went to Mumbai the financial capital of India at a very tender age of 19 years with just a bit more than a desire and a vision in his mind, and he had come to Patna to leave.
Scrap to Strategy: The Birth of an Entrepreneur.
In the mid 1970s Agarwal started to trade in scrap metals whereby he used to collect waste produced by cable firms in different states and sell in Mumbai. This was an ugly but astute business operation that would form the basis of what we currently see as an international conglomerate.
He purchased Shamsher sterling corporation in 1976, a bank loan- this is a daring venture of a young entrepreneur. Ten years later he established Sterlite Industries which produced jelly-filled cables.
But unstable prices of raw materials revealed one significant flaw dependency. The reply of Agarwal would be what he would leave behind- possess the source.
The story of Constructing Vedanta: Vertical Diversification and Risky Betting.
The strategy of Agarwal changed into the ownership of the resources since it was based on trading.
- 1993: Sterlite Industries was the first Indian firm that was privately owned to establish a copper smelter and refinery.
- 1995: Takeover of a sick PSU shut four years Madras Aluminium.
- His most significant turning point was in the course of disinvestment of India:
- 2001: BALCO 51% stake shares acquired at 551.5 crore.
- 2002: Control majority of Hindustan Zinc Limited.
The two companies used to be perceived as ineffective government departments. They turned out to be mining giants that were making money under Agarwal.
Going Global: International Expansion and London Listing.
Vedanta Resources in London was incorporated in 2003 by Agarwal. It was the first Indian company to be listed on the London Stock Exchange 10 December 2003.
What succeeded was the growth all over the world:
- Zambia: Takeover of Konkola Copper Mines.
- India: Sesa Goa (iron ore) stake.
- Africa & Europe: Namibia, Ireland, South Africa: Zinc.
- Energy: Takeover of Cairn India (oil and gas).
In 2012, Vedanta merged its assets in India by converging with the merger of Sesa Goa and Sterlite Industries.
Vedanta currently has operations in zinc, copper, aluminium, iron ore, power, oil and gas with India being its main market whereas Agarwal himself lives in London.
Family Tree: The Agarwal Legacy
Despite his global stature, Agarwal has remained deeply rooted in family values.
Father
Dwarka Prasad Agarwal – Small businessman, early mentor
Brothers
- Pravin Agarwal – Chairman, Sterlite Power; Vice-Chairman, Sterlite Technologies
- Navin Agarwal – Executive Vice Chairman, Vedanta Limited
- Wife: Ruchira Agarwal
- Children: Naivedya and Ananya
Wife
Kiran Agarwal
Children
- Agnivesh Agarwal (1976–2025)
Founder of Fujairah Gold, former Chairman of Hindustan Zinc - Priya Agarwal Hebbar
Chairperson, Hindustan Zinc; Non-Executive Director, Vedanta
Co-founder of Yoda, an animal care organisation
Married to Akarsh Hebbar; daughter Mahii
Personal Tragedy: The Darkest Day
In January 2026, Anil Agarwal suffered an unimaginable loss. His son Agnivesh Agarwal passed away at 49 after a sudden cardiac arrest in the United States.
In an emotional post on X, Agarwal described it as “the darkest day of my life.”
Agnivesh had been recovering from a skiing accident and was under treatment at Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, when the sudden setback claimed his life.
The loss marked a deeply personal chapter in Agarwal’s otherwise public journey.
Investments and Nation-Building in India
Vedanta’s footprint across India is massive:
- Odisha
₹80,000 crore invested, plus ₹25,000 crore expansion
Nearly 4% of Odisha’s GDP (2022) - Gujarat
₹1.54 lakh crore semiconductor project with Foxconn (Vedanta stake: 60%)
These investments reflect Agarwal’s long-held belief that natural resources must fuel national development.
Controversies and Criticism
Agarwal has not gone through life without controversy in his career.
In Tamil Nadu and Odisha, there are claims of environmental issues.
Relocation of the natives.
Zambia pollution and labor lawsuits.
Thoothukudi Violence (2018)
The protests against the Sterlite copper plant resulted in police shooting resulting into the killing of 13 individuals.
Subsequently, the Justice Aruna Jagadeesan Commission did not detect any particular indication of direct implication of Vedanta.
Philanthropy
Agarwal set up the Vedanta Foundation in 1992.
- Health, education, infrastructure expenditure 2013-14 $49 million.
- Nand Ghar Project: 3,700 modern anganwadi in 13 states.
- Gave vow of 75% of family wealth away.
- 5,000 crore social impact commitment (2021-26)
- Joined The Giving Pledge with daughter Priya
His philanthropy deals in nutrition, women empowerment, child welfare, healthcare, animal welfare and sports.
Awards and Recognition
- Padma Bhushan (2016)
- EY Entrepreneur of the Year (2008)
- Economic Times Business Leader of the Year (2012)
- Mining Journal Lifetime Achievement Award.
- Global Indian Award (2022)
Summing up: The Book that is still being written.
It is not only a tale of mines and metals but a story of risk, reinvention, controversy, compassion, and resilience by Anil Agarwal. The story of an Indian scrap dealer turned into an international mining magnate is a reflection of the emergence of contemporary Indian business- complex, strong, and highly impactful.
And despite the personal tragedy and the scrutiny of his deeds, Agarwal made a mark on the Indian industrial and philanthropic life that is hard to deny.
Anil Agarwal – Detailed Biography Table
Personal Information
| Category | Details |
| Full Name | Anil Agarwal |
| Date of Birth | 1954 |
| Age (as of 2026) | 71 years |
| Birthplace | Patna, Bihar, India |
| Nationality | Indian (British resident) |
| Ethnicity | Marwadi |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Education | Miller High School, Patna |
| Higher Education | Did not attend university |
| Current Residence | London, United Kingdom |
| Profession | Industrialist, Businessman |
| Known For | Founder & Chairman of Vedanta Resources Limited |
Family Background
| Relation | Name & Details |
| Father | Dwarka Prasad Agarwal – Ran a small aluminium conductor business in Patna |
| Mother | Not publicly disclosed |
| Brother | Pravin Agarwal – Chairman, Sterlite Power; Vice-Chairman, Sterlite Technologies |
| Brother | Navin Agarwal – Executive Vice Chairman, Vedanta Limited |
| Sister-in-law | Ruchira Agarwal |
| Wife | Kiran Agarwal |
| Son | Agnivesh Agarwal (1976–2026) – Founder of Fujairah Gold; Former Chairman of Hindustan Zinc |
| Daughter | Priya Agarwal Hebbar – Chairperson, Hindustan Zinc; Non-Executive Director, Vedanta |
| Son-in-law | Akarsh Hebbar |
| Grandchild | Mahii Hebbar |
Son’s Death
| Category | Information |
| Name | Agnivesh Agarwal |
| Age at Death | 49 years |
| Year of Death | 2026 |
| Place of Death | United States |
| Cause of Death | Sudden cardiac arrest |
| Medical Context | Recovering from a skiing accident |
| Hospital | Mount Sinai Hospital, New York |
| Public Statement | Described by Anil Agarwal as “the darkest day of my life” |
| Announcement Platform | X (formerly Twitter) |
Business Career & Milestones
| Year / Period | Achievement |
| Mid-1970s | Began trading scrap metal in Mumbai |
| 1976 | Acquired Shamsher Sterling Corporation |
| 1986 | Founded Sterlite Industries |
| 1993 | Set up India’s first private-sector copper smelter |
| 1995 | Acquired Madras Aluminium (BIFR-controlled sick unit) |
| 2001 | Acquired 51% stake in BALCO |
| 2002 | Acquired ~65% stake in Hindustan Zinc |
| 2003 | Listed Vedanta Resources on London Stock Exchange |
| 2004 | Acquired Konkola Copper Mines (Zambia) |
| 2007 | Acquired controlling stake in Sesa Goa |
| 2010 | Acquired Anglo American’s zinc assets |
| 2011 | Acquired controlling stake in Cairn India |
| 2012 | Merger of Sterlite Industries and Sesa Goa |
| 2017 | Became largest shareholder in Anglo American (19%) |
Vedanta Resources Overview
| Aspect | Details |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom |
| Ownership | Controlled via Volcan Investments (100%) |
| Sectors | Zinc, Lead, Silver, Copper, Aluminium, Iron Ore, Power, Oil & Gas |
| Core Market | India |
| Global Presence | Africa, Europe, Australia |
Net Worth & Wealth
| Source | Estimated Net Worth |
| Forbes Real-Time Billionaires List (2026) | $3.3 billion |
| Sunday Times Rich List (2020) | £8.5 billion |
| Primary Wealth Source | Majority stake in Vedanta Resources |
Major Investments in India
| State / Project | Investment Details |
| Odisha | ₹80,000 crore invested + ₹25,000 crore expansion |
| Odisha GDP Impact | ~4% of state GDP (2022) |
| Gujarat | ₹1.54 lakh crore semiconductor project |
| Partner | Foxconn (Vedanta stake: 60%) |
Controversies & Legal Issues
| Issue | Details |
| Tamil Nadu (2004) | Alleged toxic waste dumping |
| Odisha (2005) | Alleged displacement of indigenous communities |
| Zambia | Lawsuit over river pollution & labour disputes |
| Thoothukudi Violence (2018) | 13 deaths during protests against Sterlite plant |
| Commission Finding | No specific evidence of Vedanta’s involvement |
Philanthropy & Social Impact
| Category | Details |
| Foundation | Vedanta Foundation (est. 1992) |
| Annual Spend (2013–14) | $49 million |
| Focus Areas | Education, Healthcare, Nutrition, Women & Child Welfare |
| Nand Ghar Project | 3,700+ modern anganwadis across 13 states |
| Wealth Pledge | 75% of family wealth |
| Giving Pledge | Joined in 2021 (with daughter Priya) |
| Social Impact Commitment | ₹5,000 crore (2021–2026) |
Awards & Honours
| Year | Award |
| 2008 | EY Entrepreneur of the Year |
| 2009 | Mining Journal Lifetime Achievement Award |
| 2012 | Economic Times Business Leader of the Year |
| 2016 | Padma Bhushan |
| 2022 | Global Indian Award |