Meet Virji Vora from Surat, India's richest businessman, outshining Ambani, Tata, and Adani

Meet Virji Vora, a distinguished Indian businessman who held the title of the world's wealthiest entrepreneur according to the British East India was an Indian merchant from Surat during the Mughal era. Born in 1590, Vora was a prominent wholesale trader with a personal fortune estimated at Rs 8 million. Adjusted for inflation, his net worth would surpass that of contemporary billionaires like Mukesh Ambani and Adani.

Vora's financial influence was substantial, as he lent a considerable sum of Rs 2,00,000 to the East India Company between 1617 and 1670. His business dealings involved a diverse range of products, including pepper, gold, cardamom, and other commodities. Engaging in extensive trade with the British from 1629 to 1668, Vora strategically purchased entire stocks of products, reaping substantial profits.

Notably, he also served as a money lender, extending financial assistance even to Englishmen. Historical accounts suggest that during Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb's financial challenges in his conquest of the Deccan region, he sought financial aid from Vora. The businessman's influence spanned across India and key port cities in the Persian Gulf, the Red Sea, and South-East Asia.

Virji Vora's business network extended to critical trading centers of his time, including Agra, Burhanpur, Golconda in Deccan, Goa, Calicut, Bihar, Ahmedabad, Vadodara, and Baruch. Despite his passing in 1670, Virji Vora's legacy endures, outshining contemporary Indian billionaires with his staggering wealth and leaving an indelible mark on history.