Gautam Adani (1962-) is chairman of the Adani Group, that is one of India's largest export and trading houses.

He is one of India's richest businessmen with an estimated personal net worth of $6.7 billion.

The Adani Group, despite a humble beginning in 1988, is one of the fastest growing enterprises in India. The flagship company, Adani Enterprises Ltd. (formerly known as Adani Exports Ltd.), was established by Gautam Adani in 1988 as a partnership firm with a seed capital of Rs 500,000.

Gautam Adani dropped out of college at the age of 18 and went on to work in Mumbai at a diamond store. He later set up his own diamond firm.

Born in a family of modest means in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, Gautam was one of the seven children of Shantilal and Shantaben Adani.

Later, along with his elder brother Mansukhbhai, he entered into import of raw materials used for manufacturing plastics. When import duties on the materials they imported were cut, following liberalisation, their profits multiplied.

Today, Gautam Adani owns two private jets.

Image: Gautam Adani, chairman of Adani Group, poses at his office in Ahmedabad. | Photograph: AFP/Getty Images