RAKESH JHUNJHUNWALA

Started trading in 1985 while still in college, with just 5,000 rupees ($100). His father refused to fund him — told him to earn it in the market.

Made his first big money in the 1986 Tata Tea rally. By 2000, he was managing a portfolio worth over $50 million.

His bet on Titan Company in 2003 at around ₹3 per share (split-adjusted) turned into one of the greatest Indian stock trades ever — Titan eventually hit ₹2,500+. Founded Rare Enterprises as his investment firm.

Co-founded Akasa Air, a budget airline, in 2022 — just months before his death. At his peak, he held significant stakes in over 30 publicly traded Indian companies.

Passed away in August 2022 at age 62.

Titan Company — his most famous bet. Bought in 2003, held for nearly 20 years.

Also held major positions in Tata Motors, Lupin, Crisil, Escorts, Star Health, NCC, Aptech, and Rallis India. Co-founded Akasa Air.

His firm Rare Enterprises managed his personal portfolio and select client money.

Jhunjhunwala was a momentum-aware value investor — which sounds contradictory until you see his track record. He'd buy companies he believed were fundamentally undervalued, but he wanted to see the price already turning upward before he committed big.

He called this "letting the market confirm the thesis." He concentrated heavily — when he was right, he went all in. He rarely shorted stocks.

He loved consumer-facing businesses, especially ones riding India's growing middle class. He held Titan for nearly two decades, adding on every dip.

Titan Company — bought shares around ₹3 (split-adjusted) starting in 2003. By 2022, the stock was trading above ₹2,500.

That single bet generated returns of over 80,000%. His stake in Titan alone was worth over $1.5 billion at its peak.

He saw that Tata's jewelry brand Tanishq was about to transform how Indians bought gold — from unbranded local shops to modern retail. He was right about a cultural shift, not just a stock.

He was publicly bullish on Suzlon Energy, an Indian wind power company. The stock collapsed from over ₹400 to under ₹10 between 2008 and 2013.

Jhunjhunwala held on for too long, losing hundreds of millions. He later admitted he let his emotional attachment to the green energy thesis override the deteriorating fundamentals.

He also lost money on A2Z Infra and some real estate plays that didn't pan out.

Jhunjhunwala believed India was the greatest investment opportunity on Earth and he never wavered from that view. His philosophy was simple: India's demographics, democracy, and entrepreneurial energy meant the country would grow faster than anywhere else for decades.

He said "I will always be bullish on India" — and he meant it literally. He never diversified into US or European markets.

His second core belief was that great businesses compound over decades, so the best thing you can do after buying a great stock is absolutely nothing.

Married Rekha Jhunjhunwala in 1987. They had three children — Aryaman, Aryavir, and Nishtha.

Rekha continues to manage the family's investment portfolio through Rare Enterprises after his death. Jhunjhunwala was known for being intensely private about his family despite being very public about everything else.

Graduated from Sydenham College of Commerce and Economics in Mumbai. Then completed his Chartered Accountancy (India's equivalent of CPA, but significantly harder — pass rates are typically under 10%).

Started trading during college, which his professors reportedly weren't thrilled about.