Ritesh Agarwal: From Selling Sim Cards to OYO Empire, Net Worth of 16,000 Crores

The younger CEO of OYO, a major player in the hotel industry, Ritesh Agarwal, has an astounding net worth of 16,000 crores ($2.1 billion).

However, his unusual journey to become a giant of hospitality was paved with early hustling, an epiphany, and a determination to pave his own course.

His inspirational tale demonstrates to the globe that one's starting point should not limit their future possibilities. Ritesh's family had a tiny business in the small village where he was born in Odisha, India.

Even as a child, Ritesh attended Sacred Heart School in his hometown, just like any other child, but his aspirations were greater than the little village he lived in.

His path to success started when he made the audacious decision to relocate to Kota, Rajasthan, a city renowned for its intense coaching programs for students hoping to succeed in the demanding IIT-JEE, India's top engineering admission test.

However, fate had other ideas for Ritesh. Soon after, he moved to Delhi and enrolled in college, only to discover that the startup and entrepreneurial scene was where his true passions resided.

It wasn't easy for Ritesh in Delhi at first. He went so far as to sell SIM cards to break even. It was a pivotal time in his life, teaching him the value of independence and perseverance.

He was aware that seeking financial assistance would require returning to his hometown, a move he was not prepared for.

Because of his tenacity, he self-taught himself the skills necessary for software development, which would later come in handy for his commercial endeavors.

Ritesh Agarwal's Entrepreneurial Journey: From Oravel Stays to OYO Rooms

The pivotal moment occurred when Ritesh established Oravel Stays in 2012 with the goal of enabling everyone to have affordable stays. Venture Nursery, an accelerator program, was drawn to his concept and invested in it, giving him the seed money he needed to launch his project.

Ritesh's aspirations were further stoked, though, when he became the first Indian recipient of the Thiel Fellowship, an initiative that provides young entrepreneurs with a $100,000 grant to forgo education in order to focus on their company ideas.

Ritesh used the fellowship award to Start OYO Rooms in 2013, a website that would go on to completely transform the low-cost travel industry in India and abroad.

OYO's success took time to develop; Ritesh's unwavering work ethic, conviction in his concept, and capacity to recognize possibilities where others saw barriers were the foundations of the company.

Ritesh Agarwal: From SIM Cards to Self-Made Millionaire

Ritesh's path from selling SIM cards to becoming the youngest self-made millionaire is proof of the potential that comes from having great dreams and putting in a lot of effort. His firm, Sacred Heart School

which he started, was valued at Rs. 74,000 crore, and at just 29, his net worth Skyrocketed to Rs. 16,000 crore.

This amazing journey serves as a reminder that even the most modest beginnings can become worldwide success stories with perseverance, imagination, and a willingness to learn.

Ritesh Agarwal is a great example to budding business people everywhere because his life demonstrates that success comes from having a vision and having the guts to follow it in the face of adversity.