Ritesh Agarwal is the youngest entrepreneur, he founded OYO room network which brought the greatest revolution in the hotel industry. Ritesh Agarwal age was 13 years when he started his first business of selling Sim card.
Ritesh is the newest Shark of TV show ‘Shark Tank India’ along with Peyush Bansal of Lenskart, Anupam Mittal of People Group, Namita Thapar of Emcure, and Vineeta Singh of Sugar Cosmetics.
Ritesh Agarwal Age, Basic Info
Name : | Ritesh Agarwal |
Date Of Birth | 16 November 1993 |
Birth Place : | Bissam Cuttack, Odisha, India |
Age :(as on 2023) | 30 years |
Height : | 5 feet 9 inch |
Weight : | 70 kg |
Home town : | Bissam Cuttack, Odisha, India |
Profession | Entrepreneur |
Religion | Hinduism |
Childhood
Ritesh was born in a Marwari family. They have a family business of running a small tea stall. He was having entrepreneurship in his blood and he started his earning at the age of 13 by selling SIm card. He started his schooling from Sacred Heart School and later moved to St. John’s Senior Secondary School and completed his Senior Secondary.
Struggle & Challenges
Ritesh moved to Delhi for his further education and joined college. Ritesh Agarwal age was only 17 when he decided to drop out the college and pursue his dream to become an entrepreneur. He was selected for the Thiel Fellowship (started by Peter Thiel) in 2013 which was start of his entrepreneur journey.
Ritesh Agarwal started a budget hotel booking website called Oravel Stays in 2012. It was accepted into the accelerator program by Venture Nursery and later won the Thiel Fellowship program, receiving a grant of $100,000. The company was re-launched as OYO Rooms in 2013.
By 2018, OYO had raised $1 billion in funding. In 2019, Agarwal purchased shares of $2 billion in the company, increasing his stake to three times of its original size. OYO is now working globally in 500 citites supported with 330,000 rooms availability.
Achivements
Ritesh Agarwal, the founder and CEO of OYO Hotels & Homes, has received numerous awards and accolades for his achievements in the hospitality industry. Some of his most notable awards include:
- The Thiel Fellowship (2013): Awarded to 20 entrepreneurs under the age of 20 who are building innovative businesses.
- The TiE-Lumis Entrepreneurial Excellence Award (2014): Awarded to entrepreneurs who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and innovation in their businesses.
- The Business World Young Entrepreneur Award (2015): Awarded to young entrepreneurs who have made significant contributions to their respective industries.
- The Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies in the World (2019): Awarded to companies that are at the forefront of innovation in their respective industries.
- The Global 100 in Hospitality (2022): Awarded to the 100 most powerful people in the global hospitality industry.
Family Relation
Parents | Father: Ramesh Agarwal Mother: not known |
Marital Status | Married |
Wife/Husband | Geetansha Sood |
Children | Not known |
Son/ Daughter | Not known |
Sibling | Not known |
Brother in law | Not known |
Ritesh Agarwal was born in Bissam Cuttack, Odisha, India to a Marwari family. His father Ramesh Agarwal, was a small businessman who owned a shop in Rayagada. His mother’s name is unknown.
Agarwal has not shared much information about his family in public. He is married to Geetansha Sood, a native of Lucknow, India. The couple got married in March 2023.
Agarwal is a very private person and does not like to share his personal life with the media. However, he is very close to his family and friends.
Controversy
Ritesh Agarwal, the founder and CEO of OYO Hotels & Homes, has been involved in a number of controversies over the years. Some of the most notable controversies include:
Allegations of fraud: In 2020, a case was lodged against Agarwal in Dera Bassi, India for fraud and conspiracy under IPC 420 (cheating) 120 B (criminal conspiracy). The case was filed by a Chandigarh-based businessman who alleged that Agarwal had cheated him out of a large sum of money. The case is still ongoing.
Allegations of unfair business practices: OYO has been accused of engaging in unfair business practices, such as charging high fees to hotels and forcing them to sign exclusive contracts. In 2019, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) launched an investigation into OYO’s business practices. The CCI is still investigating the matter.
Allegations of poor working conditions: OYO has also been accused of providing poor working conditions to its employees. In 2019, a report by The Guardian alleged that OYO employees were working long hours for low wages and that they were not being provided with adequate benefits. OYO has denied these allegations.
Despite the controversies, Agarwal remains a popular figure in the Indian startup ecosystem. He is known for his vision and his ability to execute. He is also known for his strong work ethic and his commitment to his business.
Philanthropy
Ritesh Agarwal is engaged in philanthropy. In 2019, he launched the Ritesh Agarwal Foundation, a non-profit organization that is focused on education, healthcare, and livelihood development in India. The foundation has supported a number of activites comprises of different thematic area which includes:
The Ritesh Agarwal Foundation Scholarship Program, which provides scholarships to underprivileged students in India.
The Ritesh Agarwal Foundation Healthcare Initiative, which provides free healthcare services to underprivileged communities in India.
The Ritesh Agarwal Foundation Livelihood Development Initiative, which provides vocational training and job placement assistance to unemployed youth in India.
In addition to his work with the Ritesh Agarwal Foundation, Agarwal has also made personal donations to various charitable causes. For example, in 2020, he donated $1 million to the PM Cares Fund to help India fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
Agarwal is a strong believer in giving back to the community. He is an inspiration to many and a role model for young entrepreneurs everywhere.
Net Worth
As of 2023, Ritesh Agarwal’s net worth is estimated to be over $2 billion , making him the youngest self-made billionaire in the world. He has also been featured on the Forbes 30 under 30 list for Asia.
Social Media Engagement
Ritesh@Face | |
Ritesh @ twitt | |
Youtube | Not available |
Ritesh@Link | |
Wikipedia | Ritesh@Wiki |
Ritesh@ Insta |
Read more : Jack Dorsey
Untold Story
- He is a vegetarian and a teetotaler.
- He is a big fan of cricket and football.
- He is fluent in English, Hindi, and Odia.
- Ritesh Agarwal age was not even 20 when he founded the company.
- He had very least interest in academics so he drop out to do what attract him.
- Ritesh admitted he failed six time to come up with his OYO venture.
- He is the newest shark of TV show ‘Shark Tank India’.
In Conclusion Overall, Ritesh Agarwal is a young and successful entrepreneur who has built a billion-dollar company by making budget travel more accessible to people around the world. He is an inspiration to many and a role model for young entrepreneurs everywhere.
If there are any discrepancies in the list, or if you want to suggest any celebrities for it, please let us know through the comment form. We welcome your feedback.
FAQ
Q1. Who is Ritesh Agarwal?
Ans. Ritesh Agarwal is the founder and CEO of OYO Hotels & Homes, the worlds leading chain of hotels, homes, and spaces. He is also the youngest self-made billionaire in India.
Q2. Where is Ritesh Agarwal from?
Ans. Ritesh Agarwal is from Bissam Cuttack, Odisha, India. He was born into a Marwari family and grew up in Titilagarh, Odisha..
Q3. How to contact Ritesh Agarwal?
Ans. Ritesh can be contacted through his social media platform or is OYO website.
Q4. Is Ritesh Agarwal married?
Ans. Yes, Ritesh is married to Geetansha Sood on 7th March 2023.
Q5. How old is Ritesh Agarwal?
Ans. Ritesh is 30 year old as on date as per his date of birth.