From rags to riches

Forbes has published its list of ‘World Billionaires ranking for 2024’. The much touted is the list of 200 richest people of the world. The billionaires across the globe compete to be a part of the ‘club of 200’. To the surprise of many, this year 12 Indian billionaires, with a total worth of $400 billion, have become members of this ‘club of 200’.

The billionaires’ fortunes continue to swell as global stock markets shrug off war, political unrest and lingering inflation. There are now more billionaires than ever before: 2,781 in all, 141 more than last year’s. They’re richer than ever worth $14.2 trillion in aggregate, up by $2 trillion from 2023.

Much of the gains come from the top 20 who added a combined $700 billion to wealth since 2023. Mukesh Ambani, worth $116 billion, and Gautam Adani, worth $84 billion, fall under the top 20, with Ambani clinching the 9th top position, inching towards billionaire tycoons like Bill Gates (worth $128 billion) and Warren Buffet (worth $133 billion).

The US, which now boasts a record 813 billionaires worth a combined $5.7 trillion, maintains the first position. China worth $1.7 trillion remains second despite weak consumer spending and a real estate bust that helped wipe out some $300 billion in wealth. India, with 200 billionaires (also a record), ranks third.

India’s journey from rags to riches in terms of its businessmen is truly a fascinating one. Over the years, India has seen numerous individuals rise from humble beginnings to become some of the wealthiest and most successful business tycoons in the world. From visionary entrepreneurs like Dhirubhai Ambani and Azim Premji to modern-day innovators like Mukesh Ambani and Ratan Tata, India’s business landscape is dotted with inspiring stories of perseverance, hard work, and innovation.

Many of the billionaires are migrants from Sindh who chose to move to India following the Partition of the Subcontinent in 1947.

By all accounts, the billionaires of India are cherished and encouraged by the government and the people of India with a sense of national pride. The BJP government has recognised that wealth creation and its exposure to the world is the most effective mode to transform the perception of India from a nation of downtrodden and poor to that of riches at par with the most affluent nations of the world. In the process India has gained a lot of economic and political mileage out of it.

The BJP government misses no occasion when this mind-set of extravagance is not displayed. Every global event held in India, notably the last G20 meeting, displayed sheer extravagance, pomp and show to the extent that shabby slums en route to the venue were walled up.

The recently held pre-wedding ceremony of billionaire tycoon Mukesh Ambani’s son costing $150 million is the reflection of the same mind-set. The host mobilised at his expense the attendance of all those who matter in global politics and business. It was more of an Indian PR event amidst presence of the world’s richest with a total net worth of around $ 600 billion.

According to Bloomberg, earlier in 2018, Ambani made his daughter’s wedding the most expensive wedding in India, costing over one hundred million dollars. Neither occasion caused anyone to raise an eyebrow. Moreover, no taxman ever hounded the billionaire.

The elite class of the India of today constitutes its billionaires, whereas, Government functionaries, state institutions and parliamentarians are regulated under a well-defined system of checks and balances with no chance to encroach on the taxpayer’s money. The tax generated from business elite is meant to be deployed in public interest.

The private sector of India, spearheaded by billionaires, has grown more powerful than the state apparatus and its one-time headstrong bureaucracy is driving the nation’s economy.

They are running the nation’s airports and ports, the country’s utilities’ sector, infrastructure and Industry. Foreign Direct Investment and country’s exports are mobilized on the strength of their credentials and the multiple business chambers are governed by the private sector with facilitation services from the government at an arm’s length. The BJP government thrives on the strength of economic performance of the private sector in general and its ‘elite billionaires club’ in particular.

These businessmen have not only created massive wealth for themselves but have also contributed significantly to the growth and development of the Indian economy. As of March 2024, the foreign reserve assets of India are of $642 billion, being the 4th largest reserves after China, Japan and Switzerland. Exports for 2024 are targeted at $ 450 billion with a target of $ 2 trillion by 2030 while maintaining a GDP growth of over 7 percent.

On the social side, around 248 million people living in the country escaped multidimensional poverty in the past nine years, according to a report by government think-tank NITI Aayog.

Pakistan’s journey towards riches started in early fifties when the Muslim business elite from India moved to Pakistan with money, talent and business acumen to join hands with the local people to build up a virgin market, which needed everything from pin to steel industry. The decade of fifties and sixties witnessed their rise to provide the nation with an industrial, business and banking base envied by many as an exemplary performance.

The banks expanded their footprint in the Middle East and Europe and so did many of the large businesses. This mirage of riches was abruptly ended in the seventies with these very pioneer of progress demonised as the ‘22 rich families’ out to exploit the masses.

After this time, the class of entrepreneurs of global level hardly emerged out of Pakistan, denying the nation its global presence and pride. Had the trend of nation’s economic growth continued and its entrepreneurs were allowed to deliver, Pakistan’s entrepreneur would have made their mark in Forbes’ list of billionaires as good as the Indians of 2024.

In contrast, according to IMF estimates, in February this year, Pakistan’s GDP is 340.64 billion dollars. And as per report of 2024, Pakistan has only four billionaires in US dollars terms with a total worth of $ 20 billion in a range varying from $ 1 billion to $ 11.6 billion (offshore operations).

The key to Pakistan’s economic resurgence is in going back to the business model with the private sector in the forefront and government functionaries on the backstage with support functions at an arm’s length. The private sector still has deep pockets to come forth in an enabling political and business environment.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024