Dhirubhai Ambani (1932-2002) was an Indian business magnate who founded Reliance Industries, one of the largest private sector companies in India. He began his career in Yemen working for A. Besse & Co. and later returned to India to start a trading business. In the 1960s, he set up a textile mill which became Reliance Industries. Over the decades, he expanded Reliance into various sectors like petroleum, telecommunications through strategic acquisitions and partnerships. Ambani is credited with popularizing capitalism and stock markets in India through innovative initial public offerings. He was a transformative business leader who played a key role in India's economic liberalization.

2. Born Dhirajlal Hirachand Ambani
28 December 1932
Chorwad, Gujarat.
Died 6 July 2002 (aged 69)
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Occupation Businessman
Organization(s) Reliance Industries
Reliance Capital
Reliance Infrastructure
Reliance Power
Spouse Kokila Dhirubhai Ambani
Children 4, including Mukesh Ambani and Anil Ambani

3. LIFE HISTORY
Got educated till 12th grade but due to lack of funds he couldn’t
study further.
So Dhirubhai started to sell bhajiyas to pilgrimers off Mount Girnar.
As his father was unwell and couldn’t work anymore he told his
son that you have to earn more than you are earning now. Your
brother (Ramnikbhai) has arranged a job for you in Aden.

4. LIFE IN ADEN
After his annual matriculation examination, on the request of his father
he had to move to Aden , Yemen to support his family.
Ages 16 Years.
Started working with A. Besse & Co. for a salary of Rs. 300 ,
immediately on reaching Aden.
A. Besse & Co.– largest transcontinental trading firm east of Suez.
Dhirubhai – first sent to the commodities trading section & later,
transferred to the section that handled petroleum products for the oil
giant “ Shell”.

5. BACK TO INDIA
Towards the end of
decade, when all the
Indians in Aden were
migrating to Britain,
Dhirubhai Ambani
decided to return to
India and become the
part of phenomenal
growth that country
had been awaiting.
Back in India
Dhirubhai found that
he had very little
capital to go into any
purposeful business.
He eschewed the idea
of opening up a small
grocery or cloth shop.
He immediately got in
touch with his Arabian
contacts, offering to
export spices, and
other Indian
commodities at very
low prices.

6. 1958 • Returned to Mumbai, from Aden to start his own business
in spices.
1959 • Started Reliance Commercial Corporationwith a capital of
Rs. 15,000 at Mumbai.
1966 • Set up a Spinning Mill at Naroda, near Ahmedabad; floated
Reliance Textiles on a capital of Rs 15 Lakh.
• Reliance Textiles Industries issued 2.80 Million shares in a
landmark public issue.
1977
BUSINESS MILESTONES

7. 1983 • Reliance sales increased but net profit declined.
1988 • Reliance Petroleum raises Rs. 1,300 crore from two million
applicants.
2000 • World’s largest refinery complex was commissioned at
Jamnagar, valued at over Rs. 25,000 crores.
BUSINESS MILESTONES

8. LEADERSHIP STYLE
AUTOCRATIC
FREE REIN
DEMOCRATIC

9. INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING
• Dhirubhai Ambani is awarded with starting the equity cult in India.
• More than 58,000 investors from various parts of India subscribed
to Reliance’s IPO (Initial public offering) in 1977.
• In 1986, the annual general meeting of Reliance Industries had
number of first- time retail investors in Reliance.
• Ambani’s net worth was estimated at about 1 Billion by early 1980s.

10. DIVERSIFICATION
Ambani began the process of backward integration, setting up a
plant to manufacture polyester filament yarn.
He subsequently diversified into chemicals, petrochemicals,
plastics, power.
The company as a whole was described by the BBC as “ a
business empire with an estimated annual turnover of $12
billion, and an 85,000- strong workforce”.
The final phase of Reliance’s diversification occurred in the
1990s when the company turned aggressively towards
petrochemicals and telecommunications.

12. PATRIOTISM, INSPIRATIONAL AND LEADERSHIP QULAITIES
Dhirubhai’s confidence and organizational skills were
tested when he defined the Junagargh Nawab’s ban
on rallies and hoisted the Indian Flag to celebrate
country’s independence.
His first speech inspired many and he became Hero.
Then, Dhirubhai participated in the Praja Mandal
Protests, thus associating with patriotic rebel leaders
who supported joining India. The Nawab ultimately
yielded and Junagarh became a part of independent
India.

13. IN POPULAR MEDIA
In 1998, a book “ The Polyester Prince”
is also an unauthorized biography of
Dhirubhai Ambani, outlining all his
political and business conquests.
Guru - Hindi film based on Dhirubhai
Ambani

14. QUOTES BY DHIRUBHAI AMBANI
“I am deaf to the word “NO”.”
“Think big, think fast, think ahead. Ideas are no one’s monopoly”.
“You do not require an invitation to make profits”.
“Meeting the deadlines is not good enough, beating the deadlines
is my expectation”.
“We bet on people”.
“We cannot change our Rulers, but we can change the way the
Rule us”.

15. Dean’s Medal by The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania,for setting an outstanding example of
leadership.Dhirubhai Ambani has the rare distinction of being the first Indian to get Wharton School Dean’s
Medal.
Conferred ‘Man of the Century’ award by Chemtech Foundation and Chemical Engineering World in
recognition of his outstanding contribution to the growth and developmentof the chemical industry in
India.
A poll conducted by the Times of India in 2000 voted him “Greatest Creator of Wealth In The Centuries”.
He is the true son of India’.
1998
2000
2000
DHIRUBHAI AMBANI’S AWARDS
2001 Economic Times Awards for Corporate Excellence for Lifetime Achievement