View source for Gautam Adani

{{Short description|Indian billionaire industrialist (born 1962)}}
{{EngvarB|date=January 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Gautam Adani
| caption            = Adani in 2012
| image              = Gautam Adani.jpg
| birth_name         = Gautam Shantilal Adani
| birth_date         = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1962|6|24}}
| birth_place        = [[Ahmedabad]], [[Gujarat]], India
| education          = [[Gujarat University]] (dropped out, 1978)<ref name="Prime Insights"/>
| occupation         = Industrialist
| years_active       = 1981–present
| organization       = 
| known_for          = 
| title              = {{plainlist|
* Founder and chairman of the [[Adani Group]] 
}}
| spouse             = [[Priti Adani]]
| children           = 2, including [[Karan Adani]]
| parents            = 
| relatives          = [[Vinod Adani]] (brother)<br>[[Pranav Adani]] (nephew)
| website            = 
}}

'''Gautam Shantilal Adani''' (born 24 June 1962) is an Indian [[billionaire]] industrialist who is the  founder and chairman of [[Adani Group]], a [[multinational corporation|multinational conglomerate]] involved in port development and operations in India.<ref name="Bloomberg-Profile">{{cite news|title= Gautam Adani Bloomberg Index |newspaper= Bloomberg.com |url= https://www.bloomberg.com/billionaires/profiles/gautam-s-adani/ |access-date=11 February 2022}}</ref><ref name="Keener Spotlight"/>

Adani has been described as being close to the Indian Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]] and his ruling  [[Bharatiya Janata Party]].<ref name="Keener Spotlight"/><ref name="timesofindia-10Apr14"/><ref name="economist-09Feb23">{{cite news |url=https://www.economist.com/leaders/2023/02/09/the-humbling-of-gautam-adani-is-a-test-for-indian-capitalism |work=[[The Economist]] |date=9 February 2023 |title=The humbling of Gautam Adani is a test for Indian capitalism }}</ref> This has led to allegations of [[cronyism]],<ref name="BBC News-02Dec22"/> as his firms have won many  energy and infrastructure  contracts in India and abroad after Modi became the Prime Minister of India.<ref name=Quartz-13Dec22/> In January 2023, following accusations of [[Market manipulation|stock manipulation]] and fraud by American short selling activist firm [[Hindenburg Research]],<ref name="hindenburgresearch-24Jan23">{{Cite web |date=24 January 2023 |title=Adani Group: How The World's 3rd Richest Man Is Pulling The Largest Con In Corporate History |url=https://hindenburgresearch.com/adani/ |access-date=2023-02-05 |website=[[Hindenburg Research]] |language=en-US}}</ref> Adani's and his family's  fortune has plummeted by over 50%<ref name="Forbes-26Jan232">{{cite news |date=26 January 2023 |title=How Gautam Adani Lost More Than $50 Billion In A Week—And His Ranking As Asia's Richest |work=[[Forbes]] |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2023/02/02/how-gautam-adani-lost-more-than-50-billion-in-a-week-and-his-ranking-as-asias-richest/?sh=11f19f5a4480}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2 February 2023 |title=Adani's $58 Billion Wealth Wipeout in Six Days Has Few Parallels |language=en |work=Bloomberg.com |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-02-02/adani-s-52-billion-wealth-wipeout-in-six-days-has-few-parallels |access-date=3 February 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Iordache |first=Ruxandra |title=Adani losses top $100 billion in the wake of Hindenburg Research report |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/02/02/adani-losses-top-100-billion-in-wake-of-hindenburg-research-report.html |access-date=2023-02-03 |website=CNBC |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Shankar |first=Vivek |date=2023-01-31 |title=This Mogul Lost Tens of Billions of Dollars in Days. What Happened? |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/31/business/who-is-gautam-adani.html |access-date=2023-02-03 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> to an estimated US$50.2 billion, as of March 2023, while falling to the 24th place on the ''[[Forbes]]'' [[The World's Billionaires|Real Time Billionaires list]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Profile Gautam Adani |work=[[Forbes]] |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/gautam-adani-1/?sh=66d701795b0e |access-date=5 February 2023}}</ref>

==Early life ==

Adani was born on 24 June 1962 in a [[Gujarati people|Gujarati]] [[Jain]] family to Shantilal Adani (father) and Shantaben Adani (mother) in [[Ahmedabad]], Gujarat.<ref name="Prime Insights">{{cite news |title=Gautam Adani- College Dropout To Billionaire Entrepreneur |url= https://primeinsights.in/gautam-adani/ |work=Prime Insights}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.businessworld.in/amp/article/The-Rise-Of-The-Tycoon/05-02-2018-139609/|title= The Rise Of The Tycoon: Gautam Adani |website= [[Businessworld]]|first=Himani|last=Chandna |date= 2019-02-26}}</ref> He has 7 siblings. His parents had migrated from the town of [[Tharad]] in the northern part of Gujarat.<ref>{{cite news |title=A look into profile of billionaire Gautam Adani |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/profile/story/20110829-profile-of-billionaire-gautam-adani-747307-2011-08-20 |access-date=23 May 2022 |work=India Today |date=20 August 2011 |language=en}}</ref> His father was a small textile merchant.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/business/india/top-10-gujarati-billionaires-3732.html?page=4 |title= Top 10 Gujrati Billionaires |website= [[India TV]] |date=1 August 2015}}</ref>

He was educated at [[Sheth Chimanlal Nagindas Vidyalaya]] school in Ahmedabad. He enrolled for a [[Bachelor of Commerce|bachelor's degree in commerce]] at [[Gujarat University]], but dropped out after the second year.<ref name="gujarati">{{cite news |last1=Joseph |first1=Anto T. |title=Gautam Adani: Another Gujarati who made it big |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/company/corporate-trends/gautam-adani-another-gujarati-who-made-it-big/articleshow/2605913.cms |access-date=23 May 2022 |work=The Economic Times |date=8 December 2007}}</ref> Adani was keen on business, but not his father's [[Textile industry|textile business]].<ref>{{cite journal |url= https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/business-history-review/article/transnational-indian-business-in-the-twentieth-century/6B6236551634D106A0E65880574D7373/core-reader# |title= Transnational Indian Business in the Twentieth Century |author= Cambridge Core |journal= Business History Review |date=12 December 2017 |volume= 91 |issue= 4 |pages= 651–679 |doi= 10.1017/S0007680517001350 |s2cid= 158483062 }}</ref>

==Career==
{{undue weight | section | reason=This section should focus on the subject's professional career as an entrepreneur and manager (including controversies where due); not on the mergers, acquisition and financial performance of the companies he managed.|date=February 2023}}
As a teenager, Adani moved to [[Mumbai]] in 1978 to work as a diamond sorter for Mahendra Brothers.<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/business-history-review/article/transnational-indian-business-in-the-twentieth-century/6B6236551634D106A0E65880574D7373/core-reader#|title= Transnational Indian Business in the Twentieth Century|date=12 December 2017 |journal= Business History Review|volume=91|issue=4|pages=651–679|doi=10.1017/S0007680517001350|last1=Tumbe|first1=Chinmay|s2cid=158483062}}
</ref>

In 1981, his elder brother Mahasukhbhai Adani bought a plastics unit in Ahmedabad and invited him to manage the operations. This venture turned out to be Adani's gateway to global trading through [[polyvinyl chloride]] (PVC) imports.<ref name="gujarati"/>

In 1985, he started importing primary polymers for small-scale industries. In 1988, Adani established Adani Exports, now known as [[Adani Enterprises]], the holding company of the Adani Group. Originally, the company dealt in agricultural and power commodities.<ref name="gujarati"/>

In 1991, the economic liberalization policies turned out to be favorable for his company and he started expanding the businesses into trading of metals, textiles, and agro products.<ref name="gujarati"/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Vora |first1=Rutam |title=Gautam Adani: Cementing his portfolio |url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/specials/corporate-file/gautam-adani-cementing-his-portfolio/article65439045.ece |access-date=23 May 2022 |newspaper=[[The Hindu Businessline]] |date=22 May 2022 |language=en}}</ref>

In 1994, the [[Government of Gujarat]] announced managerial outsourcing of the [[Mundra Port]] and in 1995, Adani got the contract.<ref name="timesofindia-10Apr14">{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/Gautam-Adani-the-baron-to-watch-out-for-if-Narendra-Modi-becomes-king/articleshow/33521536.cms|title=Gautam Adani, the baron to watch out for if Narendra Modi becomes king|date=10 April 2014 |work=[[The Times of India]]|first=Harit|last=Mehta|access-date=16 April 2022}}</ref>

In 1995, he set up the first jetty. Originally operated by Mundra Port & Special Economic Zone, the operations were transferred to [[Adani Ports & SEZ]] (APSEZ). Today, the company is the largest private multi-port operator. [[Mundra Port]] is the largest private sector port in India, with the capacity of handling close to 210 million tons of cargo per annum.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Manoj|first=P.|title=APSEZ set to become top container port operator|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/logistics/apsez-set-to-become-top-container-port-operator/article9801005.ece|access-date=11 March 2021 |newspaper=[[The Hindu Businessline]] | date=3 August 2017 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Adani becomes first Indian port operator to record 200 MT cargo movement|work=[[The Economic Times]]|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/shipping-/-transport/adani-becomes-first-indian-port-operator-to-record-200-mt-cargo-movement/articleshow/68592301.cms?from=mdr |date=27 March 2019 |access-date=11 March 2021}}</ref>

In 1996, the power business arm of the Adani Group, Adani Power, was founded by Adani. Adani Power holds [[thermal power plant]]s with a capacity of 4620MW, the largest private [[Thermal power station|thermal power]] producer of the country.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/energy/power/abb-links-648-mw-solar-project-at-kamuthi-with-national-grid/articleshow/52728908.cms|title=Adani Solar Project|date=13 June 2016 |work=[[The Economic Times]]}}</ref>

In 2002, Adani was arrested by Delhi Police in execution of a non-bailable warrant(NBW), following a cheating complaint by a top official of M S Shoes. The court withdrew the NBW the next day, after the court was informed that the parties were negotiating for a compromise.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/court-withdraws-nbws-against-adani/articleshow/31099790.cms|title=Court withdraws NBWs against Adani|date=13 December 2002 |newspaper=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref>

In 2006, Adani entered the power generation business.<ref name="coal to H2"/> From 2009 to 2012, he acquired [[Abbot Point]] Port in Australia and [[Carmichael coal mine]] in [[Queensland]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.outlookbusiness.com/specials/the-boss/gautam-adani-1237|title=Gautam Adani, chairman Adani group|date=2015-07-10|publisher=outlookbusiness.com}}</ref>

In 2012, the [[Serious Fraud Investigation Office]] (SFIO) had filed a charge sheet against twelve accused including the Adani for cheating & criminal conspiracy related to purchase and sale of shares. According to SFIO, Adani Agro allegedly provided funds and shares for running illegal activities. A local court in Mumbai discharged Adani & other accused of this case in May, 2014.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/adani-brothers-discharged-in-cheating-case-by-maharashtra-court/articleshow/37009583.cms|title=Adani brothers discharged in cheating case by Maharashtra court|date=22 June 2014 |work=[[The Economic Times]]}}</ref> However, in 2020, a Mumbai sessions court overturned the clean chit to Adani in this case.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/business/companies/court-overturns-clean-chit-to-adanis-in-share-rigging-case-6209072/ |title=Court overturns clean chit to Adanis in share-rigging case |date=10 January 2020 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |first1=Khushboo |last1=Narayan }}</ref>

In May 2020, Adani won the world's largest solar bid by the [[Solar Energy Corporation of India]] (SECI) worth US$6 billion. The 8000MW [[Photovoltaic power station|photovoltaic power plant]] project will be taken up by [[Adani Green Energy|Adani Green]]; Adani Solar will establish 2000MW of additional solar cell and module manufacturing capacity.<ref>{{cite news |author=SI Reporter |date=9 June 2020 |title=Adani Green hits new high on winning world's largest solar bid worth $7 bn |work=[[Business Standard]] |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/markets/adani-green-hits-new-high-stock-zooms-127-in-three-months-120060900281_1.html |access-date=10 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=9 June 2020 |title=Adani wins world's largest solar project; to invest Rs 45,000 crore |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/industry/adani-wins-worlds-largest-solar-project-to-invest-rs-45000-crore/1986420/ |access-date=2020-06-10 |work=[[The Financial Express (India)]] |language=en |agency=[[Press Trust of India]] }}</ref>

In September 2020, Adani acquired a 74% stake in [[Mumbai International Airport]], India's second busiest after [[Indira Gandhi International Airport|Delhi]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Karmali|first=Naazneen|title=India's 10 Richest Billionaires 2021|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/naazneenkarmali/2021/04/06/indias-10-richest-billionaires-2021/|access-date=2021-07-01 |work=[[Forbes]] |language=en}}</ref>

In November 2021, while speaking at the Bloomberg India Economic Forum, Adani said the group is investing US$70 billion in a new green energy business.<ref name="coal to H2">{{cite news |last1=Kay |first1=Chris |last2=Sanjai |first2=P R |title=The World's Third-Richest Man Sells the World a Green Dream Built on Coal |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2022-09-09/world-s-third-richest-billionaire-adani-pivots-from-coal-mogul-to-green-champion |access-date=9 September 2022 |work=[[Bloomberg News]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Adani to invest $70 billion in renewable energy, produce cheapest hydrogen |url=https://www.thehindu.com/business/Industry/adani-to-invest-70-billion-in-renewable-energy-produce-cheapest-hydrogen/article37440792.ece |access-date=9 September 2022 |work=[[The Hindu]] |agency=[[Press Trust of India]] |date=11 November 2021 |language=en-IN}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Gautam Adani says $50-70 bn investment planned across energy chain |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/gautam-adani-says-50-70-bn-investment-planned-across-energy-chain-121100401172_1.html |access-date=9 September 2022 |work=[[Business Standard]] |agency=[[Press Trust of India]] |date=4 October 2021 |language=en}}</ref> In July 2022, he offered new details on how this investment will be utilized to build three giant factories – solar, electrolyzer (to make green hydrogen), wind turbine plants.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Singh |first1=Rajesh Kumar |last2=Sanjai |first2=P R |title=Billionaire Adani Adds More Detail on $70 Billion Green Push |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-09-07/third-richest-adani-adds-more-detail-on-70-billion-green-push |access-date=9 September 2022 |work=[[Bloomberg News]] |date=7 September 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Sanjai |first1=P R |title=Gautam Adani's $70 Billion Pledge Now Includes Greenest Data Centers |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-11-11/adani-s-70-billion-pledge-now-includes-greenest-data-centers |access-date=9 September 2022 |work=[[Bloomberg News]] |date=November 11, 2021}}</ref>

In February 2022, he became Asia's richest person, surpassing [[Mukesh Ambani]].<ref name="forbes1">{{cite web |last=Pratap |first=Aayushi |date=3 February 2022 |title=Indian Billionaire Gautam Adani Becomes Asia's Richest Person |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/aayushipratap/2022/02/03/indian-billionaire-gautam-adani-becomes-asias-richest-person/ |access-date=11 February 2022 |work=Forbes}}</ref> In August 2022, he was named the 3rd richest person in the world by [[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sazonov |first1=Alexander |title=A college dropout is now the 3rd richest person in the world |url=https://fortune.com/2022/08/29/gautam-adani-net-worth-2022-college-dropout-richest-person/ |access-date=9 September 2022 |work=[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]] |date=August 29, 2022 |language=en}}</ref>

In May 2022, Adani family acquired [[Ambuja Cements]] and its subsidiary [[ACC (company)|ACC]] from Swiss building materials giant [[Holcim Group]] for $10.5 billion, through an overseas [[special-purpose entity]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/adani-to-acquire-holcim-india-assets-for-10-5-bn/articleshow/91581073.cms|title=Adani to acquire Holcim India assets for $10.5 bn|website=The Times of India|date=16 May 2022|access-date=15 September 2022}}</ref>

In August 2022, AMG Media Networks Limited (AMNL), a unit of Adani Group, declared that it planned to buy RRPR Holding, owner of 29.18% of national news broadcaster [[NDTV]], and made an open offer to buy a further 26%. In a statement, NDTV said that Adani acquired his stake via a third party without informing the company's founders, former journalist [[Radhika Roy]] and her economist husband [[Prannoy Roy]] and that the deal was done “without discussion, consent or notice.”<ref>{{Cite news |title=Fears for independent media in India as tycoon eyes major news channel |language=en-US |newspaper=The Washington Post|first1=Gary|last1=Shih|first2=Niha|last2=Masih |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/08/24/india-ndtv-adani-media-takover/ |access-date=2022-08-26 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> This bid also raised concern regarding editorial independence in India, since Adani is considered to be close to Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]]’s ruling [[Bharatiya Janata Party]].<ref name="Keener Spotlight">{{cite news |last1=Mukherjee |first1=Andy |title=The World's Second-Biggest Fortune Deserves a Keener Spotlight |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2022-09-22/adani-s-fortune-trumping-bezos-deserves-greater-recognition |access-date=15 October 2022 |work=[[Bloomberg News]]}}</ref><ref name="bbc-24Aug22">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-62655446 | title=India tycoon Adani in hostile bid for news channel NDTV | date=24 August 2022 | publisher= BBC News  |access-date=24 August 2022 }}</ref> By December 2022, Adani was described as controlling the largest shareholding in NDTV.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/program/the-listening-post/2022/12/17/india-why-is-gautam-adani-so-interested-in-ndtv |work=[[Al Jazeera]] |title=India: Why is Gautam Adani so interested in NDTV? |first1=Ravi |last1=Nair |first2=Raksha |last2=Kumar |first3=Atul |last3=Chaurasia |first4=Kapil |last4=Komireddi |date=17 December 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/indias-ndtv-founders-transfer-most-their-stake-adani-2022-12-23/ |date=23 December 2022 |work=[[Reuters]] |title=Billionaire Adani to control nearly 65% of NDTV as founders sell stake |first1=Chris |last1=Thomas |editor1-first=Devika |editor1-last=Syamnath }}</ref> [[The Economist]] said that before Adani bought NDTV, the news channel was "critical of the government but is now supine."<ref name="economist-09Feb23"/>

=== Allegations of fraud ===
{{Main|Adani-Hindenburg row}}
In January 2023, Adani and his companies [[Adani Group#2023 fraud allegations|were accused of stock manipulation]] by [[New York City|New York]]-based investment firm [[Hindenburg Research]] in a report titled "Adani Group: How The World's 3rd Richest Man Is Pulling The Largest Con In Corporate History". Following that, Adani Group stocks plummeted $45 billion. The losses resulted in Adani dropping from the 3rd richest person in the world to 22nd on Forbes' billionaires tracker.<ref>{{Cite news |last=AFP |date=27 January 2023 |title=Fraud claims wipe $45 billion off India's Adani group stocks |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1733903 |access-date=2023-01-29 |newspaper=[[Dawn (newspaper)|Dawn]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Barrett |first=Jonathan |date=27 January 2023 |title=US activist investor who accused Adani of 'biggest con in corporate history' dares Indian group to sue |language=en-GB |work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/jan/27/hindenburg-research-dares-adani-group-to-sue |access-date=23 February 2023 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> The report accused the group of having substantial debt and being on a "precarious financial footing", causing stocks of seven listed Adani companies to fall 3-7%. The report was released ahead of Adani Enterprises' follow-on public offering, which opened on Friday, 27 January 2023.<ref name="Mint-25Jan23"/> The Adani Group's CFO (Jugeshinder 'Robbie' Singh)<ref>{{citation |url=https://www.adani.com/About-us/One-Vision-One-team |title=Our Leadership – One Vision One Team |work=[[Adani Group]]}}</ref> stated that the timing of the report's publication was a "brazen, mala fide intention" to damage the offering.<ref name="Mint-25Jan23">{{Cite news |date=25 January 2023 |title=Adani Group responds to Hindenburg report, calls it 'malicious' |work=[[Mint (newspaper)|Mint]] |url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/adani-group-calls-hindenburg-report-malicious-combination-of-selective-misinformation-11674633964009.html}}</ref> The Adani Enterprises public offering was cancelled on 1 February 2023.<ref name="Economist-01Feb23">{{cite news |url=https://www.economist.com/business/2023/02/01/what-next-for-gautam-adanis-embattled-empire |title=What next for Gautam Adani's embattled empire? |date=1 February 2023 |newspaper=[[The Economist]] }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Adani vs. Hindenburg: The Story So Far |url=https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/federal-reserve-meeting-interest-rate-hike-february-2023/card/adani-vs-hindenburg-the-story-so-far-KDYDHRgNPMSecbrevsU4 |access-date=2023-02-23 |website=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |language=en}}</ref>

The Adani Group said that the Hindenburg Research report was "malicious combination of selective misinformation and stale" information,<ref name="Mint-25Jan23"/><ref>{{Cite news |last=Pyasi |first=Jayshree |last2=Kalra |first2=Aditya |last3=Shah |first3=Aditi |date=30 January 2023 |title=Adani hits back at Hindenburg, says it made all disclosures |language=en |work=[[Reuters]] |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/indias-adani-group-hindenburg-report-intended-create-false-market-2023-01-29/ |access-date=23 February 2023}}</ref> and that it was "evaluating the relevant provisions under U.S. and Indian laws for remedial and punitive action against Hindenburg Research".<ref name="Reuters-27Jan23">{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/indias-adani-group-says-evaluating-taking-action-against-hindenburg-research-2023-01-26/ |work=[[Reuters]] |title=India's Adani Group says evaluating action against Hindenburg Research |date=27 January 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=26 January 2023 |title=Hindenburg vs Adani: The Short Seller Taking On Asia's Richest Person |language=en |work=[[Bloomberg News]] |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-01-26/short-seller-nate-anderson-s-hiindenburg-is-targeting-billionaire-gautam-adani |access-date=26 January 2023 |first1=Edward |last1=Ludlow |first2=Katherine |last2=Burton}}</ref> Alison Frankel (a senior legal writer at [[Reuters]]) wrote that it was unlikely that the Adani Group would sue Hindenburg in the U.S. because American courts usually regard financial analysis as protected opinion under American free speech laws.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/adani-group-threatens-hindenburg-research-rarely-sued-us-2023-01-31/ |title=Column: Adani Group threatens, but Hindenburg Research rarely sued in U.S. |first1=Alison |last1=Frankel |work=[[Reuters]] |date=2 February 2023 }}</ref> "The Adani Group has published a 413-page rebuttal to claims by Hindenburg Research".<ref name="Economist-27Jan23"/><ref>{{cite report |url=https://www.adani.com/-/media/Project/Adani/Invetsors/Adani-Response-to-Hindenburg-January-29-2023.pdf?la=en |title=Adani Response |date=29 January 2023 |work=[[Adani Group]] }}</ref>

== Political views ==
[[File:Secretary Kerry greets Executive Chairman Adani before meeting with Indian CEOs amid Vibrant Gujarat Summit.jpg|right|thumb|[[United States Secretary of State|Secretary of State]] [[John Kerry]] greets Gautam Adani, 2014.]]

Adani personally maintains a negligible media presence{{citation needed|date=February 2023}} but is widely known for being close to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his ruling [[Bharatiya Janata Party]].<ref name="Keener Spotlight" /><ref name="bbc-24Aug22" /> This has led to allegations of [[cronyism]] as his firms have won many Indian energy and infrastructure government contracts.<ref name=Quartz-13Dec22>{{Cite web |date=13 December 2022 |title=For India, the Adani Group is growing too big to fail |url=https://qz.com/for-india-the-adani-group-is-growing-too-big-to-fail-1849873489 |access-date=13 December 2022 |website=[[Quartz (publication)]] |language=en |first1=Mimansa |last1=Verma |first2=Niharika |last2=Sharma }}</ref> With an Indian government auditor accusing Modi in 2012 of giving low cost fuel from a Gujarat state-run gas company to Adani and other businesspeople.<ref>{{Cite news |date=31 March 2012 |title=CAG slams Modi regime for financial irregularities |language=en-IN |work=[[The Hindu]] |first1=Manas |last1=Dasgupta |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/cag-slams-modi-regime-for-financial-irregularities/article3263639.ece |access-date=13 December 2022 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

Adani and Modi have both denied allegations of cronyism.<ref name="BBC News-02Dec22">{{Cite news |date=2 December 2022 |title=Gautam Adani: The school dropout's high-risk journey to become Asia's richest man |language=en-GB |work=[[BBC News]] |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-63817883 |access-date=13 December 2022 |first1=Soutik |last1=Biswas }}</ref> ''[[The Economist]]'' has described Adani as "a master operator", skilled at "navigating the complicated legal and political landscape of Indian capitalism," although the newsmagazine cautions that his firm is known for its "Byzantine" structure and opaque finances.<ref name="Economist-27Jan23">{{Cite news |title=A short-seller rattles Gautam Adani's empire |newspaper=[[The Economist]] |url=https://www.economist.com/business/2023/01/27/a-short-seller-rattles-gautam-adanis-empire |date=27 January 2023 |access-date=30 January 2023 |issn=0013-0613}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Gautam Adani is married to [[Priti Adani]]. The couple have two sons, [[Karan Adani]] and Jeet Adani.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://business.mapsofindia.com/business-leaders/gautam-adani.html|title=Gautam Adani Biography |date=2 June 2015 |website=mapsofindia.com}}</ref>

In January 1998, Adani and an associate, Shantilal Patel, were allegedly abducted and held hostage for ransom.<ref name="timesnownews-14Jun20">{{cite news |title=Throwback: When India's fifth richest man was kidnapped for ransom |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/business-economy/companies/article/throwback-when-indias-fifth-richest-man-survived-a-kidnapping-and-terrorist-attack/606122 |access-date=13 December 2020 |work=Times Now News |date=14 June 2020 |language= en }}</ref><ref name="IndianExpress-01Dec18"/> Two former gangsters Fazl-ur-Rehman and Bhogilal Darji, were accused of the kidnapping. They were acquitted in an Indian court in 2018, after Adani and Patel did not show up for [[Deposition (law)|depositions]], despite multiple summons by the court.<ref name="IndianExpress-01Dec18">{{Cite news |date=1 December 2018 |title=Two accused of abducting Gautam Adani 20 years ago acquitted |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/ahmedabad/two-accused-of-abducting-gautam-adani-20-years-ago-acquitted-5473592/ |access-date=13 December 2020 |work=[[The Indian Express]]  |location=Ahmedabad |language=en}}</ref><ref name="BBC News-02Dec22"/>

Adani was in the restaurant of [[Taj Mahal Palace Hotel]] in Mumbai having dinner with another businessman at 21:50 on 26 November 2008 when the [[2008 Mumbai attacks|hotel was attacked by terrorists]]. The terrorists were only {{convert|15|ft|m}} away from them. Adani hid in the hotel kitchen and later in the toilet, and came out safely at 08:45 the next day.<ref>{{cite news |first1=Alexander |last1=Sazonov |first2=Bhuma |last2=Shrivastava |first3=P R |last3=Sanjai |title=Billionaire Survivor of Ransom, Terror Attacks Now Rivals Ambani |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-12-13/billionaire-survivor-of-ransom-terror-attacks-now-rivals-ambani |access-date=13 December 2020 |work=Bloomberg.com |date=13 December 2020 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Shukla |first1=Nimish |title=Gautam Adani felt safe in Taj toilet |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Gautam-Adani-felt-safe-in-Taj-toilet/articleshow/3767246.cms |access-date=13 December 2020 |work=[[The Times of India]] |date=28 November 2008 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="timesnownews-14Jun20"/>

==Philanthropy==
Adani's wife, [[Priti Adani]], has been the chairperson of the Adani Foundation since she founded it 1996.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/business/report-meet-priti-adani-billionaire-gautam-adani-s-wife-and-force-behind-adani-foundation-3018838 |title=Meet Priti Adani, billionaire Gautam Adani's wife and force behind Adani Foundation |work=[[DNA India]] |date=23 January 2023 }}</ref><ref name="ANI-17Nov20"/>  This is the [[corporate social responsibility]] (philanthropy) arm of the Adani Group and has a presence in 18 states of India.<ref name="ANI-17Nov20">{{Cite news |title=Gautam Adani ushers in Gujarati New Year at Adani Foundation volunteer's Mundra home |url=https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/gautam-adani-ushers-in-gujarati-new-year-at-adani-foundation-volunteers-mundra-home20201117200756/ |date=17 November 2020 |access-date=2021-01-18 |work=[[Asian News International]] |language=en}}</ref>

In March 2020, Adani contributed {{INRConvert|100|c|lk=on|year=2020}} to the [[PM CARES Fund|PM Cares Fund]] through his group's philanthropy arm, to fight the [[COVID-19 pandemic in India|COVID-19]] outbreak.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/business/news-coronavirus-gautam-adani-donation-rs-1000-crore-pm-fund-602679|title=Gautam Adani gives Rs 100 crore to PM Fund to fight coronavirus|last=Joshi|first=Manas|date=2020-03-29|website=www.indiatvnews.com|language=en|access-date=2020-04-01}}</ref> A contribution of {{INRConvert|5|c|lk=on|year=2020}} was made to the Gujarat CM Relief Fund and {{INRConvert|1|c|lk=on|year=2020}} to the Maharashtra CM Relief Fund.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/company/corporate-trends/billionaire-gautam-adani-commits-to-support-fight-against-coronavirus/articleshow/74983932.cms|title=Billionaire Gautam Adani commits to support fight against coronavirus|date=4 April 2020 |work=[[The Economic Times]]|access-date=2020-04-10}}</ref>

Adani-led Adani Group imported four [[International Organization for Standardization|ISO]] [[Cryogenics|cryogenic]] tanks filled with 80 metric tonnes of [[Liquid oxygen|liquid medical oxygen]] from [[Dammam]] in [[Saudi Arabia]] to [[Mundra]] in [[Gujarat]]. The group also secured 5,000 [[oxygen tank|medical-grade oxygen cylinders]] from [[Linde plc|Linde]] Saudi Arabia. In a [[Twitter]] post, Adani shared that each day his group is supplying 1,500 cylinders with medical oxygen to wherever they are needed in the [[Kutch district]] of [[Gujarat]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=My Nation|title=To improve oxygen availability, Adani group imports cryogenic tanks from Saudi Arabia|url=https://www.mynation.com/india-news/to-improve-oxygen-availability-adani-group-imports-cryogenic-tanks-from-saudi-arabia-qs47sk|access-date=2021-05-11|website=Asianet News Network Pvt Ltd|language=en}}</ref>
In June 2022, Adani committed to donate Rs 60,000 crore ($7.7 billion) to social causes. Adani's corpus will be administered by the Adani Foundation, making it one of the biggest transfers to a philanthropic trust in India.<ref>{{Cite web| url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/92423541.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst|title=Adani commits to give away Rs 60,000 crore in charity|date=2022-06-24|access-date=2022-06-24|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==

* {{Official website|https://www.adani.com/About-us/One-Vision-One-Team/Gautam-Adani}} 
* {{Twitter|id=@gutam_adani|name=Gautam Adani}}
* [https://www.forbes.com/profile/gautam-adani-1/?sh=28e50db15b0e Profile] at [[Forbes]]
* [https://www.bloomberg.com/billionaires/profiles/gautam-s-adani/#xj4y7vzkg Profile] at [[Bloomberg L.P.]]

{{Adani Group|state=collapsed}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Adani, Gautam}}
[[Category:21st-century Indian businesspeople]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian Jains]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Gujarati people]]
[[Category:1962 births]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Ahmedabad]]
[[Category:Indian billionaires]]
[[Category:Indian industrialists]]
[[Category:Adani Group]]
[[Category:Adani family|Gautam]]
[[Category:Indian commodities traders]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian businesspeople]]
[[Category:Centibillionaires]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Gujarat]]