Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, one of the Big Bulls of the country’s equity markets turned 61 on Monday, 5th July 2021.
So we thought, this calls for a trip down memory lane, perhaps?
Early Years of India’s Warren Buffet
His fascination with the stock market stemmed from his dad. One fine day, he asked his dad, “Why do these prices fluctuate?” His dad then asked him to grab a newspaper and check whether Gwalior Rayon was featured. If yes, the price of the same would move the next day.
Mr. Jhunjhunwala’s attraction to stocks just grew stronger and stronger as he self-taught himself whilst on the path to becoming a CA.
Initial Investments
He dove into the markets after he completed his CA by 1985 with a capital of Rs. 5000. Between 1986 to 1989, he had already earned Rs. 20-25 lakh.
After 1986, there was a depression for 2-3 years, but he played his cards well and placed his bets on Tata Power.
Then came one of his largest initial investments – Sesa Goa, now known as Vedanta. According to Mr. Jhunjhunwala, this company was underpriced due to a fall in the iron ore industry yet a bright, prospective future.
Once A Bear
One who is fondly referred to as the Street’s Big Bull was once a bear.
Mr. Jhunjhunwala dabbled in short selling around the early 1990s.
Birth of RARE Enterprises & Bull Market Investments
In 2003, Mr. Jhunjhunwala and his wife established their own firm, Rare Enterprises.
Rare Enterprises, based in Mumbai, is a private equity investment and asset management firm which invests in sectors such as biotechnology, digital entertainment, education, healthcare and hospitality.
Mr. Jhunjhunwala says he made some of his largest profits in the 2003 bull run. The Praj Industries investment came about in 2004 when the index was a mere 5500. This index nearly doubled and he sold some shares at a ~250x appreciation.
Inspiring? Undoubtedly!
Rakesh Jhunjhunwala’s Recent Portfolio
Rakesh Jhunjhunwala’s moves are followed by almost every stock enthusiast, from Nazara Technologies to his favorite, Titan Company.
As per Forbes, his net worth now stands at a whopping Rs. 34,387 crore, as of 3rd July 2021.
Let’s have an exhaustive look at his holdings in various companies as of March 2021.