French businessman-billionaire Bernard Arnault and his family hold the top spot on Forbes’ richest list with a staggering net worth of $209.4 billion (approximately Rs 17,47,980 crore). The list also includes several prominent Indian names such as Mukesh Ambani, Gautam Adani, Savitri Jindal, and many more. The number of Indians on the billionaires list has increased from 169 last year to 200 in 2024. Interestingly, there is only one Nepalese billionaire on the list and he has a net worth of $1.8 billion (approximately Rs 15,000 crore). Scroll down to learn more about the lesser-known billionaire.
Meet Nepal’s sole billionaire to feature on Forbes’ richest list, who has a net worth of over Rs 15,000 crore and has a connection with Ratan Tata
Binod Chaudhary is Nepal‘s sole billionaire to feature on Forbes’ richest list. Currently ranked 1764 on Forbes’ richest list, Chaudhary, the chairman and president of the Chaudhary Group (CG Corp Global), has an estimated net worth of Rs 15,025 crore, according to Forbes and publicly available data.
Early success
Binod Chaudhary was born in a Marwari family in Kathmandu. He inherited his family business, which was founded by his grandfather, Bhuramal Das Chaudhary who had migrated to Nepal from India.
Under Binod Chaudhary’s leadership, the Chaudhary Group expanded into various sectors and reached new heights. During a visit to Thailand, Binod Chaudhary realised the popularity of instant noodles. Shortly thereafter, he ventured into the market with his own brand, Wai Wai Noodles, which became an instant global success. Now the brand has production factories in India, Bangladesh, and Serbia.
Other businesses
According to Forbes, the Chaudhary Group also owns and manages 143 luxurious properties, including luxury hotels with India’s Taj hotel chain. According to various online reports, the Chaudhary Group signed a deal with Tata Group‘s Indian Hotels Company Ltd (IHCL) to manage the Taj Jumeirah Lakes Towers in Dubai in 2019. Notably, the hotel won the Favourite New Hotel award at the Condé Nast Traveller Middle East Readers’ Choice Awards the very next year.
In addition to overseeing a successful business empire, Binod Chaudhary has made significant investments in the banking sector. In 1995, he acquired the Dubai government’s controlling stake in the Nabil Bank.
Philanthropic works
Besides his successful business and political career, Binod Chaudhary is known for his philanthropic works. According to DNA, he donated over Rs 20 crore to construct nearly 10,000 earthquake-proof homes for victims after the devastating earthquake in Nepal in 2015. His foundation, Chaudhary Foundation, also rebuilt several schools in various parts of Nepal.
