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#796

Rakesh Gangwal

Source of wealth: Airline

Net Worth

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Earnings per second

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The scale of their wealth

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Health

The price of life

Let's compare Rakesh Gangwal's fortune with the healthcare spending of a massive country

Rakesh Gangwal could fund the entire healthcare system of DR Congo, with a population of over 105,800,000 people, for approximately 2.4 years.

But even if we compare their fortune with that of a rich country

On the other end, Rakesh Gangwal could cover the healthcare spending of Luxembourg, considered the most heavily funded healthcare system in the world, for 1.1 years.

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Education

Buying the future

Let's also compare their fortune with education spending, first with a poor country

Rakesh Gangwal could cover the total cost of Nigeria's education system, the most populous country in Africa with over 243,000,000 inhabitants, for 1.6 years.

And yes, we can also compare it with a rich country

But they couldn't just cover the cost of a poor country; Luxembourg is considered the country with the highest per capita investment in education in the world, and Rakesh Gangwal could pay for it entirely for 2.1 years.

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Research

The monopoly on progress

Coming full circle, we think it's also interesting to add another gigantic country

Rakesh Gangwal could fully fund the state research budget of Pakistan, the fifth most populous country in the world with over 260,000,000 inhabitants, for 9.0 years.

And of course, the country that invests the most per capita worldwide

But even if we compare the total wealth of Rakesh Gangwal with Israel, the country that invests the most per capita in research in the world, they could cover the total cost of the system for 0.2 years.

While billions of people struggle to access basic healthcare, education, and research, a single individual could fund entire national systems for centuries.

Gold

Everyday luxuries

Gold bar

Rakesh Gangwal's fortune is equivalent to 37 tons of gold. It's hard to process, since we don't usually keep a handful of gold bars in our piggy banks.

Gold rings

A standard gold ring usually weighs between 4 and 7 grams. Let's say this one weighs 5 grams. It's usually 18 karats.

Based on today's gold price (excluding the jeweler's commission, shipping, or anything else), that ring would be worth $546.86.

Rakesh Gangwal could buy 9,750,509 gold rings. That's a lot of fingers and way too many gifts!!

And if you're struggling to visualize that many rings, it would take 2 trucks to transport them. Although Rakesh Gangwal will almost certainly have enough money left over to pay for the gas.

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Biography

Airline veteran Rakesh Gangwal owes his fortune to InterGlobe Aviation, the parent outfit of budget airline IndiGo, India's largest by market share.

Gangwal started his airline career with United Airlines in 1984 and went on to run US Airways Group as its chief executive and chairman.

Gangwal cofounded IndiGo, headquartered outside Delhi, with Rahul Bhatia (also a billionaire) in 2006 with one aircraft.

The Miami resident resigned from the company's board in 2022 and said he would gradually sell his stock over the next five years.

Gangwal was named chairman of Southwest Airlines in November 2024. He resigned from that role in August 2025 but remains on the board.

Financial Assets

Exchange
BSE INDIA
Ticker
539448-IN
Company
InterGlobe Aviation
Exchange
NYSE
Ticker
LUV-US
Company
Southwest Airlines

Monthly wealth history

Fortune comparison

Historical data not available for comparison

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