Ritesh Agarwal Bio, Age, Height, Family, Net Worth & Facts

Ritesh Agarwal serves as the Founder and CEO of OYO Rooms, an Indian hospitality company. In 2012, at the age of 25, he achieved the remarkable feat of becoming the world’s second-youngest self-made billionaire. His entrepreneurial accomplishments have earned him prestigious awards, including the Thiel Fellowship and the Young Entrepreneur Award from Business World. Agarwal is renowned for his substantial impact on the hospitality and consumer tech sectors.

Ritesh Agarwal Bio / Wiki

Real Name	Ritesh Agarwal
Nick Name	Ritesh
Also Known As	N/A
Profession	Entrepreneur

Ritesh Agarwal Age

Birth Date	16 November 1993
Age (as of 2024)	30 Years
Zodiac Sign	Scorpio

Ritesh Agarwal Height & Weight

Height (Approx)	In Feet – 5’9″ In Centimeters – 175 cm
Weight (Approx)	In Kilogram – 69 kg In Pounds – 152 lbs

Ritesh Agarwal Photo

Ritesh Agarwal Image

Ritesh Agarwal Pic

Ritesh Agarwal Picture

Family

Father	Ramesh Agarwal
Mother	N/A
Brother	Behenen Agarwal
Sister	N/A

Ritesh Agarwal Girlfriend / Wife

Marital Status	Married
Girlfriend	N/A
Wife	Geetansha Sood
Children	Son – Aryan Agarwal Daughter – N/A

Ritesh Agarwal Image

Ritesh Agarwal Picture

Ritesh Agarwal Pic

Ritesh Agarwal Photo

Background & Religion

Religion	Hinduism
Mother Tongue	Hindi
Food Habits	Non-vegetarian
Hobbies	Singing, Cycling
Birthplace	Cuttack, Odisha, India
Residency	Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Nationality	Indian

Early Life, Education & Career

School	Sacred Heart School St. Johns Senior Secondary School
College / University	Indian School of Business and Finance, Delhi University
Education Qualification	Graduate
Debut	OYO Rooms (2013)
Career	Entrepreneur

Born on November 16, 1993, into a Marwari family in Bissam Cuttack, Odisha, India, Ritesh Agarwal grew up in Titilagarh. His family operated a small shop in Rayagada, Odisha. Sadly, Ritesh’s father, Ramesh Agarwal, a shop owner, met a tragic end by falling from his flat in Gurgaon just three days after Ritesh’s wedding. Ritesh has a brother named Behenen Agarwal.

On March 7, 2023, Ritesh Agarwal and Geetansha Sood celebrated their marriage in a lavish ceremony in Delhi. The couple’s connection originated through mutual friends, blossoming into a meaningful relationship.

Embarking on his career journey at the age of 17, Ritesh Agarwal chose to forgo college and initiate his entrepreneurial path. His inaugural venture, Oravel Stays, akin to Airbnb, was established in 2011. The year 2013 marked a significant milestone as Agarwal became the first Asian recipient of the ’20 Under 20′ Thiel Fellowship. During the same year, he laid the foundation for OYO Rooms, subsequently transforming it into a thriving hospitality company.

Agarwal’s success can be attributed to his innovative thinking, problem-solving prowess, and unwavering dedication. Recognizing his achievements, he has received numerous awards and accolades, including the TiE-Lumis Entrepreneurial Excellence Award, the Young Entrepreneur Award from Business World, and acknowledgment as one of the ‘8 Hottest Teenage Start-Up Founders in the World’ by Business Insider.

In 2011, Ritesh Agarwal laid the foundation for Oravel Stays, an initiative focused on providing standardized and affordable accommodations for travelers in India. This venture subsequently evolved into OYO Rooms, a globally recognized hospitality chain.

Serving as the founder and CEO of OYO Rooms, Agarwal has played a pivotal role in steering the company’s growth, propelling it to become the world’s third-largest hotel chain by room count. OYO Rooms is renowned for offering standardized and affordable accommodations to millions of individuals worldwide.

Beyond his entrepreneurial endeavors, Ritesh Agarwal has established the Ritesh Agarwal Foundation, dedicated to supporting education and entrepreneurship among young people. The foundation includes the Ritesh Agarwal Academy, aimed at equipping young entrepreneurs with the knowledge to transform innovative ideas into scalable business models.

Ritesh Agarwal’s engagement with DLF includes sharing information about the company’s plans to initiate projects worth Rs 200 billion in the current financial year.

Joining a panel alongside members like Aman Gupta, Anupam Mittal, Namita Thapar, Vineeta Singh, Amit Jain, and Peyush Bansal, Agarwal will serve as a shark. In this capacity, he will assess business proposals and offer valuable feedback to aspiring entrepreneurs.

Awards & Achievements

Awards	Young Entrepreneur Award from Business World TiE-Lumis Entrepreneurial Excellence Award
Achievements	Second youngest self-made billionaire.
Net Worth (as of 2024) (Approx)	₹ 16,462 Crore $ 164.62 Billion

Controversy

In the realm of philanthropy, alongside his entrepreneurial endeavors, Ritesh Agarwal actively engages in various charitable activities. Notably, he established the Ritesh Agarwal Foundation, which focuses on supporting young entrepreneurs in India. Furthermore, Agarwal has committed to donating $2 billion of his personal wealth to charitable causes.
The tragic passing of Ritesh Agarwal’s father, Ramesh Agarwal, occurred in a heartbreaking incident where he fell from his flat in Gurgaon just three days after Ritesh’s wedding. This event marked a profound loss for the family, and Ritesh expressed his grief in a statement, emphasizing his father’s role as a source of inspiration and guidance.
In a significant professional role, Ritesh Agarwal has become a part of the judges’ panel on Shark Tank India Season 3. In this capacity, he evaluates business proposals and provides valuable feedback to aspiring entrepreneurs.

Lesser Known Facts About Ritesh Agarwal

Demonstrating an early entrepreneurial spirit, Ritesh Agarwal initiated his business journey at the age of 13 by selling SIM cards. This endeavor aimed to acquire hands-on knowledge about running a business and self-sufficiency without relying on family funds.
In 2013, Agarwal achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first Asian recipient of the ’20 Under 20′ Thiel Fellowship, which granted him $100,000 to pursue his entrepreneurial ideas.
Despite enrolling in the University of London’s International Programme provided by the Indian School of Business and Finance, Agarwal found little connection to the course. Instead, he actively participated in numerous entrepreneurship events.
Philanthropy plays a crucial role in Agarwal’s values, as evidenced by his pledge to donate $2 billion of his personal wealth to charitable causes. He has further materialized this commitment through the establishment of the Ritesh Agarwal Foundation, which focuses on supporting young entrepreneurs in India.
In 2023, Ritesh Agarwal showcased his expertise as a judge on the business reality television series ‘Shark Tank India.’

FAQ’s

Who is the real owner of OYO?

Ritesh Agarwal is the founder and owner of OYO.

How old is Ritesh Agarwal?

Born in 1993, Ritesh Agarwal is currently 29 years old.

When was OYO founded?

OYO was founded in 2013.

How did Ritesh Agarwal start his entrepreneurial journey?

Ritesh started his entrepreneurial journey with a platform for listing diverse accommodations like small assets and vacation homes. He realized the disconnect between demand and supply of quality living spaces and wanted to fix the problem by using design, technology, and talent. That’s how OYO was launched in 2013, with the promise of delivering chic well-designed stay experiences.

What did Ritesh Agarwal learn from Peter Thiel?

Ritesh Agarwal was the first resident Asian to be selected and graduated from the Thiel Fellowship, where he was mentored by Peter Thiel himself and other visionaries. He learned valuable lessons from spending time with U.S.-based startups, famed Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, investors, thinkers, and visionaries.

What is Ritesh Agarwal’s net worth?

As of 2023, Ritesh Agarwal’s net worth is estimated to be INR 16,000 crore, with his firm OYO Rooms being valued at INR 80,000 crore.

Has Ritesh Agarwal published any books?

Yes, Ritesh Agarwal has published a book titled ‘A Complete Encyclopedia of the Top 100 Engineering Colleges’.

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