Cyrus Poonawalla | |
|---|---|
 Poonawalla in 2015 (2nd from right) | |
| Born | Cyrus Soli Poonawalla (1941-05-11)11 May 1941 (age 84) |
| Education | Brihan Maharashtra College of Commerce |
| Occupation(s) | Businessman, owner ofBilthoven Biologicals,Serum Institute of India, Poonawalla Fincorp |
| Years active | 1966–present |
| Known for | Founder ofSerum Institute of India and owner of Poonawalla Group of Companies |
| Spouse | Villoo Poonawalla (died 2010) |
| Children | Adar Poonawalla |
| Awards | Padma Shri (2005), Padma Bhushan (2022) |
| Website | cyruspoonawalla |
Cyrus Soli Poonawalla (born 11 May 1941) is an Indian billionaire businessman, and the chairman and managing director of the Cyrus Poonawalla Group, which includes theSerum Institute of India, an Indianbiotech company which is the largestvaccine manufacturer in the world, and Poonawalla Fincorp, a leadingNBFC in India.[1][2] In 2022, he was ranked as the 4th richest person in India on Forbes India rich list with a net worth of $24.3 billion.[3] He was ranked number 1 on the Hurun Global Healthcare Rich List 2022.[4]
In October 2024, Poonawalla and his family were ranked ninth on Forbes list of India’s 100 richest tycoons, with a net worth of $22.1 billion.[5]
Cyrus Soli Poonawalla was born in aParsi (Zoroastrian) family;[6] to parents Soli and Gool Poonawalla.[7] His father Soli Poonawalla was a horse breeder.[1]
Poonawalla founded the Serum Institute of India in 1966 and built it into the world's largest vaccine manufacturer (by volume) and supplier to over 140 countries.[8] Serum Institute produces over 1.5 billion doses annually of a range of vaccines, including forMeasles,Polio andFlu.[9]
Poonawalla was married to Villoo Poonawalla, who died in 2010.[10][11] Together they have a son,Adar, who currently works as the CEO ofSerum Institute of India.[9] He has two grandchildren.
In May 2019, it was reported that Poonawalla, in partnership withNaum Koen, had proposed supplying Ukraine with 100 thousand doses of the measles vaccine for free vaccination.[25][26]