Cyrus Poonawalla

$26.70 B

Ranked #89 in World

About Cyrus Poonawalla

Renowned Indian billionaire Cyrus S. Poonawalla, chairman of the Cyrus Poonawalla Group, helms the globally recognized Serum Institute of India, the world's premier vaccine maker by doses, and directs the esteemed Poonawalla Fincorp. In 2022 Forbes deemed him India's 4th wealthiest with a $24.3 billion fortune and lauded atop the Hurun Global Healthcare Rich List. Born to a Parsi family in 1941 and starting Serum Institute in 1966, Poonawalla, a celebrated healthcare luminary, bestowed with multiple honors including the Padma Bhushan, is also a prominent philanthropist, adhering to a legacy of altruism in global healthcare.

Born

May 11, 1941

Age

84 years

Source Of Wealth

Vaccines

Industries

Healthcare

Citizenship

India

Residence

Pune

Education

Bachelor of Arts/Science, Pune University; Doctorate, Pune University

Cyrus S. Poonawalla was born in 1941 to a Gujarati Parsi family in Pune, Maharashtra, India. His father, Soli Poonawala, was a horse breeder.

Cyrus Poonawalla: Family

Cyrus Poonawalla is married to Villoo Poonawalla (deceased in 2010). They have a son, Adar Poonawalla, who is the CEO of Serum Institute of India. They also have two grandchildren.

Cyrus Poonawalla: Career Highlights

Cyrus Poonawalla founded the Serum Institute of India in 1966. Under his leadership, the company has grown to become the largest vaccine manufacturer in the world by doses. Serum produces over 1.5 billion doses annually of various vaccines, including those for polio, measles, and tetanus.

Cyrus Poonawalla: Companies

In addition to the Serum Institute of India, Cyrus Poonawalla is also the chairman and managing director of Poonawalla Fincorp, a leading NBFC in India.

Cyrus Poonawalla: Major Achievements

Cyrus Poonawalla has been recognized for his contributions to the pharmaceutical industry and public health. Some of his major achievements include:

Ranked 4th richest person in India on Forbes India rich list with a net worth of $24.3 billion (2022).
Ranked number 1 on the Hurun Global Healthcare Rich List 2022.
Built Serum Institute of India to the largest vaccine manufacturer (by doses) in the world.

Cyrus Poonawalla: Awards & Achievements

Cyrus Poonawalla has received numerous awards and recognitions for his work, including:

Padma Shri for contribution to medicine (2005).
Ernst & Young "Entrepreneur of the Year" in Healthcare & Life Sciences (2007).
Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year for India (2015).
Honorary doctorates from University of Massachusetts Medical School (2018) and University of Oxford (2019).
‘ICMR Lifetime Achievement Medal’ for contribution in healthcare (2019).
Lokmanya Tilak National Award (2021).
Dean’s medal from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (2022).
Padma Bhushan for contribution in vaccine production during COVID-19 (2022).

Cyrus Poonawalla: Personal Life & Legacy

Cyrus Poonawalla is known for his philanthropic work.

In 2019, he proposed supplying Ukraine with 100 thousand doses of measles vaccine for free vaccination. He is also a patron of several educational and healthcare institutions in India.

Cyrus Poonawalla: Trivia

Cyrus Poonawalla is a horse racing enthusiast and owns several racehorses. He is also a collector of vintage cars.

Wealth History

Timeline

1941

Cyrus S. Poonawalla was born into a Gujarati Parsi family.

1966

Cyrus S. Poonawalla founded the Serum Institute of India.

2005

Cyrus S. Poonawalla was awarded the Padma Shri for his contribution to medicine.

2007

Cyrus S. Poonawalla was awarded the Ernst & Young "Entrepreneur of the Year" in Healthcare & Life Sciences.

2010

Cyrus S. Poonawalla's wife, Villoo Poonawalla, passed away.

2015

Cyrus S. Poonawalla was awarded the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year for India.

2018

Cyrus S. Poonawalla received an honorary doctorate from the University of Massachusetts Medical School.

2019

Cyrus S. Poonawalla received an honorary doctorate from the University of Oxford.

2019

Cyrus S. Poonawalla proposed supplying Ukraine with 100 thousand doses of measles vaccine for free vaccination.

2019

Cyrus S. Poonawalla was awarded the 'ICMR Lifetime Achievement Medal' for his contribution to healthcare.

2021

Cyrus S. Poonawalla was awarded the Lokmanya Tilak National Award.

2022

Cyrus S. Poonawalla was awarded the Dean's medal from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

2022

Cyrus S. Poonawalla was awarded the Padma Bhushan for his contribution to vaccine production during COVID-19.

Cyrus Poonawalla : FAQs

What is Cyrus Poonawalla's current net worth?

Cyrus Poonawalla's current net worth is $26.70 billion.

What is Cyrus Poonawalla's current global rank among billionaires?

Cyrus Poonawalla holds the 89th position globally among billionaires.

What is Cyrus Poonawalla's current ranking within the India?

Cyrus Poonawalla holds the 5th position in India.

What was the change in Cyrus Poonawalla's net worth compared to the previous year?

Cyrus Poonawalla's net worth increased by 6.23 billion dollars compared to the previous year 2025, when his net worth was 20.47 billion dollars.

What is the recent change in Cyrus Poonawalla's net worth?

Cyrus Poonawalla's net worth increased by 87.68 million dollars recently, a 0.33% increase, with his net worth standing at 26.70 billion dollars.

What are Cyrus Poonawalla's main sources of wealth?

Cyrus Poonawalla's main source of income comes from Vaccines.

In which industry does Cyrus Poonawalla primarily operate?

Cyrus Poonawalla is primarily involved in the Healthcare industry.

What is Cyrus Poonawalla educational background?

Cyrus Poonawalla holds a Bachelor of Arts/Science from Pune University and a Doctorate from Pune University.

How old is Cyrus Poonawalla?

Cyrus Poonawalla is 84 years old.

How many children does Cyrus Poonawalla have?

Cyrus Poonawalla has 1 children.

Who is Cyrus S. Poonawalla and what is his role in the Cyrus Poonawalla Group?

Cyrus S. Poonawalla is an accomplished Indian billionaire businessman who serves as the chairman and managing director of the Cyrus Poonawalla Group, globally recognized for the Serum Institute of India, the world's largest vaccine manufacturer.

What achievements has Cyrus S. Poonawalla made in his early life and career?

Born into a Gujarati Parsi family in 1941, Cyrus S. Poonawalla founded the Serum Institute of India in 1966, building it into the largest vaccine manufacturer by dose volume, with an annual production of over 1.5 billion vaccine doses.

How has Cyrus Poonawalla impacted India's financial sector?

Beyond healthcare, Cyrus Poonawalla has made a significant impact in India's financial sector through Poonawalla Fincorp, a top non-banking financial company (NBFC) in the country.

What are some of the major awards and honors received by Cyrus S. Poonawalla?

Cyrus S. Poonawalla has been honored with numerous awards, including the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, several Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year awards, and prestigious honorary doctorates and medals from global institutions for his invaluable contributions to medicine and healthcare.

What philanthropic efforts has Cyrus S. Poonawalla been involved in?

Showcasing a commitment to global health, Cyrus S. Poonawalla has engaged in philanthropic activities such as proposing the donation of 100 thousand doses of measles vaccine to support free vaccination in Ukraine in 2019.