2024-09-22 22:57:04
New Delhi: Former chairman of Shree Cement, Benu Gopal Bangur, is the richest person in Kolkata. According to Forbes, his net worth is around $7.6 billion (about Rs 63,120 crore). As of 2023, he was the 319th richest person in the world and the 26th richest person in India. His huge wealth is due to his majority stake in the cement manufacturing company. This company is one of the leading cement manufacturers in India. Interestingly, Benu Gopal is not originally from Bengal. He hails from Rajasthan. Benu Gopal is a Marwari. Kolkata is one of the top 10 cities in India where most billionaires live. According to the Hurun India Rich List 2023, this city, known as the ‘City of Joy’, has many industries. These industries are run by major companies in both public and private sectors. These industries mainly include steel, mining, minerals and cement.
Benu Gopal Bangur is a Marwari
However, the title of Kolkata’s richest resident is held by a Marwari from Rajasthan. The Marwari community is known for its business and financial acumen. Benu Gopal Bangur’s family business legacy goes back to the late 1800s. His grandfather Munge Ram Bangur founded the Bangur business empire along with his brother Ram Koover Bangur. The Bangur family became one of India’s top business families in the 1950s and 1960s. They built a huge empire comprising different industries.
Shri Cement is the cornerstone of Benu Gopal Bangur’s fortune. It was founded in 1979 in Jaipur, Rajasthan. Later its headquarters were transferred to Kolkata. After a family split in the 1990s, the Bangur empire was divided between Munge’s grandsons – Balabhadra Das Bangur, Nivas Bangur, Kumar Bangur and Benu Gopal Bangur – and Ram’s grandson Lakshmi Nivas Bangur. Benu Gopal Bangur took control of Shri Cement during this split. Making it one of India’s leading cement manufacturers.
Benu Gopal Bangur is even ahead of famous billionaires like N.R. Narayana Murthy and Nusli Wadia. According to media reports, this wealth is due to his majority stake in a cement manufacturing company.
Student at Calcutta University
Benu Gopal Bangur is an alumnus of the University of Calcutta. He holds a B.Com (Hons) degree. In October 2022, at the age of 92, he resigned as the chairman of the board of Shree Cement. His son Hari Mohan Bangur took over as the chairman. Hari Mohan is a chemical engineer and a graduate from IIT Bombay. His son Prashant Bangur serves as the vice-president of the company. Prashant holds an MBA in Finance and Logistics from the Indian School of Business, Hyderabad and an Honours degree in Mathematics from St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata.
Benu Gopal Bangur has two sons. He lives in a luxurious mansion in Kolkata, which is spread over 51,000 square feet. It has facilities like a home theater and a gym. Despite stepping down from his official role, his legacy remains significant through the continued success of Shree Cement under the leadership of his family.