KBC 17: Kumar Mangalam Birla Reveals Father’s Strict Condition to Join Family Business, Now Commands Net Worth of ₹2,180 Crore

Indian billionaire industrialist Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman of the Aditya Birla Group, recently appeared on Kaun Banega Crorepati 17, where he shared rare personal insights into his journey to leadership. In conversation with host Amitabh Bachchan, Birla revealed that despite being born into one of India’s most influential business families, his entry into the family enterprise was far from easy.

In a newly released promo of the episode aired on December 29, Birla disclosed that his father, the late Aditya Vikram Birla, had laid down a non-negotiable condition: he would have to start from the lowest level and earn professional qualifications before joining the business.

“No CA, No Job”: A Father’s Firm Stand

During the interaction, Amitabh Bachchan pointed out how unusual it seemed for someone from such a privileged background to be asked to begin at the bottom. Responding in Hindi, Kumar Mangalam Birla recalled that he had assumed he would join his father’s office immediately after graduation.

However, his father had other plans.

Birla shared that his father insisted he qualify as a Chartered Accountant (CA) before entering the organisation. When he resisted and suggested pursuing an MBA instead, his father made his position clear: without a CA degree, there would be no place for him in the office.

He even approached his grandfather and mother for support, but both stood firmly by his father’s decision. His mother, he recalled, told him that the task had to be done — whether in tears or with a smile.

From Reluctance to Responsibility

Kumar Mangalam Birla eventually completed his CA, a decision that laid the foundation for his leadership journey. In 1998, at just 28 years of age, he took over the reins of the Aditya Birla Group following his father’s untimely demise, becoming its fourth-generation chairman.

A Global Business Empire

According to Bloomberg, Kumar Mangalam Birla’s current net worth stands at $21.8 billion (approximately ₹2,180 crore). Under his leadership, the Aditya Birla Group has expanded into a global conglomerate, operating over 500 companies across sectors such as retail, cement, paints, fashion, textiles, real estate, education, and financial services.

His appearance on KBC 17 struck a chord with audiences, highlighting that discipline, merit, and perseverance — not privilege alone — shaped one of India’s most successful business leaders.