Dhirubhai Ambani
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Dhirubhai Ambani, the legendary Indian business tycoon, was born on 28 December, 1932, at Chorwad, Junagadh, Gujarat state, India, and breathed his last on 6th July 2002, in Mumbai, Maharashtra state, India. After his demise, he is survived by Kokilaben Ambani, his wife, two sons, Mukesh Ambani and Anil Ambani, and two daughters, Nina Kothari and Deepti Salgaoncar.
Dhirajlal Hirachand Ambani, known as Dhirubhai, was was born into a family of a school teacher of very moderate means. When he was 16 years old, he moved to Aden and worked their as a petrol-pump attendant, and as a clerk in an oil company. Ten years later, he returned to India and started a business with a capital of Rs. 15000.00 (US$ 375). That business has blossomed into Reliance specialising in petrochemicals, but with diversified interests into telecommunications and information technology, as also presence in a diverse activities - energy, power, retail, textiles, infrastructure services, capital markets, and logistics. As reported by BBC[1] (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/2107812.stm) at the time of his demise, that business (of 375 US$) has grown to become "a business empire with an estimated annual turnover of $12bn, and an 85,000-strong workforce".
Dhirubhai Ambani was conferred the Indian Entrepreneur of the 20th Century Award by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). A poll conducted by The Times of India in 2000 voted him "creator of wealth in the century". He was also felicitated, in December 2000, at a special civic reception by the Municipal Corporation of Mumbai.