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Dhirubhai Ambani Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 29, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth28 December 1932

Age69 Years (at time of death)

BirthplaceChorvad, Gujarat, India

ProfessionIndian Businessman

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseKokilaben Ambani

FamilySons - Mukesh Ambani, Anil Ambani; Daughters - Nina Kothari, Dipti Salgaocar

Net worth$2.9 billion (as in 2002)

Dhirubhai Ambani Biography

Dhirajlal 'Dhirubhai' Ambani (28 December 1932 – 6 July 2002) was an Indian entrepreneur who founded Reliance and built it from a small trading firm into a

Early life and background

Dhirajlal Hirachand Ambani, widely known as Dhirubhai Ambani, was born on 28 December 1932 in Chorvad, Junagadh, in present-day Gujarat. He was the second son of Hirachand Gordhanbhai Ambani, who worked as a school teacher, and Jamnaben. He attended Bahadur Kanji High School in Junagadh and left formal education after completing the 10th standard.

Ambani grew up in a Gujarati Modh Bania family and was raised in the Hindu faith. As a young man he moved away from his hometown for work, spending time in Aden (now in Yemen) where he held several jobs, including as a gas-station attendant and as an employee of A. Besse & Co. When he returned to Mumbai in 1957, he had modest savings.

Career

Dhirubhai began his entrepreneurial journey selling snacks to pilgrims and soon entered trading. In 1960 he and a partner established Reliance Commercial Corporation to export spices and import polyester yarn. The business began from a small office in Masjid Bunder, Mumbai. After the partnership dissolved in 1965, Ambani continued the polyester business on his own and in 1966 renamed the firm Reliance Textiles Industries Pvt. Limited.

Under his stewardship the company moved into textile manufacturing, setting up a synthetic fabric mill in Naroda, Gujarat, and launching the Vimal brand in 1968. Reliance issued its first public offering in 1977, which drew strong investor interest. The company was renamed Reliance Industries Limited in 1985, reflecting its broadening scope beyond textiles.

Ambani expanded into petrochemicals in the early 1990s, commissioning the Hazira petrochemical plant near Surat in 1991–92. In 1996 Reliance became the first private Indian company to receive ratings from international credit agencies. Health issues prompted a transfer of operational control to his sons after a stroke in 1986; he suffered a further major stroke in June 2002 and remained in hospital before his death in July of that year.

Public profile

Dhirubhai Ambani emerged as a polarizing figure in Indian business life. He received several recognitions during and after his lifetime: the Dean’s Medal from the Wharton School in 1998, a FICCI designation as the Man of the 20th Century in 2000, and a posthumous Padma Vibhushan from the Government of India in 2016. His life and business methods attracted criticism at times, including accusations of undue influence over bureaucratic and media institutions.

His rise and the story of his company inspired broader cultural interest. An unauthorized biography titled The Polyester Prince appeared in 1998, and a Hindi feature film that drew on elements of his life was released in 2007.

Personal life and family

Dhirubhai married Kokilaben in 1955. The couple had four children: two sons, Mukesh Ambani and Anil Ambani, and two daughters, Nina Kothari and Dipti Salgaocar. He maintained a public family profile through his business activities and the subsequent prominence of his children in Indian industry.

Physical details and other notes

He was around 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) tall and, according to records from his lifetime, weighed approximately 80 kg (176 lb). He had black eyes and salt-and-pepper hair. Zodiac records list him as a Capricorn. Public accounts note that he did not drink or smoke.

Latest updates

Dhirubhai Ambani passed away on 6 July 2002 in Mumbai after suffering a stroke and entering a coma. He was 69 years old at the time of his death. Posthumous honors and ongoing attention to his business legacy continue to shape how he is remembered in India’s corporate history.
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Recent Work

Hazira Petrochemical Plant (commissioned)

Commissioned a major petrochemical plant in the Surat district (Hazira) in 1991–92 as part of Reliance's expansion into petrochemicals.

1991-1992
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Career Highlights

  1. Founded Reliance Commercial Corporation (1960) and later Reliance Textiles Industries, which became Reliance Industries Limited.
  2. Launched the Vimal textile brand (1968) and established a synthetic fabric mill at Naroda, Gujarat.
  3. Took Reliance public with an oversubscribed IPO in 1977.
  4. Commissioned the Hazira petrochemical plant in 1991–92.
  5. Reliance became the first private Indian company to be rated by international credit agencies (1996).
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Net Worth

$2.9 billion (as in 2002)

Figures are editorial estimates based on publicly available reporting and may change as new information emerges.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Dhirubhai Ambani born?

28 December 1932

What is Dhirubhai Ambani known for?

Indian Businessman

What is Dhirubhai Ambani’s marital status?

Married

Who is Dhirubhai Ambani married to?

Kokilaben Ambani

What is Dhirubhai Ambani’s net worth?

$2.9 billion (as in 2002)