Uttar Pradesh, one of the most populous states in the country, is often discussed for its politics, culture, and history. But behind the headlines, the state has also produced some of the country’s wealthiest entrepreneurs, whose fortunes stretch from traditional industries like detergents and biscuits to new-age businesses in digital payments and edtech. A look at the top names reveals how Kanpur, Noida, Prayagraj, and Agra have quietly shaped India’s business story. (News18 Hindi)
At the very top of the list stands Murlidhar Gyanchandani, the man behind Ghadi Detergent, a household brand across the country. Hailing from Kanpur, Gyanchandani built the RSPL Group, which diversified into soaps, FMCG, and other sectors. His net worth is estimated at a staggering Rs 14,000 crore, making him the richest person in Uttar Pradesh. (News18 Hindi)
Sharing the empire with him is his brother, Bimal Gyanchandani, whose wealth stands at around Rs 9,000 crore. Together, the Gyanchandanis transformed a small detergent venture into one of India’s most formidable FMCG powerhouses, challenging global giants in the soap and detergent space. (News18 Hindi)
If the Gyanchandanis represent the traditional manufacturing story, Vijay Shekhar Sharma symbolises the digital revolution. Born in Aligarh, Sharma is the founder of Paytm, a leading digital payments platform. Once a small-town boy with limited means, today his net worth is pegged at R 8,000 crore, making him one of India’s most influential startup pioneers. (News18 Hindi)
Another digital success story is Dinesh Chandra Agarwal, the man who founded IndiaMART, a platform often described as the “Digital Mandi” of India. Headquartered in Noida, IndiaMART became the country’s largest B2B e-commerce platform, connecting lakhs of businesses. Agarwal’s net worth stands at R 5,400 crore. (News18 Hindi)
From Prayagraj comes Alakh Pandey, better known as ‘Physics Wallah’. Starting from YouTube tutorials for students, Pandey went on to build a full-fledged edtech unicorn valued in billions. Today, his personal wealth is estimated at Rs 4,500 crore, placing him among the youngest billionaires in India. (News18 Hindi)
In the infrastructure sector, Pradeep Kumar Jain of Agra has left a strong mark. As the founder of PNC Infratech, Jain oversaw the construction of key highways and real estate projects across India. His wealth is estimated at Rs 4,400 crore. (News18 Hindi)
Pradeep Kumar Jain shares his Rs 4,400 crore empire with his brother Chakresh Kumar Jain, who co-runs the business. (News18 Hindi)
Rounding off the list is Yashvardhan Agarwal, the man behind Priyagold Biscuits. From Noida, his company emerged as one of India’s most popular FMCG snack brands, competing with multinational players. His fortune stands at Rs 4,200 crore. (News18 Hindi)
