From Polyester Plant to Renewable Energy: The Journey of Mukesh Ambani

Mumbai, 20th October 2025: Mukesh Ambani, currently Asia’s richest man with a net worth of ₹9.30 lakh crore, ranks as the 18th richest person in the world, according to Forbes. While his wealth and business empire are widely known, many may not be aware of how his career began.

Ambani’s first major business assignment came in 1981, when he was recalled from his MBA studies at Stanford University in California at the request of his father, Reliance Industries founder Dhirubhai Ambani.

Tasked with overseeing the construction of Reliance’s first polyester fiber yarn (PFY) production facility in Patalganga, Mukesh Ambani stepped into the family business, marking the start of his hands-on leadership journey.

“Practical experience was more important than classroom studies,” recalled Dhirubhai Ambani, emphasizing why Mukesh left his MBA midway. Ambani quickly applied his business acumen to the challenges of building factories and expanding operations in petrochemicals, refining, and other sectors.

The PFY project paved the way for major milestones in Reliance’s growth. Under Mukesh Ambani’s guidance, the company constructed the world’s largest oil refinery complex in Jamnagar and ventured into telecommunications with Reliance Infocomm.

Following the division of the family business with his younger brother Anil after their father’s death in 2002, Mukesh Ambani has steered Reliance into green energy. The company plans to invest $80 billion in renewable energy over the next decade, including the development of a new complex adjacent to its refinery.

From leading the construction of a polyester plant to building a multi-billion-dollar energy and telecom empire, Mukesh Ambani’s journey exemplifies how early responsibility and hands-on experience can shape global business leadership.