Inspiring Success Story Of Ritesh Agarwal, The New 'Shark' On 'Shark Tank India Season 3'

The promo for the next episode of Shark Tank India season 3 is out, and in this one, Ritesh Agarwal will make his debut as the new Shark. The man who thinks that the show is synonymous with entrepreneurship will face the camera and be on a reality TV show for the very first time. The 30-year-old self-made billionaire is also the youngest shark on the panel.

Who is Ritesh Agarwal, the new Shark on Shark Tank India 3?

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The founder and CEO of OYO Rooms Ritesh Agarwal is the new addition to the panel of Sharks for season 3.

He is the world's second-richest young self-made billionaire.

Everyone knows about OYO Hotels, the chain that is notoriously famous for many reasons. However, it's the same chain that disrupted the hospitality business in India. It made Ritesh Agrawal the world¡¯s youngest self-made billionaire in 2020. He was just behind Kylie Jenner on the list.

Founded Oyo at the age of 24!

Oyo Hotels was founded by Ritesh at the age of 24 in 2013. He comes from a humble family that used to run a small shop in Southern Odisha city called Rayagada.

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A college dropout!

Despite enrolling himself in an engineering college in Delhi, he dropped out to become an entrepreneur. During his college, he was selected for the Thiel Fellowship (started by Peter Thiel), which according as per him helped him learn things that college never taught him.

"People often ask me if I missed attending college and receiving a formal education. My answer has always been a resounding YES. The college experience is unmatched - it prepares you for the 'real world', both personally and professionally. But for me, The Thiel fellowship was that big adventure. The learnings, the experiences, and the people I met here, all in one way or the other - led to the eventual genesis of OYO," he had once shared on social media.

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Agarwal used $100,000 grant to bring his ideas to life under this fellowship when he started Oravel Stays, a budget accommodation portal, which Ritesh Agarwal later transformed into Oyo Hotels, which quickly garnered a lot of funding and expanded globally.

Used to sell SIM cards at the age of 13!

The Shark Tank India season 3's new judge started his journey to becoming an entrepreneur at the age of 13 when he would sell SIM cards after school. His father always wanted him to become an engineer but he had different plans. After completing his 10th grade at St Johns Senior Secondary School in Kota, he moved to Delhi to pursue further studies and prepare for the IIT-JEE entrance exam.

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Marriage

Ritesh married Geetansha Sood, a native of Lucknow, on March 7, 2023.

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His wedding reception was attended by many dignitaries including Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and other prominent startup founders and investors, including SoftBank's Masayoshi Son, Sunil Mittal, Shark Tank India's Ashneer Grover and Aman Gupta were in attendance.

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Tragic mishap - father's death

Just days after his wedding, his father Ramesh Agarwal, reportedly fell from the 20th floor of a high-rise building and passed away.

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Ritesh Agarwal's net worth

As per Hurun Rich List 2020, Ritesh Agarwal's net worth in 2020 was estimated to be approximately $1.1 billion (Rs 7253 crore).

While some fans are still missing Ashneer Grover, others are saying "ab maza aayega na bhidu".

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Also Read: From Release Date To New Judges, Everything You Need To Know About Shark Tank India Season 3

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