It is a common notion that successful business tycoons have only studied at IIMs and IITs. However, this is not entirely true, as many industry leaders have built their empires without formal education from these prestigious institutions. The inspirational story of Abhay Soi, a first-generation entrepreneur and Chairman and managing Director of Max Healthcare Institute Limited, is proof. He is largely credited with the company’s transformation and the rapid expansion of its hospital network. According to Forbes’s real-time net worth, his total wealth is estimated at $2.6 billion (approximately Rs 22,700 crore). But have you wondered where he completed his graduation? To know more, read the detailed story…

Abhay Soi is chairman and managing director of Max Healthcare Institute, India’s second-largest listed hospital chain by revenue. As per Forbes report, Soi began his career at the erstwhile Arthur Andersen and later worked for EY and KPMG. Later, he started his entrepreneurial journey in 2010, when he acquired a struggling 650-bed hospital in Delhi and established Radiant Life Care.

Further honing his expertise, he co-founded a $300 million (approximately Rs 1,880 crore) India-centric special situations fund for Baupost Group, the investment firm of American billionaire Seth Klarman.

According to the official website of Max Healthcare, Abhay presently serves as the President of NATHEALTH, the apex body representing the Indian healthcare industry for FY 2024-25. Max Healthcare is one of the largest publicly listed hospital chains in India with a market cap of over USD 11.5bn, while reserving 7.5% of its beds for free services to patients from economically weaker sections of society.

In addition to its core hospital business, Max Healthcare operates one of the largest healthcare-at-home businesses – Max@Home, and one of the largest pathology services in North India under the brand Max Lab. Speaking of his LinkedIn profile, Abhay studied at St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University from 1991 to 1994. Later he completed his Master of Business Administration from European University, Belgium.

Abhay was awarded the EY Entrepreneur of the Year for Business Transformation in 2021 and the Entrepreneur of the Year Award at the Forbes India Leadership Awards in 2023. Additionally, he received the prestigious Hurun Industry Achievement Award 2022 – Healthcare for significantly contributing to the development of the country’s healthcare infrastructure and was recognised as one of India’s Top 5 Self-Made Entrepreneurs of the Millennium 2024 by Hurun India. As per Forbes’s The Richest People In The World list, Abhay is positioned at 1623 rank.