Ravi Kant Jaipuria is the Indian billionaire industrialist whose conglomerate is merging two major fast-food franchise operators to form a national powerhouse. Commonly called India’s “Cola King,” Jaipuria founded and chairs RJ Corp, a diversified group with interests in fast food, beverages, healthcare, and education.
He is in charge of Devyani International, a franchisee that is currently planning to acquire Sapphire Foods in order to consolidate control over KFC and Pizza Hut locations throughout India. The merger represents a calculated growth of an empire established over forty years.
Who Is Ravi Kant Jaipuria?
Indian billionaire businessman Ravi Kant Jaipuria is referred to as the “Cola King of India.” He is the founder and chair of the global corporation RJ Corp. His wealth and influence stem from being a key partner for global brands like PepsiCo and Yum! Brands in the Indian market, overseeing massive operations in bottling and quick-service restaurants.
Ravi Kant Jaipuria’s Business Empire
Jaipuria’s primary holdings include flagship publicly traded companies. He is promoter and chairman of Varun Beverages Limited, the second-largest bottling partner for PepsiCo globally outside the United States. He also oversees Devyani International, India’s largest franchisee for Yum! Brands, operating KFC, Pizza Hut, and Costa Coffee. His portfolio further includes Creambell ice cream and stakes in Medanta hospitals and Lemon Tree Hotels.
Ravi Jaipuria Net Worth
He is among the wealthiest people in India, with an estimated net worth of $17.3 billion, approximately ₹1.56 lakh crore (1,56,129 crore rupees) as of late 2024. Forbes placed him 14th on its India rich list that year. His net worth is largely tied to the market performance of Varun Beverages and Devyani International, recently breaking into the ₹1 lakh crore club (over $15 billion).
Ravi Jaipuria Family
Jaipuria comes from a Marwari business background. His wife, Dhara Jaipuria, chairs the RJ Corp board and spearheads its philanthropic initiatives. His two children are actively leading group businesses, with son Varun Jaipuria in charge of Food & Beverage units like Varun Beverages and Devyani International, and daughter Devyani Jaipuria heading healthcare and education.
What Is the RJ Corp Succession Plan?
In 2024, Jaipuria formalized a succession plan for his children to assume strategic leadership roles. His son Varun leads the core beverage and food units, and his daughter Devyani manages healthcare and education. Jaipuria continues to serve as Chairman, concentrating on long-term growth and group strategy to maintain the empire’s control over the recently combined QSR behemoth.
FAQs: Ravi Kant Jaipuria Profile
Q: What is Ravi Jaipuria famous for?
A: He is famous as India’s “Cola King” for building Varun Beverages into PepsiCo’s second-largest global bottler and for operating major fast-food chains like KFC and Pizza Hut through Devyani International.
Q: How did Ravi Jaipuria start his business?
A: After a family business division in 1987, he started independently with a single soft drink bottling plant in Agra, which grew into the massive RJ Corp conglomerate.
Q: What awards has he received?
A: He is the only Indian bottler to receive PepsiCo’s “International Bottler of the Year” award in 1997, presented by former U.S. President George H.W. Bush.
Q: How is he connected to the Devyani-Sapphire merger?
A: He is the mastermind behind the merger that would establish India’s biggest QSR operator as the non-executive chairman of Devyani International and the controlling promoter of the RJ Corp Group.