Who is the billionaire behind the most spectacular weddings in India?
A few months ago, Mukesh Ambani, Asia’s richest Indian billionaire, was back in the Indian spotlight.
Not because He can close important business deals. Or donate large sums of money to charity. But it was his son’s grand wedding ceremony that shocked people in India and the world.
In fact, the pre-wedding festivities began in March and the Ambani family’s story has become a main topic of conversation. Indian people, whether during breakfast, lunch or dinner
Anand Ambani, the youngest son of Mukesh Ambani, tied the knot with his long-time girlfriend Ratika Merchant at a family-owned convention center in Mumbai on Friday. The wedding ceremony is part of a 6 month long celebration taking place in various locations around the world.
Indian weddings are generally lavish. But due to the size of the event and the number of attendees from the Ambani family, It seemed to be able to overshadow the royal celebrations of the past.
The presence of A-list or top Bollywood actors at every party Including shows worth millions of dollars. International pop stars Rihanna and Justin Bieber and other VVIP dignitaries joined in the celebration. It has become a gathering place for paparazzi photographers who come to take endless pictures to resell.
There are also high-ranking people or global elites attending this event as well, such as Mark Zuckerberg, owner of Meta, Han-Jung Hee, CEO of Samsung. Sung, billionaire Bill Gates, Ivanka Trump, daughter of former US president Boris Johnson and former UK prime minister Sir Tony Blair, Gianni Infanti. No, President of the International Football Federation (FIFA), and the Kardashian sisters, etc.
And there are also names of other famous people.
James Crabtree, author of The Billionaire Raj: A Journey Through India’s New Gilded Age, told the BBC: “These people can be considered people whose queue is not available at all. And they don’t come to this event just for the fun of it.”
“What this tells you is These global business leaders believe that The Ambani family is strategically important and is still viewed as India is a very large and important market.”
The Ambani family is often referred to as India’s most prominent business family. The family owns the Reliance Industries empire, which runs everything from oil to telecommunications. It was founded by Mukesh’s father, Thiruphai Ambani, who Thiruphai inherited. controversial and is legendary for navigating the pre-liberalization form of government. which is controversial in India while creating enormous wealth for his company’s shareholders.
Thiruphai died in 2002 and the empire he built was divided between his sons Anil and Mukesh, who are said to have It was a heated battle between the inheritors later on.
Since then The fates of the two brothers also parted. His youngest son, Anil, was declared bankrupt. Mukesh turned his attention to the consumer goods business. Although the original business base is still the petrochemical business group of the Reliance business empire,
While his oil refinery business is in the city of Jamnagar or Jamnagar in western India. It is considered the largest refinery in the world.
In the past several years The Reliance business empire imports some of the world’s luxury brands for sale in India, from Valentino, Versace, Burberry to Bottega.
The company also owns the world’s richest cricket team and British toy retailer Hamleys.
In 2021, the company acquired Stoke Park Hotel and Golf Course in Buckinghamshire. United Kingdom with a value of 57 million pounds or approximately 2,600 million baht
At the beginning of last year Reliance has signed an agreement to merge its entertainment business with Disney’s business. It is the latest attempt to transform the industrial marina business. The deal makes Mukesh Ambani a formidable player in the digital streaming business. Along with the rights to compete in international cricket and exhibition events.
However, the chain has begun to aggressively pursue acquisitions during the COVID-19 outbreak. through billions of dollars of investment with dozens of global players, including Meta and Google. An example of Meta’s business plan is to connect over 400 million app users in India with online sales platform JioMart.
The company also operates using aggressive pricing strategies that have become a major obstacle to new foreign players. Netflix and Amazon
Analysts say Foreign players sometimes complain that [The Indian market] purportedly lacks equal competition. The Ambani family is part of a select few who have benefited from the Indian government’s policies. that favors only a few local tycoons
“Foreign players face difficult choices,” Crabtree said. “They may have to fight or cooperate with Reliance. Like Zuckerberg decided to partner with them. Meanwhile, the Amazons chose to fight. But such fighting comes at a cost. And in the end, foreign businessmen meet the end of losing money.”
Now, Mukesh Ambani’s new focus is a financial business where he will lead Reliance in a joint venture with BlackRock. US wealth management and financial brokerage business
That is no surprise to the Ambani family. This world famous wedding was not only a wedding.
Brand strategy expert Harish Bijour stated that This was a demonstration of the strength and influence they could command.
“This shows the fact that The family continues to be a magnet for people from all walks of life. Whether it’s business, politics, and the entertainment industry.”
He added: The media spotlight on the event also provided a way for them to personalize the event. “More personal for the entire world,” such as target consumers of Reliance products and services who have never received an invitation.
To give credit to the founders of the family business, Thiruphai, who introduced the stock market to retail investors in India. His son Mukesh also deserves recognition for creating a connection between his business and the common consumer in India.
What Indians consume right now includes everything from shows to clothing to future potential ways of shopping. They all form the foundation of stability for the Ambani family.
And that is the reason. Why is there no better opportunity than a spectacular family wedding to market their brand to India’s growing consumer audience?
And of course, weddings have captured the hearts of people in India and across the world.
