World’s richest beggar lives in Mumbai and this is his net worth | - Times of India (2024)

Begging

is often seen as a sign of poverty and desperation, but for some people, it is a lucrative and profitable profession. One such person is

Bharat Jain

, who is recognized as the world's

richest beggar

, with a net worth of ₹7.5 crore ($1 million).
Jain, who is 54 years old, lives in Mumbai, the financial capital of India. He has been begging for over 40 years, since he was a teenager.

He begs at prominent locations such as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus railway station (CSMT) or Azad Maidan, where he can earn ₹2,000 to ₹2,500 per day. He works for 10 to 12 hours a day, and does not take any holidays or breaks.
Despite his humble appearance and occupation, Jain is a wealthy man who owns valuable

property in Mumbai

. He owns a 2BHK flat in Parel, worth ₹1.2 crore, where he lives with his wife, two sons, his brother, and his father. He enrolled his children in a prestigious convent school and they have since completed their education. His other family members run a stationery store. He also owns two shops in Thane, which he rents out for ₹30,000 per month.

Jain's family is not happy with his begging habit and often advises him to stop, but he ignores them and continues to beg. He says that he enjoys begging and does not want to give up his lifestyle. He also says that he does not beg out of necessity, but out of choice. He claims that he is not greedy, but generous, and often donates money to temples and charities.
Jain is not the only beggar who has amassed a fortune in India. There are many other beggars who have made millions by begging, such as

Sambhaji Kale

, who has a net worth of ₹1.5 crore, and Laxmi Das, who has a net worth of ₹1 crore. These beggars are part of a thriving begging industry in India, which is estimated to be worth ₹1.5 lakh crore ($20 billion).
Begging is illegal in India, and the government has taken various measures to curb it, such as imposing fines, arresting beggars, and rehabilitating them. However, these measures have not been very effective, as many beggars prefer to beg rather than work, and some even run begging rackets and exploit other beggars. Moreover, many people are sympathetic and generous towards beggars, and often give them money, food, or clothes.
Bharat Jain is an example of how begging can be a lucrative and profitable profession, and how some beggars can become millionaires. He is also an example of how appearances can be deceptive, and how one should not judge a book by its cover. He is the world's richest beggar, and he is proud of it.