Even Billionaire’s fail to take care of their health…as they are busy making wealth. Big Bull Rakesh Jhunjhunwala’s death due to cardiac arrest (August 14) proved the point beyond doubt.
In many of his interviews to the media, Jhunjhunwala had himself confessed “One of the things I regret in life is that I did not take care of my health early in life. If I had done so, I would not have to deal with various health ailments like diabetes and heart disease. No amount of wealth can buy health and unhealthy bad habits cultivated overtime can cause immense damage.”
Jhunjhunwala’s estimated net worth was $5.5 Billion (as of July 2022) making him the 36th richest man in India.
As per medical reports, the stock market investor, who was also a diabetic, died after he suffered a cardiac arrest. He had not been keeping well for the last few months because of a kidney ailment and was suffering from ischemic heart disease too. He was seen in a wheelchair at recent public events. He was on dialysis and had recently undergone an angioplasty.
He had a zest for Life
The ace investor had a zest for life, people, dance and parties. During my career in the media industry, I had the opportunity to interact with Jhunjhunwala, who was in your face and always ready to talk and give his views. At the turn of the millennium, in the early 2000, when Jhunjhunwala was not yet a billionaire, yet was the toast of many parties hosted in South Mumbai, the financial capital of the country.
He was not exactly a polished investor, but a pan chewing trader, punter known for his one liners and roadside rustic humour about men, women and suhaag raats (first wedding night). His countless connections and friends in Mumbai, with Bollywood, Finance world and Media owners always came handy with wife Rekha as a host for many parties he hosted.
He always had an opinion for everything happening around. Almost all tricky questions were answered with a tinge of humour or with a one liner
As time passed on, he was described as a risk-taker in his investments, many of which paid off spectacularly. He was described as an legend “who had acquired the Midas touch by picking winning stocks”.
Every Diwali it was a ritual for a Bollywood actress to interview him on ET Now. I must say it was quite a treat to watch him as he too turned a journalist interviewing the likes of Kareena Kapoor. He was a go to man for many journalists wanting a quote or opinion on many world events like Covid, Start Ups, Valuations and the markets. The markets were always a metaphor for a woman, who is secretive, unpredictable and you have to love the markets and stocks for them to perform.
The legendary investor, who is often compared to Warren Buffett, believed in the India story. He became the poster boy of the stock market and convinced people that investing in the stock market was a great way to for wealth creation. With his portfolio full of jewels and duds, he confessed ‘I too make a mistake.’ There are choices he regretted and some he held on for two decades. Later, he also became an active investor in many companies; though he did not believe in the valuation game. “I cannot understand a business which is being funded at future valuations and continues to make losses in the market. ‘
Jhunjhunwala had a zest for life which was infectious. He was ruthless in business but wore his heart on his sleeve, loved to dance, laugh and be vulnerable.
जिंदादिली और सफलता की मिसाल थे राकेश झुनझुनवाला, बीमारी के बाद भी ऐसा था जुनून…#RakeshJhunjhunwala #RIP pic.twitter.com/LpAb1VLu3T
— Zee News (@ZeeNews) August 14, 2022
He once said death was a part of life and that he was not afraid of it. “I do not know when it will come. I cannot predict it. I can model it but I cannot know it. So, it is inevitable. What is Death? Death is permanent sleep,” he had said. So, rest in peace is what we say.
RIP… you will be missed.
