The Serum Institute of India, an Indian biotech company that is the largest vaccine manufacturer in the world, and Poonawalla Fincorp, a leading NBFC in India, are both part of the Cyrus Poonawalla Group, which is headed by billionaire businessman Cyrus S. Poonawalla (born 1941). With a net worth of $24.3 billion, he is listed as the fourth richest Indian in 2022 on the Forbes India rich list. On the Hurun Global Healthcare Rich List 2022, he is ranked first.
Career & Early Life
Gujarati Parsi (Zoroastrian) parents raised Cyrus Poonawalla. He is the offspring of former horse breeder Soli Poonawala. The Serum Institute of India was established in 1966 by Poonawalla, who grew it into the world's largest vaccine maker (measured in doses). Serum manufactures roughly 1.5 billion doses of various vaccinations per year, including those for the flu, polio, and measles.
Private Life
Villoo Poonawalla, Poonawalla's husband, passed away in 2010. Adar, their son, is currently the CEO of the Serum Institute of India. Two of his grandchildren exist.
Awards
The Indian government awarded him the Padma Shri honour for his contributions to medicine in 2005.
The Healthcare & Life Sciences "Entrepreneur of the Year" award from Ernst & Young was given in November 2007.
The Indian Entrepreneur of the Year was selected by Ernst & Young in February 2015.
In June 2018, the University of Massachusetts Medical School awarded an honorary doctorate.
Oxford University will confer an honorary doctorate in June 2019.
Bill Gates received the "ICMR Lifetime Achievement Medal" in November 2019 for his contributions to healthcare.
August 2021 marks the Lokmanya Tilak National Award.
Dean's medal from the Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins in May 2022.
The Government of India awarded him the Padma Bhushan for his work in the fields of trade and industry during COVID-19 in the development of vaccines.