In 2014, a 23‑year‑old Alakh Pandey was teaching physics to just 10–15 students in a modest rented room in Prayagraj, charging ₹50 per hour. With limited means, he borrowed ₹5,000 from his mother to buy a second‑hand phone and began recording lessons. Rejected by major coaching institutes, Alakh decided to chart his own path. In 2016, armed with nothing more than a ₹300 tripod, a ₹200 microphone, and an unshakable passion for teaching, he launched the PhysicsWallah YouTube channel.
Building PhysicsWallah Against All Odds
What started as a humble experiment quickly grew into a revolution in online education. Within nine years, PhysicsWallah amassed over 15 million subscribers, becoming one of India’s most trusted learning platforms. His app now educates 4 million paid students annually, charging just ₹3,500—a fraction of what traditional coaching centers demand. Alakh’s refusal to compromise on affordability and accessibility set him apart. He even rejected offers worth ₹1,000 crore to keep PhysicsWallah independent, proving that his mission was never about money but about empowering students.
A Net Worth Beyond Bollywood Royalty
Today, PhysicsWallah is valued at $2.8 billion (₹23,000 crore), and Alakh Pandey’s personal net worth has soared to ₹14,510 crore, according to the Hurun India Rich List 2025. Remarkably, this places him ahead of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, whose net worth stands at ₹12,490 crore. For a man who once struggled to buy basic equipment, this achievement is not just financial—it is symbolic of how education, when driven by purpose, can transform lives and create empires.
The Human Side of Success
Alakh Pandey’s journey resonates deeply with millions of Indians. His rise from a middle‑class teacher to one of the richest entrepreneurs in the country is a reminder that dreams rooted in service often attract both wealth and respect. By prioritizing students over profits, he has redefined success in the education sector. His story is not just about numbers—it is about resilience, vision, and the belief that changing children’s futures is the greatest reward of all.
