Bharat Jain is not your ordinary beggar. He is, in fact, the richest beggar in India and probably the world. He can be seen begging on the streets of Mumbai, but he has a net worth of Rs 7.5 crore. He owns a 2BHK flat in Mumbai worth Rs 1.2 crore and two shops in Thane that rent for Rs 30,000 per month. He also has bank deposits and investments worth crores.
Jain, who is 55 years old, has been begging for more than three decades. He started begging after he dropped out of school due to financial problems. He is married and has two sons who are studying in college. He also supports his father and brother who live with him¹. He begs at prime locations like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus railway station (CSMT) or Azad Maidan, where he earns between Rs 60,000 and 75,000 per month.
Jain says he begs because he likes it and it gives him satisfaction. He says he does not want to stop begging even though he has enough money to live comfortably. He says he does not bother anyone and people give him money willingly. He also claims that he pays income tax on his earnings and does not evade any laws.
Jain’s story is an example of how begging can be a lucrative business in India, where there are millions of beggars living in poverty and destitution. Jain is one of the top five richest beggars in India, who are richer than most of us and are in fact correlates.