Alakh Pandey, founder of Physics Wallah, has surpassed Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan with a net worth of ₹14,510 crore — marking a 223% surge in his wealth. Here’s how the YouTube teacher became India’s richest educator.
Alakh Pandey: The YouTube Teacher Who Outgrew Bollywood’s King Khan
In a country where movie stars ruled the fame and fortune charts for decades, one educator from Prayagraj has rewritten the script — quite literally.
Alakh Pandey, the man behind Physics Wallah (PW), has now surpassed Shah Rukh Khan’s net worth, becoming one of India’s richest self-made entrepreneurs of 2025.
From Classroom to Crores: The Rise of Alakh Pandey
In 2016, Alakh Pandey started his YouTube channel “Physics Wallah” with a simple goal — to make quality education accessible and affordable to every Indian student.
Armed with just a whiteboard and a camera, his clear teaching style, humour, and passion quickly struck a chord with millions.
By 2020, Physics Wallah had become India’s biggest edtech YouTube channel — but Alakh wasn’t done yet.
Building India’s First Profitable EdTech Unicorn
In 2022, Physics Wallah officially became a unicorn, valued at $1.1 billion (₹9,000+ crore) after raising funds from WestBridge Capital and GSV Ventures.
Unlike many other edtech startups burning cash, Alakh’s focus on profitability and purpose made PW stand out.
Today, Physics Wallah runs:
- 100+ offline PW Vidyapeeth centres across India
- Multiple learning apps for JEE, NEET, UPSC, and government exams
- Over 3.5 crore learners across platforms
2025: Wealth Soars 223% — ₹14,510 Crore Net Worth
According to the Hurun India Rich List 2025, Alakh Pandey’s wealth surged 223% year-on-year, touching a staggering ₹14,510 crore.
That makes him wealthier than Shah Rukh Khan (₹6,300 crore) and many Indian business icons from traditional industries.
His rapid rise shows how India’s creator economy and digital education have matured — turning educators into entrepreneurs, and YouTubers into billionaires.
⚙️ How He Did It: The Physics Wallah Formula
✅ Focused on affordability — low course prices, high value
✅ Built trust with students, not just followers
✅ Maintained strong profitability, not just valuation
✅ Expanded through offline centres + app ecosystem
✅ Created an Indian brand narrative — “education by Indians, for Indians”
Beyond Numbers: The Bharat Impact
Alakh’s journey isn’t just a business success story — it’s a Bharat story.
He proved that a small-town teacher could compete with India’s richest, not by selling luxury or entertainment, but by educating millions.
He continues to reinvest in education access, scholarships, and tech innovation — becoming a role model for a generation of young Indians who dream big without leaving their roots.
Quote of the Day:
“You don’t need to be born rich to make a difference. You just need to start with purpose.” — Alakh Pandey