In India, Reliance chairman Mukesh Ambani is the richest with a net worth of USD 107.1 billion, followed by Gautam Adani with USD 78 billion. In Nepal, there is only one billionaire, Binod Chaudhary, who has around USD 2 billion (about Rs. 16,700 crore) as per Forbes.
Wai Wai Noodles Journey
Binod Chaudhary is most famous for starting Wai Wai noodles which became very popular and even challenged big brands like Maggi. His business journey began in Kathmandu inspired by his family business background and by icons like JRD Tata and Amitabh Bachchan.
During his trip to Thailand he discovered instant noodles and that’s where the idea of Wai Wai was born. The noodles became a big hit not just in Nepal but also in India and other countries.
Beyond Noodles
But Binod Chaudhary didn’t stop there. Over the years he expanded into many other businesses. He worked with National Panasonic, brought Suzuki cars to Nepal and moved into sectors like banking, hotels and real estate.
His company the Chaudhary Group now manages 143 luxury hotel properties around the world. This includes a partnership with India’s Taj hotel group. In 2019 his group partnered with the Tata Group to run the Taj Jumeirah Lakes Towers hotel in Dubai which even won an award in 2020.
A Legacy of Leadership and Philanthropy
Binod Chaudhary was born into a business family in Kathmandu. When his father fell sick he had to take charge of the family business at a young age. He gave up his dream of becoming a chartered accountant and chose the path of entrepreneurship instead.
With hard work and vision he turned the family business into a global company and helped Nepal’s economy grow along the way. Today under his leadership the Chaudhary Group runs over 80 companies in more than 30 countries.
Chaudhary is also known for his kindness and social work. After the 2015 earthquake in Nepal he donated over Rs. 20 crore to rebuild homes and schools and sent essential supplies to those affected.He is also an author and a filmmaker. His book “Making It Big”, shares his life story and the lessons he learned while building his empire.