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Ritesh Agarwal Net Worth in 2025: OYO Founder's Start-Up Story

Updated: Jul 26

Written By Laiba Arif

Presented By Delhi Royale


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Ritesh Agarwal Worth

A small Odisha town is where the saga of one of India's youngest billionaires, Ritesh Agarwal, began. The founder and CEO of OYO Rooms, Ritesh, has changed the face of budget hospitality and inspired a generation of startup enthusiasts. Here, we explore his journey, business empire, and more.
Ritesh Agarwal

A small Odisha town is where the saga of one of India's youngest billionaires, Ritesh Agarwal, began. The founder and CEO of OYO Rooms, Ritesh, has changed the face of budget hospitality and inspired a generation of startup enthusiasts. Here, we explore his journey, business empire, and more.

Ritesh Agarwal Education


Education

Born on 16th November 1993 in Rayagada, Odisha, Ritesh came from a business background and was born with entrepreneurship genes. He studied in Sacred Heart School, and later moved to Kota, Rajasthan, to prepare for engineering. He was temporarily pursuing studies at the Indian School of Business and Finance (ISBF) in Delhi, but discontinued his studies.  Technology and startups were always his areas of interest. Ritesh was subsequently selected for the Thiel Fellowship in 2013, where he was offered $100,000 to pursue his startup dreams.
Ritesh Agarwal Education

Born on 16th November 1993 in Rayagada, Odisha, Ritesh came from a business background and was born with entrepreneurship genes. He studied in Sacred Heart School, and later moved to Kota, Rajasthan, to prepare for engineering. He was temporarily pursuing studies at the Indian School of Business and Finance (ISBF) in Delhi, but discontinued his studies.  Technology and startups were always his areas of interest. Ritesh was subsequently selected for the Thiel Fellowship in 2013, where he was offered $100,000 to pursue his startup dreams.




Ritesh Agarwal Career


Career

Ritesh's odyssey started when he was 17 and stayed in budget hotels across India and travelled throughout the country. He noticed the lack of standardisation and developed Oravel Stays, which is an Airbnb-like website. In 2013, he made a change and began OYO Rooms with a vision to standardise budget hotel accommodations in India. By 2019, OYO expanded to 80+ countries, including China, the US, the UAE, and a few countries in Europe. OYO secured billions of dollars in funding from SoftBank, Sequoia Capital, Lightspeed, and more. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic as a hindrance, Ritesh somehow navigated vicious restructuring, automation, and localisation to maintain OYO operational. By 2024–
Ritesh Agarwal Career Path

Ritesh's odyssey started when he was 17 and stayed in budget hotels across India and travelled throughout the country. He noticed the lack of standardisation and developed Oravel Stays, which is an Airbnb-like website. In 2013, he made a change and began OYO Rooms with a vision to standardise budget hotel accommodations in India.


By 2019, OYO expanded to 80+ countries, including China, the US, the UAE, and a few countries in Europe. OYO secured billions of dollars in funding from SoftBank, Sequoia Capital, Lightspeed, and more. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic as a hindrance, Ritesh somehow navigated vicious restructuring, automation, and localisation to maintain OYO operational. By 2024–25, OYO not just recovered but took a step to apply for an IPO, restoring investor confidence.



Ritesh Agarwal Net Worth in INR


Net Worth in INR

As of 2025, Ritesh Agarwal's net worth is estimated at $1.2 billion, according to Forbes and other financial magazines. He is among India's youngest self-made billionaires. The majority of his wealth is held in OYO's equity, strategic investments, and interests in other startups. He notoriously bought back shares worth $2 billion in 2019 to increase his ownership stake in OYO to over 30%, showing unparalleled confidence in his own venture. Ritesh Agarwal’s net worth is reported to be around ₹16,000 crore (₹1.6 lakh crore) according to The Times of India and Chegg India.
Ritesh Agarwal Net Worth in Rupees

As of 2025, Ritesh Agarwal's net worth is estimated at $1.2 billion, according to Forbes and other financial magazines. He is among India's youngest self-made billionaires. The majority of his wealth is held in OYO's equity, strategic investments, and interests in other startups. He notoriously bought back shares worth $2 billion in 2019 to increase his ownership stake in OYO to over 30%, showing unparalleled confidence in his own venture. Ritesh Agarwal’s net worth is reported to be around ₹16,000 crore (₹1.6 lakh crore) according to The Times of India and Chegg India.


Ritesh Agarwal Assets

Assets

Up to 2025, Ritesh Agarwal's biggest asset is his own stake in OYO, which he took to over 30% ownership by borrowing approximately $2 billion in debt as well as investing his personal money in 2019. This equity makes up most of his net worth. Though not famous for his extravagant lifestyle, Ritesh has invested in real estate in Delhi NCR and Bangalore for personal and strategic reasons. He is also an equity shareholder in several Indian and Southeast Asian startups in the hospitality tech, automation software, and fintech verticals. On a personal level, he is reported to possess a Mercedes-Benz S-Class and a BMW 5 Series but doesn't show off luxury in public. Instead of mansions or private planes, his fortune rests on high-growth investments and OYO's expanding business ecosystem. His asset portfolio is founder-oriented, lean in personal life, but extremely invested in building a resilient business infrastructure.
Ritesh Agarwal Assets

Up to 2025, Ritesh Agarwal's biggest asset is his own stake in OYO, which he took to over 30% ownership by borrowing approximately $2 billion in debt as well as investing his personal money in 2019. This equity makes up most of his net worth. Though not famous for his extravagant lifestyle, Ritesh has invested in real estate in Delhi NCR and Bangalore for personal and strategic reasons. He is also an equity shareholder in several Indian and Southeast Asian startups in the hospitality tech, automation software, and fintech verticals. On a personal level, he is reported to possess a Mercedes-Benz S-Class and a BMW 5 Series but doesn't show off luxury in public. Instead of mansions or private planes, his fortune rests on high-growth investments and OYO's expanding business ecosystem. His asset portfolio is founder-oriented, lean in personal life, but extremely invested in building a resilient business infrastructure.


OYO Business Model


Business Model

The business model of OYO has evolved over time: Franchise-Based Aggregation: Small hotel tie-ups and standardised services under the brand OYO Technology & Automation: Booking, housekeeping software, revenue management, dynamic pricing Real Estate & Co-living: Long-term stay and rent OYO Life and OYO Vacation Homes Global Expansion Strategy: India, SEA, Middle East, and now focusing more on profitability than scale Asset-Light Scaling: Unlike legacy hotel chains, OYO doesn't own most properties; it manages them
OYO Business Model

The business model of OYO has evolved over time:

  • Franchise-Based Aggregation: Small hotel tie-ups and standardised services under the brand OYO

  • Technology & Automation: Booking, housekeeping software, revenue management, dynamic pricing

  • Real Estate & Co-living: Long-term stay and rent OYO Life and OYO Vacation Homes

  • Global Expansion Strategy: India, SEA, Middle East, and now focusing more on profitability than scale

  • Asset-Light Scaling: Unlike legacy hotel chains, OYO doesn't own most properties; it manages them



Ritesh Agarwal Philanthropy

Philanthropy

There has been an increased philanthropy in recent times, spearheaded by Ritesh. He sponsors through the OYO Foundation: Youth entrepreneurship and startup education Disaster relief and shelter-based programs in partnership with state governments Skilling and employment initiatives for low-income hotel staff He also mentors young entrepreneurs and speaks at platforms like TiE, NASSCOM, and Startup India from time to time.
Ritesh Agarwal Philanthropy

There has been an increased philanthropy in recent times, spearheaded by Ritesh. He sponsors through the OYO Foundation:

  • Youth entrepreneurship and startup education

  • Disaster relief and shelter-based programs in partnership with state governments

  • Skilling and employment initiatives for low-income hotel staff

  • He also mentors young entrepreneurs and speaks at platforms like TiE, NASSCOM, and Startup India from time to time.


Ritesh Agarwal Family

Family

Ritesh comes from a Marwari businessman family in Odisha's Rayagada. His father passed away in 2023. He is married to Geetansha Sood, a technology businesswoman from Lucknow. His 2023 wedding was a celebrity affair with prominent startup entrepreneurs and business legends present, including Paytm's Vijay Shekhar Sharma and SoftBank's Masayoshi Son.
Ritesh Agarwal Family

Ritesh comes from a Marwari businessman family in Odisha's Rayagada. His father passed away in 2023. He is married to Geetansha Sood, a technology businesswoman from Lucknow. His 2023 wedding was a celebrity affair with prominent startup entrepreneurs and business legends present, including Paytm's Vijay Shekhar Sharma and SoftBank's Masayoshi Son.




Ritesh Agarwal Achievements

Achievements

Here are a few of Ritesh Agarwal's achievements: Youngest Indian to have raised venture capital at scale Youngest Thiel Fellowship winner at 19 years old Featured in the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list multiple times OYO became India's quickest unicorn to reach a billion-dollar valuation in record time OYO in 2025 announced its plans for an IPO, which could be India's biggest startup listing since Zomato
Ritesh Agarwal Achievements

Here are a few of Ritesh Agarwal's achievements:

  • Youngest Indian to have raised venture capital at scale

  • Youngest Thiel Fellowship winner at 19 years old

  • Featured in the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list multiple times

  • OYO became India's quickest unicorn to reach a billion-dollar valuation in record time

  • OYO in 2025 announced its plans for an IPO, which could be India's biggest startup listing since Zomato


Ritesh Agarwal Endorsements

Endorsements

He doesn't endorse consumer brands like celebrities do. However, he has become a symbol of India's startup ecosystem. He's also invested angelwise in a few early-stage startups, especially in hospitality technology, AI automation, and clean-tech. He has on regular appearances in campaigns by Startup India, Shark Tank India, Google for Startups, and IAMAI.
Ritesh Agarwal Endorsements

He doesn't endorse consumer brands like celebrities do. However, he has become a symbol of India's startup ecosystem. He's also invested angelwise in a few early-stage startups, especially in hospitality technology, AI automation, and clean-tech. He has on regular appearances in campaigns by Startup India, Shark Tank India, Google for Startups, and IAMAI.



Ritesh Agarwal Net Worth Value

Ritesh Agarwal is not just the creator of OYO but an embodiment of grit, vision, and ceaseless innovation. From sleeping in dingy hotels to standardising the budget hotel experience for hundreds of millions of individuals across the globe, he has built a global business empire before he turns 30. As OYO's IPO looms on the horizon, a growing focus on profitability and social contribution, Ritesh's tale remains incomplete, and the best might still lie ahead.


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Discover Ritesh Agarwal Net Worth, Ritesh Agarwal Education, Ritesh Agarwal Age, Oyo Business Model, Ritesh Agarwal Family, Ritesh Agarwal Career, Ritesh Agarwal Endorsements, And Ritesh Agarwal Philanthropy In One Complete Profile. Curious About Ritesh Agarwal's Global Expansion Strategy, Startup Investments, Personal Assets, Entrepreneurial Achievements, And His Inspiring Journey From A Small-Town Teen To One Of India’s Youngest Self-Made Billionaires? Read On! Get More Details At Delhi Royale Luxury Lifestyle Blog https://www.delhiroyale.in/luxury-lifestyle-blog

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