Adani, from Gujarat in western India, began as a commodities dealer and developed his enterprise from the ground up. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi hails from the same state, and their link has long been questioned by Modi's detractors.

His businesses grew to include ports, power generation, airports, mining, edible oils, renewable power, media, and cement, and he came to become the world's third-richest person, trailing only Bernard Arnault and Elon Musk, according to Forbes, with a net worth of USD 127 billion. He is married to dentist Priti Adani and has two sons, Karan and Jeet, who are both active in the company's operations.

Despite his wealth, the 60-year-old, who comes from a middle-class textile family, was significantly less well-known than other billionaires in a country where wealth is often passed down via families. His business manner has been described as "extremely hands on" by one person with direct knowledge of his activities.

As Adani's empire grew, the stocks of his seven publicly traded firms rose - in some cases more than 1,500% in the last three years of relentless expansion. He disputed charges made by Modi's opponents that he benefited from their friendship.

The USD 220 billion Adani Group empire has drawn foreign investment in recent years; for example, France's TotalEnergies teamed with Adani last year to construct the world's largest green hydrogen ecosystem.

Adani has recently adopted a proactive approach to his public image, giving interviews to both local and international media.

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