What is Rishad Naoroji Net Worth?
Rishad Naoroji is an Indian billionaire, author and environmentalist who has a net worth of $2.4 billion. Rishan earned his fortune as member of the Godrej family which owns the Godrej Group, a 120+ year-old multi-national conglomerate based in Mumbai. The Godrej Group generates billions of dollars in annual revenue manufacturing products in dozens of industries including chemicals, electronics, aerospace, consumer goods, home appliances and more. With a combined net worth of at least $20 billion, the Godrej family is one of the richest families in India. The family owns a 3,500-acre estate in Mumbai that has been estimated to be worth tens of billions of dollars if it were ever developed commercially. The family has committed to preserving roughly half the acreage as its current natural mangrove swampland.
Biography
Rishad Naoroji was born on August 30, 1951 to Kaikhushru Naroji and Dosa Godrej. He earned a degree from Mumbai's College of Commerce and Economics.
Upon the passing of his mother, Rishad inherited a one-fifth share of the Godrej family business. His first cousin Adi Godrej is the current chairman of the Godreg Group. Rishad is not active in the business but he does serve a company Director.
Raptor Conservation
Unlike many of his family members, Rishad has never worked in the family business. Instead he has focused his energies and considerable wealth on environmental causes. He is especially concerned and involved with the conservation efforts of Indian birds of prey.
After spending three years studying the breeding and ecology of raptors in Rajpipla forest was a driving force in resulting in 500 square meters of forest being declared a wildlife sanctuary.
He is the founder of the Raptor Research and Conservation Foundation and sits on the governing council of the Bombay Natural History Museum.
Of his cousin's passion for raptor breeding and conservation and lack of interest in the family business, Adi Godrej once told an interviewer:
"There was not much discontent in the family. Though the trend then was for kids to follow in their fathers' footsteps, it was becoming perfectly appropriate for someone to live off the dividends of their shareholding and pursue their passion. I admire Rishad for what he did."
Books
Rishad Naoroji is an active photographer and has published three books. His first book, "Shikra Accipter badius taking carrion," was published in 1991. In 2006 he published a book titled "Birds of Prey of the Indian Subcontinent." He followed that with 2011's "Breeding of the Red-headed Falcon Falco chicquera in Saurashtra, Gujarat, India."
His raptor photographs have been published in international publications.