India (Commonwealth Union)_ The term “beggar” often brings images of people experiencing financial instability, dressed in worn-out attire, and associated with poverty. However, it is crucial to recognize that some individuals have transformed begging into a profitable profession, redefining its meaning completely. Surprisingly, some have even become millionaires through begging. One such example is Bharat Jain, hailing from Mumbai, who is reported to be the wealthiest beggar globally.
Bharat Jain owns properties and shops worth crores of rupees in Mumbai and Pune. He resides in a house valued at 1.25 crore rupees and educates his children at a prestigious convent school. Despite his financial security and access to all amenities, Bharat continues to beg. He persists in this line of work, even in the face of disapproval from his family members. The richest beggar in the world, Bharat Jain, is married and lives with his wife, two sons, brother, and father. It is estimated that he earns around 75,000 rupees per month through begging, amounting to a total of 9 lakh rupees in 2020.
On a daily basis, he earns 2,500 rupees in alms, a sum that exceeds the earnings of an average working individual or the daily savings of a small shopkeeper. Moreover, Bharat Jain owns a two-bedroom flat in Parel and also possesses two stores in Thane, which generate a monthly rental income of 30,000 rupees. Moreover, his family operates a stationery store that contributes significantly to their earnings. Reports suggest that Bharat Jain’s net worth stands at 7.5 crore rupees. He normally begs in the areas of Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus and Azad Maidan in Mumbai.
Interestingly, Bharat Jain is not the only millionaire beggar in India. The list includes Lakshmi, a resident of Kolkata, who has been begging since the age of 16. Over the years, she has accumulated lakhs of rupees through begging. Similarly, Geeta, who resides in Mumbai and begs on Charni Road, owns a flat and lives with her brother. Geeta earns nearly 1,500 rupees per day through begging. These instances highlight the unconventional stories of individuals who have managed to amass significant wealth through begging, challenging common perceptions of the profession.
