Kalanithi Maran is an Indian media proprietor. He is the chairman and founder of Sun Group, one of India’s largest conglomerates.
Early Life and Education
Kalanithi Maran was born on 24 July 1964 (Age 60 years; as of 2024) in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. His father, Murasoli Maran, is the former Union minister of Tamil Nadu. Besides, his mother, Mallika Maran, is a homemaker.
Education
For his schooling, Kalanithi Maran attended Don Bosco Egmore, Chennai. A child prodigy, Kalanithi Maran often won several debate and quiz competitions.
Following early education, he attended Loyola College, Chennai, wherein he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in commerce. After his bachelor’s, he relocated to Scranton, Pennsylvania, where he enrolled himself at the University of Scranton, and obtained an MBA degree.
What is the net worth of Kalanithi Maran?
As of 2024, Kalanithi Maran has an estimated net worth of $3.7 billion; in INR, his net worth is INR 16,000 Crores. Ranked on the 2024 Hurun Richest list, Maran’s entrepreneurial ventures significantly contribute to the net worth of Kalanithi Maran.
Timeline
- In 1990, following his formal education, he started his magazine, Poomalai.
- On 24 April 2006, Sun TV was listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange, raising $133 million for 10 percent of the share.
- In 2023, he was announced as the 77th richest Indian, with a net worth of $3 billion.
- In the same year, he also achieved other titles like the highest-paid business executive in India.
- Maran and his wife, Kavery, were ranked as the highest-paid business executives in FY20 with the executive pay charts of INR 87.50 Crores.
Career
- Kalanithi, after he completed his post-graduation, ventured into establishing an entertainment business. In 1990, the entrepreneur started a monthly magazine, Poomalai.
- On 14 April 1993, he founded Sun TV. His founded news channel raised $100 million for 10 percent of the share’s capital; this also listed him among the billionaires chart.
- He was among the few representatives at the roundtable visiting Bill Clinton.
- In 2010, he won the Young Businessman Awards from CNBC and Ernst & Young. It was also added after Forbes named him as the “Television king of Southern TV.”
- Under his leadership, Sun TV became one of the most popular and successful channels in South India.
- In June 2010, he acquired a stake in Spicejet from the billionaire investor, Wilbur Ross. He also put up an offer for 20 percent, which increased his stake to 50 percent.
- In 2014, Maran and his wife, Kavery, became the highest-paid business executive.
- With several business ventures, in 2023, Maran became the 77th richest person in India, with a towering net worth of $3 billion.
Personal Life
- Kalanithi Maran is the grand-nephew of former Tamil Nadu chief minister M. Karunanidhi. He also has a younger brother, Dayanidhi Maran, who is also a union minister.
- In 1991, Kalanithi Maran married Kavery, a native of Kodagu.
- They also have a daughter named Kavya Maran, who is now the CEO of both of his franchises, Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League and Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the South Africa T20 League.
Do you know these lesser-known facts about Kalanithi Maran?
- He is the son of the former Indian finance minister and deputy prime minister, Murasoli Maran. In 2003, he took over the Sun Group after the death of his father.
- Under his leadership, Sun TV ranked among the most successful channels in India.
- On 10 September 2023, after the success of the film, Jailer, he rewarded more than 300 people with gold coins who contributed to success.
- He was once accused of setting up a telephone system in Chennai without paying any bills. This allegedly caused a loss of 1.78 crores to BSNL and MTNL. However, in 2018, he cleared all the charges owing to a lack of evidence.
- Kalanithi started Sun TV with his friends. In an interview with a media house, he gave a brief into how he executed his business and said, “It was not a fun idea at all! The thought process was fairly simple. I did discuss the idea with my friends and we wanted to do something in this media when it was just picking up. The idea was never conceived of irresponsibly, I was serious about it from day one. It did not even occur to us that this could be a fly-by-night operation, where if it does not work, we can pack our bags and move on.”
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