The Guptas Family Biography: Wife, Age, Net Worth, Wikipedia, Real Name, History, Photos, Brothers

The Gupta family is a powerful and wealthy clan of Indian origin that migrated to South Africa in the early 1990s.

They have built a vast business empire spanning various sectors, such as mining, media, and technology, but they have also been embroiled in many corruption scandals and controversies. 

They have been accused of using their close ties with former South African President Jacob Zuma and his allies to influence government decisions, win lucrative state contracts, and loot public funds. They have denied wrongdoing and fled South Africa for Dubai and other locations.

Profile

• Members: Ajay Gupta, Atul Gupta, Rajesh “Tony” Gupta, Suresh Gupta, Ashok Gupta, Achla Gupta
• Nickname: The Guptas
• Date of birth: Ajay Gupta (1966), Atul Gupta (1968), Rajesh Gupta (1970), Suresh Gupta (1962), Ashok Gupta (1964), Achla Gupta (1960)
• Gender: Male (except Achla Gupta)
• Place of birth: Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India
• Nationality: Indian (except Atul Gupta, who became a South African citizen in 2002)
• Profession: Businessmen (except Achla Gupta, who is a homemaker)
• Parents: Shiv Kumar Gupta and Mooli Devi Gupta
• Net worth: Estimated to be around $1 billion collectively

Early Life and Education

The Gupta brothers were born and raised in Saharanpur, a small Uttar Pradesh, India town. Their father, Shiv Kumar Gupta, was a businessman who ran a small shop that sold spices and sweets.

Their mother, Mooli Devi Gupta, was a housewife who cared for the family. The brothers had a sister, Achla, the eldest of the six siblings. The family belonged to the Bania caste, a merchant community in India.

The brothers attended local schools and colleges in India, where they studied engineering, commerce, and computer science.

Ajay Gupta, the eldest of the three, graduated from the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee with a degree in mechanical engineering. Atul Gupta, the second eldest, obtained a degree in commerce from the University of Delhi. 

Rajesh Gupta, the youngest of the three, completed a degree in computer science from the Birla Institute of Technology and Science Pilani. Suresh and Ashok Gupta, the two older brothers, also pursued higher education in India, but their fields of study still need to be discovered.

The brothers were ambitious and entrepreneurial from a young age. They started their businesses in India, such as a shoe factory, a dairy farm, and a software company. They also helped their father with his shop and learned the basics of trading and commerce.

Personal Life

The Gupta brothers are married and have children. Atul Gupta married Chetali Gupta, a woman from his hometown, in 1994.

They have three sons: Shashank, Prashant, and Suryakant. Rajesh Gupta married Arti Gupta, a woman from Delhi, in 1996. They have two sons: Shubham and Ankit. Ajay Gupta married Shivani Gupta, a woman from Jaipur, in 1998. They have four sons: Kamal, Vikas, Kunal, and Rishabh.

The Gupta brothers and their families lived in South Africa for many years and enjoyed a lavish lifestyle.

They owned several properties, such as a mansion in Saxonwold, Johannesburg, a luxury apartment in Dubai, and a private jet. 

They also hosted extravagant parties and weddings, where they invited celebrities, politicians, and business tycoons. They were known for their generosity and philanthropy, donating to various causes and organizations, such as schools, hospitals, and religious institutions.

However, the Gupta brothers and their families faced criticism and hostility from the South African public, media, and authorities.

They were accused of being involved in various corruption scandals and controversies, such as the state capture, the Estina dairy farm, and the Waterkloof landing. 

They were also accused of manipulating public opinion, inflaming racial tensions, and interfering with state institutions.

They were sanctioned by several countries and are wanted by the South African authorities for various criminal charges. They have denied wrongdoing and fled South Africa for Dubai and other locations.

Career

The Gupta brothers started their business empire in South Africa with Sahara Computers, a computer hardware company, in 1993.

They later expanded into mining, media, and technology, acquiring stakes in companies such as Oakbay Resources, The New Age, ANN7, Tegeta Exploration and Resources, and Optimum Coal. They also have business interests in India, the UAE, and other countries.

The Gupta brothers were successful and influential businessmen with close ties with former South African President Jacob Zuma and his administration.

They secured lucrative state contracts in areas such as coal supply, nuclear energy, and railway locomotives. They also had access to confidential information, such as cabinet appointments, policy decisions, and state budgets. 

They could influence government decisions, such as the firing and hiring ministers, granting citizenship, and allocating resources. They also influenced public opinion through media outlets, such as The New Age and ANN7, which promoted a pro-Zuma and pro-Gupta narrative.

However, the Gupta brothers faced considerable scrutiny and opposition from the South African public, media, and authorities. Various investigative reports, such as the #GuptaLeaks, the State of Capture report, and the Zondo Commission, exposed them. Various civil society groups, such as the Save South Africa campaign, the Economic Freedom Fighters, and the Democratic Alliance, challenged them. 

Various legal actions, such as the Asset Forfeiture Unit, the Hawks, and the National Prosecuting Authority, also targeted them.

They were accused of being involved in various corruption scandals and controversies, such as the state capture, the Estina dairy farm, and the Waterkloof landing. 

They were also accused of manipulating public opinion, inflaming racial tensions, and interfering with state institutions.

They were sanctioned by several countries and are wanted by the South African authorities for various criminal charges. They have denied wrongdoing and fled South Africa for Dubai and other locations.

Awards

The Gupta brothers and their companies have won several awards and recognitions for their business achievements and social contributions. Some of them are:

• Sahara Computers was named the Best Company of the Year by the Black Business Quarterly in 2004.
• The New Age was awarded the Best Newspaper of the Year by the National Press Club in 2012.
• ANN7 was awarded the Best TV News Channel of the Year by the National Press Club in 2014.
• Atul Gupta was named the Business Leader of the Year by the Black Business Quarterly in 2016.
• Rajesh Gupta was named the Businessman of the Year by the Black Business Quarterly in 2017.

Net Worth

According to various sources, the Gupta brothers and their families are estimated to be worth around $1 billion collectively.

However, their net worth is unknown, as they have not disclosed their financial details publicly. Their net worth is derived from their stakes in various companies, such as Sahara Computers, Oakbay Resources, The New Age, ANN7, Tegeta Exploration and Resources, and Optimum Coal. 

Controversy

The Gupta brothers and their family have been involved in many corruption scandals and controversies, which have tarnished their reputation and endangered their business interests. Some of the most notable ones are:

– The state capture: The Gupta brothers and their associates have been accused of using their close ties with former South African President Jacob Zuma and his administration to influence government decisions, win lucrative state contracts, and misappropriate public funds. 

They have also been accused of having access to confidential information, such as cabinet appointments, policy decisions, and state budgets, and of influencing government decisions, such as the firing and hiring of ministers, the granting of citizenship, and the allocation of resources.

The Estina dairy farm: The Gupta brothers and their associates have been accused of being involved in a fraudulent scheme. They received millions of rands from the Free State government to establish a dairy farm to benefit local farmers and communities. However, the project was a sham, as the money was siphoned off to the Gupta family and their companies.

The Waterkloof landing: The Gupta brothers and their associates have been accused of abusing their political connections and violating national security protocols when they landed a private jet carrying about 200 guests for a lavish wedding at the Waterkloof Air Force Base, a military facility, in 2013. 

Police and military vehicles escorted the guests to the wedding venue, where celebrities and politicians entertained them. The incident sparked public outrage and led to several investigations and suspensions of officials.

The #GuptaLeaks: A series of leaked emails exposed the Gupta brothers and their associates and revealed the extent of their involvement in various corruption scandals and controversies. 

The emails showed how the Gupta family and their companies benefited from state contracts, influenced government decisions, interfered with state institutions, manipulated public opinion, and laundered money. 

The emails also showed how the Gupta family and their associates lived a lavish lifestyle, traveled the world, and hobnobbed with the rich and powerful.

The Zondo Commission: Various witnesses and evidence implicated the Gupta brothers and their associates in the Zondo Commission, a judicial inquiry into allegations of state capture, corruption, and fraud in the public sector. 

The commission, chaired by Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, has heard testimonies from former and current ministers, officials, executives, whistleblowers, and journalists, who have detailed how the Gupta family and their associates captured the state, corrupted the government, and looted the public funds. 

The commission has also issued summonses and warrants for the Gupta family and their associates, who have failed to appear or cooperate with the inquiry.

Social Media

The Gupta brothers and their families do not have official or verified social media accounts like Instagram or Twitter.

However, several unofficial and parody accounts use their names and images, such as @GuptaFamily, @GuptaLeaks, and @GuptaFacts.