Background
Bhargava was born in Lucknow, India in 1953 and in 1967, moved with his family to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Businessman founder philanthropist
Bhargava was born in Lucknow, India in 1953 and in 1967, moved with his family to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
After high school graduation, Bhargava attended Princeton University for one year in 1972.
By 2012 the brand had grown to do an estimated $1 billion in sales. In 2015, Bhargava pledged 99% of his Netto worth to improving the well-being of the world"s less fortunate. After college, Bhargava returned to India and spent the next 12 years traveling to and from a group of communal-like monasteries owned by the Hanslok Ashram.
During this period, Bhargava moved back and forth between the United States and India and worked a variety of middle-class office and construction jobs.
In 1990, he purchased a company that produced parts for outdoor furniture. He later sold Prime Polyvinyl chloride Incorporated. in 2006.
A subsequent company, Chemicalpartners.com specialized in inventions and new ideas for business. Bhargava created Innovations Ventures Limited Liability Company (dba Living Essentials Limited Liability Company), and launched 5-hour Energy in 2003.
By 2012, retail sales had grown to an estimated $1 billion.
Over time, Bhargava created additional entities or funds to support a variety of new ventures. These include the capital venture company MicroDose Life Sciences, a manufacturing venture laboratory called Stage 2 Innovations Limited Liability Company, a private equity fund called ETC Capital Limited Liability Company, Plymouth Real Estate Holdings Limited Liability Company and Oakland Energy and Water Ventures. Bhargava was interviewed on the American Broadcasting Company News show Nightline in September 2012.
That year an article in Forbes magazine said Bhargava and his company, Innovations Ventures, had participated in up to 90 court cases against competitors, suppliers and associates since 2003.
As of 2012, fourteen of those cases had been settle or dismissed. In 2013, Forbes reported Bhargava"s Netto worth to be $1.5 billion, but he was dropped from its list of billionaires in 2014.
Bhargava"s 2015 documentary, Billions in Change, reports he has a Netto worth of over $4 billion, while some news articles report the $4 billion figure to be unverified. In 2015, he pledged to give 99% of his wealth to philanthropic causes.
His foundations include the Hans Foundation and Rural India Supporting Trust.
In 2016, Bhargava told National Geographic that he planned to distribute 10,000 of his stationary, power generating bikes to rural homes and villages in India.
He is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Innovations Ventures Limited Liability Company (dba Living Essentials Limited Liability Company), the company is known for producing the 5-hour Energy drink. Bhargava"s father attended the Wharton School of Business in pursuit of a doctorate degree, while his son won a math scholarship to an "elite private academy" called The Hill School.
Bhargava is a member of the Giving Pledge campaign.
