
New Delhi: Let us introduce you to Nepalese billionaire businessman, politician and philanthropist. He is the chairman and president of the Chaudhary Group (CG) and was recognised as Nepal’s wealthiest person and only billionaire in February 2013 with an estimated net worth of $1 billion. Since 2013, his net worth has risen to $1.8 billion. Besides business, he has done charity work, book writing, and filmmaking.
The name of Nepal’s richest man, only billionaire is Binod Chaudhary who is running several businesses. However, his wealth and fame comes from his instant noodle brand Wai Wai, which has become a household name.
According to Forbes, Chaudhary’s net worth stands at $1.8 billion. In comparison to global billionaires like Elon Musk, with a net worth of $247 billion, or India’s Mukesh Ambani with $107.1 billion, Chaudhary’s wealth is much less but he is still Nepal’s only billionaire.
Binod Chaudhary dreamt of making a career in accounting and planned to study Chartered Accountancy (CA) in India. However, when his father fell ill, the responsibility of managing the family business fell on his shoulders, setting him on the path of entrepreneurship.
Binod Chaudhary, born into a business-oriented family in Kathmandu, showed an early interest in entrepreneurship and took inspiration from legendary figures like JRD Tata. His hard work enabled him to turn even the simplest ideas into big achievements.
One such idea was born during a trip to Thailand where Chaudhary noticed the widespread popularity of instant noodles. This changed his life and he introduced Wai Wai noodles in Nepal, and soon after, the brand made its way to India and other international markets. Despite Maggi’s dominance in India, Wai Wai carved out its own niche, thanks to its unique flavour, variety, and quick-cooking style.
While Wai Wai is Chaudhary’s flagship product, his is running several other businesses. He has partnered with National Panasonic and introduced Suzuki cars to the Nepalese market. He is always searching for new opportunities.
He founded the Cinnovation Group in Singapore in 1990, and by 1995, he gained a controlling stake in Nepal’s Nabil Bank, further strengthening his financial standing.
Chaudhary credits his grandfather and father as inspirations. He is a fan of Bollywood icons Amitabh Bachchan and Ranbir Kapoor. He admires Nelson Mandela, the former president of South Africa, for bringing freedom to that country, and businessman JRD Tata, for building a company of rare distinction.