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{{Short description|Indian billionaire}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2019}}
{{UDP|date=December 2017}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Rajesh Mehta
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1964|06|20|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Bengaluru]], India
| death_date =
| death_place =
| alma_mater = [[National College, Bangalore]]
| occupation = [[Businessman]]
| known for = Founder and chairman, [[Rajesh Exports]]
| spouse = Leena Mehta
| children = 2
| mother = Chandrika Ben Mehta
| relatives =
}}

'''Rajesh Jaswanth Rai Mehta''' (born 20 June 1964) is an Indian [[billionaire]] businessman, based in [[Bangalore]]. He is the owner and executive chairman of the jewellery company [[Rajesh Exports]]. As of April 2017, ''[[Forbes]]'' estimated his net worth at $2.6 billion, making him the 61st richest person in India.<ref name="Forbes">{{cite web|title=Forbes profile: Rajesh Mehta|url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/rajesh-mehta/|website=Forbes|accessdate=6 April 2018}}</ref>

==Early life==
Rajesh Mehta was born on 20 June 1964 in [[Bengaluru]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theindianwire.com/miscellaneous/richest-people-city-bangalore-197/|title=List of 5 Richest People In the city of Bangalore - The Indian Wire|author=|date=25 April 2014|website=theindianwire.com|accessdate=6 March 2018}}</ref> to Jasvantrai Mehta and Chandrika Ben Mehta. He was brought up in Bangalore in a lower-middle-class [[Jainism|Jain]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.forbesindia.com/article/india-rich-list-2016/the-gold-rush-how-rajesh-mehtas-out-of-the-box-ideas-helped-him-build-his-jewellery-empire/45105/1|title=The gold rush: How Rajesh Mehta's out of the box ideas helped him build his jewellery empire|website=Forbes India|language=en|access-date=2019-11-05}}</ref> family, the third of his three brothers– Bipin, Prashant, and Mahesh.<ref>{{Cite web|title = The gold rush: How Rajesh Mehta's out of the box ideas helped him build his jewellery empire |url= http://www.forbesindia.com/article/india-rich-list-2016/the-gold-rush-how-rajesh-mehtas-out-of-the-box-ideas-helped-him-build-his-jewellery-empire/45105/1 |website = Forbes India |access-date = 14 December 2016 }}</ref> His father migrated from [[Morbi]] (Gujarat) to Bangalore in 1946 and worked at a private firm. Later, he quit the job and started a small business of trading semi-precious stones in Gujarat under the name of ‘Rajesh Diamond Company’.

==Career==
He went to St. Joseph’s School and studied at National College for two years. He aspired to be a doctor but chose his father’s jewellery business instead. He and his brother Prashant took over the family business. He approached Bipin, the eldest brother, who worked at a bank, for a loan of Rs 1,200 and started a silver trading business.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Top 6 jewellers who control India's gold |url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/slideshows/investments-markets/top-6-jewellers-who-control-indias-gold/rajesh-exports/slideshow/19827317.cms |website= Economic Times|access-date = 2 May 2013}}</ref> He bought jewellery from [[Chennai]] and sold it back at Rajkot to their relatives at a profit. He gradually started selling jewellery to retailers and wholesalers based in Gujarat.

They later started buying silver jewellery from Gujarat and sold it to retailers and wholesalers at Bangalore, Chennai, and [[Hyderabad]]. Through this way he popularized multiple ethnic Indian jewellery designs and cultures in different states of India. He formed an entity called ‘Rajesh Art Jewellers’ and started [[barter]]ing goods. The company’s capital base increased by 50% with every barter cycle.<ref name="rush">{{Cite web|title = The gold rush: How Rajesh Mehta's out-of-the-box ideas helped him build his jewellery empire|url= http://www.forbesindia.com/printcontent/45105 |website= Forbes India | access-date= 14 December 2016}}</ref>

The silver jewellery business was successful, and Mehta moved into gold jewellery in 1989, setting up a 10-worker manufacturing unit in his garage at Bangalore. This company was named ‘Rajesh Exports’. It exported gold to United Kingdom, Dubai, Oman, Kuwait, the US, and Europe, and made a business of INR 20 million by the year 1992. The export business eventually grew to INR 1.2 billion by 1998.<ref name="rush"/>
Mehta then opened a standalone retail store, which is now called ‘Shubh Jewellers’. There are 81 Shubh stores in [[Karnataka]].<ref>{{Cite web|title = New Jewellery range launched across 81 'Shubh' outlets – Company's retail stores in Karnataka, one of the key gold consumption markets in India |url= http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/announcements/others/new-jewellery-range-launched-across-81-shubh-outlets-companys-retail-stores-in-karnataka-one-of-the-key-gold-consumption-markets-in-india/article9508626.ece |website= The Hindu Business Line| access-date= 30 January 2017}}</ref>

===Rajesh Exports===
Mehta founded [[Rajesh Exports]] in 1989 along with his brother Prashant Mehta.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Rajesh Exports Ltd.|url= http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/my-goal-is-to-make-rajesh-exports-one-of-the-most-respected-companies-in-the-world-rajesh-mehta/article8894120.ece |website = The Hinndu Business Line |date= 24 July 2016 | access-date= 24 July 2016}}</ref> The company quickly rose into prominence with its first organized gold jewellery manufacturing facility in India. In 1991, they also established the country’s first research and development facility in the jewellery sector.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Rajesh Export ramps up design team |url= http://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/rajesh-export-ramps-up-design-team-105022401064_1.html|website = Business Standard| access-date= 24 February 2005}}</ref>
Rajesh Exports processes 35% of the world’s gold. It is also listed in [[National Stock Exchange of India|National Stock Exchange]] (NSE) and [[Bombay Stock Exchange]] (BSE). Rajesh Exports was included in the Fortune 500 list as the 423rd company.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Rajesh Exports Ltd.|url= http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/rajesh-exports-ltd/infocompanyhistory/companyid-6650.cms|website = Economic }}</ref>

===Valcambi Exports===
In 2015 Rajesh Exports acquired [[Valcambi]], the world’s largest gold refining facility, based in [[Switzerland]].<ref>{{Cite web|title = Jeweller Rajesh Exports buys refiner Valcambi for $400 million|url= http://in.reuters.com/article/valcambi-m-a-rajesh-expo-idINKCN0Q109G20150727 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160127050209/http://in.reuters.com/article/valcambi-m-a-rajesh-expo-idINKCN0Q109G20150727 |url-status= dead |archive-date= 27 January 2016 |website = Reuters | access-date=27 July 2015}}</ref> It can produce 400 tons of small sized gold bars and 500 tons of kilo bars every year. The gold bars produced are certified by the [[London Bullion Market Association]] (LBMA).<ref>{{Cite news|title = Rajesh Exports buys Valcambi|url= http://www.thehindu.com/business/Industry/rajesh-exports-buys-valcambi/article7470909.ece |website = The Hindu |date= 27 July 2015 | access-date= 27 July 2015}}</ref>

== Recognition ==
*Udhyog Shree Award{{citation needed|date=February 2018}}
*Jeweller of the Year Award presented by the Karnataka Government <ref>{{Cite web|title = Rajesh Exports receives "Jeweller of the year" award|url= http://www.equitybulls.com/admin/news2006/news_det.asp?id=25552 |website = Equity Bulls | access-date= 15 February 2008}}</ref>
*Jain Bhusan presented by the Jain Social Group{{citation needed|date=February 2018}}
*Outstanding Businessman Award presented by Harun Business Institute of China{{citation needed|date=February 2018}}
*Indian Affairs Transformational Business Leader of the Year 2018 by Satya Brahma founded [[India Leadership Conclave]] 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History – India leadership conclave 2021, Nation's Most Prestigious Leadership Brand |url=https://indialeadershipconclave.org/history/ |access-date=2022-03-02 |language=en-US}}</ref>
*Indian Affairs Transformational Business Reformer of the Year 2021 by Satya Brahma founded [[India Leadership Conclave]] 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dynamic Entrepreneur Rajesh Mehta of Rajesh Exports Limited awarded Indian Affairs Transformational Business Reformer of the Year 2021 at ILC Power Brand Awards 2021 |url=https://breakfastnews.in/dynamic-entrepreneur-rajesh-mehta-of-rajesh-exports-limited-awarded-indian-affairs-transformational-business-reformer-of-the-year-2021-at-ilc-power-brand-awards-2021/ |access-date=2022-03-02 |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Rajesh Mehta is the son of Chandrika Ben Mehta and is married to Leena Mehta.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.forbesindia.com/printcontent/48951|title=A thousand words: Most memorable business moments | date=23 December 2017 | work=Forbes | location=India | accessdate=31 January 2019}}</ref>

His son Siddharth Mehta is the head of information technology team at Rajesh Exports Bangalore, which builds customised software for in-house processes.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/meet-the-owner-of-the-worlds-largest-gold-refinery-worth-400mn-siddharth-mehta/articleshow/48676834.cms|title=Meet the owner of the world's largest gold refinery worth $400mn: Siddharth Mehta|first=Rashmi|last=Menon|date=26 August 2015|publisher=|accessdate=6 April 2018|newspaper=The Economic Times}}</ref>

== References==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mehta, Rajesh}}
[[Category:Businesspeople from Bengaluru]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1964 births]]
[[Category:Indian billionaires]]
[[Category:Indian Jains]]

Rajesh Mehta - Revision history

Hercefrax at 15:06, 19 February 2026