Baba Ramdev decided to spend his life as a sanyasi, or a Hindu ascetic. This meant that he swore off all possessions and “renounced the material world,” according to Bloomberg. But that was 23 years ago, when he was a poor young yoga instructor living at the foot of the Himalayas. Now, he can be found on Indian TV, because he oversees two stations. Or you can find him in commercials that sell shampoo and dish soap. Ramdev now owns a multimillion-dollar corporation, Patanjali Ayurved Ltd. Bloomberg writes that Ramdev has said it is his goal to sell an ayurvedic item, based on India’s ancient medical traditions, for any household need imaginable. He has toothpaste made from cloves, neem and turmeric, and then there is his handsoap made from almonds, saffron and tea tree oil. The company also sells cleaning supplies, like floor cleaner made from “natural disinfectant” cow urine. Business is booming: Since 2012, Patanjali’s revenue has climbed twentyfold, from $69 billion to $1.6 billion. Ramdev predicts that his company, which is the fastest-growing company in Indian consumer goods, will overtake the subsidiaries of multinational giants like Nestlé SA and Unilever NV as soon as next year. But Ramdev does not benefit from this wealth. He is not technically the owner or the chief executive officer. He doesn’t own shares or even take a salary. He claims his net worth is zero. The company calls him its “brand ambassador.”
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