How 12th pass PhysicsWallah founder Alakh Pandey became richer than Shah Rukh Khan

How 12th Pass Alakh Pandey Became Richer than Shah Rukh Khan

You know that feeling. You start something with full passion, but then you get stuck. The fire is still there, but you don't know how to move forward. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. This is the story of Alakh Pandey, a 12th pass who is now richer than Shah Rukh Khan—and it’s a powerful lesson for anyone who has ever felt lost.

His journey wasn't a straight line to success. It began with a simple dream: to earn Rs 15,000 a month to support his family. He got a teaching job, but in a shocking turn, was fired after his very first class. Why? Because he taught too well. His first hope was broken.

But Alakh kept knocking on doors. He found a small coaching institute in Allahabad, teaching for Rs 125 per lecture. It was a start. He then took a leap, starting his own coaching with a simple board that read "Physics Wallah." The magic began. Within three years, his classes were overflowing. He was the viral, energetic, bald teacher with tattoos.

And then, he hit that wall again. The passion faded. He thought, "Is this it? Just repeating the same thing?" He felt stuck and saturated. So, he decided to quit. He enrolled for a degree and planned to prepare for UPSC, with his savings of Rs 12 lakh to support him.

But sometimes, your heart has other plans. There was a whiteboard in his room, and almost instinctively, he started recording lectures. This is how YouTube entered the picture. However, during such confusing phases, you need space to think. Alakh took a break, disconnecting in Uttarakhand for three months to reflect.

This is the crucial lesson. It’s okay to feel stuck. It’s okay to take a break. Because often, that’s when the spark returns. After three months, he felt the urge to create again. He went back and started uploading Physics lectures on YouTube.

The rest, as they say, is history. Today, the edtech unicorn PhysicsWallah has made Alakh Pandey a billionaire. According to the Hurun India Rich List 2025, his wealth saw a remarkable 223% surge to a staggering Rs 14,510 crore. This places him ahead of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, whose net worth is Rs 12,490 crores. The company's revenue climbed to Rs 2,886 crore, highlighting its incredible growth momentum. Now, PhysicsWallah is headed for a massive Rs 3,480 crore IPO.

So, what’s the secret? There is no secret.

Alakh’s life is proof of one simple principle: be consistent and keep knocking on doors. Everyone’s graph goes up and down. From being fired from his first job to feeling lost after his coaching success, he hit pause, reflected, and then started again.

His story answers the question we all face: What do you do when you’re stuck? You take a break. You try something new. You listen to your heart. But you never stop knocking. Success isn’t about never failing; it’s about having the courage to begin again, and again, and again. Just keep knocking.