College Dropout Becomes New Billionaire in 2026
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- Alakh Pandey, head of the edtech platform Physicswala, has been listed on Forbes’ 2026 World’s Billionaires list.
- Pandey dropped out of college midway and began teaching physics via a YouTube channel in 2014.
- Following Physicswala’s IPO, Pandey’s net worth surpassed $1 billion, ranking him as the 3,332nd richest person globally.
March 20, Kathmandu – Alakh Pandey, the founder and head of the popular edtech platform ‘Physicswala,’ has secured a position on Forbes’ 2026 list of the world’s billionaires. His inspiring journey is now widely discussed worldwide.
According to Forbes, Pandey, who dropped out of college midway, experienced a rapid increase in his wealth after Physicswala’s IPO in November, which enabled him to enter the list of the world’s wealthiest individuals. Starting from a modest background, building an empire worth billions of dollars has made Pandey’s rise particularly notable.
Born in 1991 in Uttar Pradesh, Alakh Pandey is the founder and leader of the popular Indian edtech platform ‘Physicswala.’ He faced significant financial hardships during his childhood.
Despite these challenges, he never gave up and successfully built his future through his exceptional academic abilities. In 2014, he began teaching physics via a small YouTube channel, which has since grown into one of India’s largest and most affordable educational institutions. Though he dropped out of college, Pandey now features on the 2026 Forbes billionaire list, marking an incredible success story.
Pandey’s journey started with a YouTube channel where he taught physics to school and higher education students. Driven by a strong desire for success, he developed the ‘Physicswala’ app and a comprehensive learning ecosystem suitable for students of all ages.
With millions of subscribers joining, the Physicswala YouTube channel has made significant progress. It currently has over 14 million subscribers, making it one of the largest educational platforms in India.
At 34 years old, Alakh Pandey has entered Forbes’ billionaire list for the first time, ranking 3,332nd globally. As a co-founder of Physicswala, he is among the five limited young entrepreneurs in their thirties to achieve billionaire status.
November 25 proved to be a pivotal moment in Pandey’s journey when Physicswala went public in the stock market, marking a new and significant chapter for the edtech company.
Pandey’s total net worth is estimated at over $1 billion (approximately 145.1 billion Indian rupees), placing him among India’s wealthiest young entrepreneurs.
Following Physicswala’s successful IPO listing at the end of 2025, his wealth reportedly increased further to around 160.44 billion Indian rupees, reflecting continued growth.