Amitabh Bachchan Net Worth (Money & Salary)

Amitabh Bachchan’s Net Worth and Salary: What Is It?

With a remarkable net worth of $400 million, Amitabh Bachchan is an acclaimed Indian film actor. He rose to fame in the 1970s, earning the moniker of Bollywood’s quintessential “angry young man.” The prominent Hindi poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan was his father. He is also referred to as the “Shah of Bollywood.” Across a career spanning five decades, Amitabh has acted in over 200 films and is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest actors in Indian cinema history.

Apart from India, Bachchan has established a substantial following internationally, particularly in countries such as the United Kingdom, South Africa, Russia, and Australia. His contributions extend beyond acting to encompass voice acting, film production, and television hosting. He has received numerous accolades for his cinematic contributions, including the Padma Shiri from the Indian Government. Additionally, in 2007, he was honored as a Knight of the Legion of Honour by the French Government. Although not prominently featured in Hollywood productions, he did appear in “The Great Gatsby.”

Early Life

Amitabh Bachchan was born as Inquilaab Srivastava on October 11, 1942, in Allahabad, located in the United Provinces of British India (now Uttar Pradesh, India). His original name (Inquilaab) loosely translates to “long live the revolution,” paying homage to the Indian independence movement against British rule.

Later, his father heeded the suggestion of another poet to rename him Amitabh, which means “the light that will never die.” Upon entering the film industry, he chose to adopt the surname “Bachchan,” meaning “child-like” in Hindi, which his father had previously used as a pen name.

Following secondary education, Amitabh attended Sherwood College in Nainital before moving to Kirori Mal College. As a young aspiring actor, he was greatly influenced by the renowned Dilip Kumar. In launching his acting career, Bachchan built upon Kumar’s method acting foundation while infusing his own unique emotional depth, ultimately crafting the iconic “angry young man” persona.

Career

Commencing his acting career in 1969, Amitabh Bachchan began by narrating the film “Bhuvan Shome.” His first leading role was in “Anand,” released in 1971. In the following years, he garnered attention for portraying cynical and antagonistic characters in films like “Parwana,” “Guddi,” and “Bombay to Goa.” Despite this, many of his early films were commercial failures.

As he turned 30, Bachchan had already experienced numerous box office disappointments. However, his breakthrough came with the film “Zanjeer,” which unveiled his famed “angry young man” image. He excelled in the violent crime genre, delivering notable performances in films like “Deewaar” and “Sholay.” Over the years, audiences fell for Bachchan, who became a symbol of the impoverished masses standing against a corrupt establishment.

Towards the late 1970s, Amitabh earned recognition for playing double roles in films, with a notable performance as both a father and son in “Adalat.” This string of prominent roles continued into the early 1980s until a stunt gone wrong led to a ruptured spleen. He was swiftly hospitalized and made a remarkable recovery from the life-threatening injury. Although he resumed filming a year later, health complications prompted him to contemplate a shift into politics.

After three years spent in politics, Amitabh resumed his acting career in the late ’80s. A few successful films followed until a series of box office failures negatively impacted his career in the early ’90s. As a result, Bachchan decided to take a five-year break from acting. During this period, he established his own production company. He made several attempts to reinvent himself, aiming for a return to a successful acting career, but once again faced more box-office disappointments.

In the 2000s, Bachchan managed to return to his previous levels of success, transforming into a stern elder character in the movie “Mohabbatein.” He soon enjoyed a string of hits, including “Shootout at Lokhandwala” in 2007. That same year, he made his debut in an English-language film titled “The Last Year,” which premiered at the Toronto Film Festival and received acclaim. Following that, in 2013, he appeared in the Hollywood hit “The Great Gatsby,” featuring Leonardo DiCaprio. He was also part of the movie “102 Not Out,” released in 2018.

Other Ventures

Amitabh Bachchan has diversified into various business ventures over the years. In 2013, reports surfaced indicating that he acquired a 10% stake in Just Dial, leading to considerable financial gains from that initial investment. Additionally, he holds a 3.4% share in Stampede Capital, a cloud computing company. His family also has approximately $250,000 in shares of Meridian Tech, a consulting firm based in the U.S.

Controversy

The “Panama Papers” leak in 2016 unveiled that Amitabh Bachchan was among several high-profile individuals with offshore business entities. This revelation sparked inquiries into his potential use of shell corporations for tax evasion and possible fraudulent acts. Furthermore, his name was again brought up during the 2017 “Paradise Papers” incident, prompting similar concerns regarding his business dealings.

Real Estate

Amitabh Bachchan is said to possess an extensive real estate portfolio with multiple properties across India. According to reports, he owns five bungalows within Mumbai’s Juhu-Vile Parle Development Scheme, commonly referred to as JVPD. Back in 2004, it was noted that he purchased a property designated as an office that also features a gym. One of these bungalows was reportedly leased to Citibank, generating substantial rental income.

He is believed to reside with his family at Jalsa, a two-story bungalow situated near the J.W. Marriott in Juhu. Another source mentioned that one of the bungalows offers over 8,000 square feet of living space. The family is reportedly still in possession of Amitabh’s ancestral home on Clive Road in Mumbai, where his father, Harivansh Rai, lived. In addition to these properties, Amitabh Bachchan is believed to own several parcels of agricultural land in Bhopal, Barabanki, and Lucknow.