Sunny Varkey

Sunny Varkey
Varkey in 2015
Born (1957-04-09) 9 April 1957 (age 67)[1]
Ranni, Kerala, India
Occupations
  • Entrepreneur
  • Educationist
  • Philanthropist
Known forGEMS Education
Varkey Foundation
Children2

Sunny Varkey (born 9 April 1957)[1][2] is an Indian education entrepreneur and philanthropist based in Dubai. He is the founder and executive chairman of the global advisory and educational management firm GEMS Education, which is the largest operator of private kindergarten-to-grade-12 schools in the world, with a network of over 80 schools in over a dozen countries.[3][4]

He is also the chairman of the umbrella business organisation the Varkey Group, and the founder and trustee of the philanthropic Varkey Foundation. As of 2012, Varkey is also a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador.[5] And in June 2015, Varkey committed to The Giving Pledge, vowing to donate at least half of his money to philanthropic causes over his lifetime. He is the first education entrepreneur to join the pledge.[6]

According to Forbes, Varkey is one of India's richest billionaires with a net worth of $3.5 billion.[7]

  1. ^ a b McNicholas, Mona Parikh; Raj, Frank. "Sunny Varkey: Profit & Excellence In Education Go Hand In Hand". The International Indian. 2008: Issue 5, Volume 15.5. pp. 56–60.
  2. ^ "The Varkey Foundation". OpenGovUK.com. Companies House. Retrieved 16 August 2019
  3. ^ Sunny Varkey – Profile at Forbes.
  4. ^ List of Our Schools. GEMSeducation.com.
  5. ^ Goodwill Ambassadors – Sunny Varkey. UNESCO.org. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
  6. ^ Coughlan, Sean (2 June 2015). "Education entrepreneur joins Gates giving pledge". BBC News. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
  7. ^ "India's 100 Richest". Forbes. 9 October 2024. Retrieved 7 November 2024.