Manoj Bhargava

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Manoj Bhargava
Born1953 (age 70–71)[1]
Lucknow, India
CitizenshipUnited States
EducationPrinceton University (dropped out)
Occupation(s)Entrepreneur, philanthropist
Known for5-hour Energy brand
SpouseSadhna Bhargav
Children1

Manoj Bhargava (born 1953) is an

dba Living Essentials LLC), the company known for producing the 5-hour Energy drink.[2][3] By 2012, the brand had grown to do an estimated $1 billion in sales.[4] In 2015, Bhargava pledged 99% of his net worth to improve the well-being of the world's less fortunate.[5] In 2023, Bhargava was named interim chief executive of Sports Illustrated magazine after the removal of Ross Levinsohn.[6]

Early life and education

Bhargava was born in

Wharton School of Business in pursuit of a doctorate.[1][7] Bhargava won a math scholarship to an "elite private academy" called The Hill School, and after high school graduation attended Princeton University for one year in 1972.[7][8][10]

Career

After college, Bhargava returned to India and spent the next 12 years traveling to and from monasteries owned by the Hanslok Ashram.[8][9] During this period, Bhargava moved back and forth between the US and India and worked a variety of middle-class office and construction jobs.[11]

Bhargava returned to the US and joined his parents' plastic injection manufacturing company, Bhar Incorporated, located in New Haven, Indiana. In 1990 he purchased a company that produced parts for outdoor furniture.[10] He sold Prime PVC Inc. in 2006.[10][12] A subsequent company, Chemicalpartners.com, specialized in inventions and new ideas for business.[10]

Bhargava created Innovations Ventures LLC (dba Living Essentials LLC),[10] and launched 5-hour Energy in 2003.[1] By 2012, retail sales had grown to an estimated $1 billion.[1] Over time, Bhargava created additional entities or funds to support a variety of new ventures.[10] These included the capital venture company MicroDose Life Sciences,[13] a manufacturing venture laboratory called Stage 2 Innovations LLC,[14] a private equity fund called ETC Capital LLC, Plymouth Real Estate Holdings LLC[10][11] and Oakland Energy and Water Ventures.[15] In 2014, he financed a New York City-based film distribution company, Bleecker Street.[16]

Bhargava was interviewed on the ABC News show Nightline in September 2012.[17] That year, an article in Forbes magazine said Bhargava and his company, Innovations Ventures, had participated in up to 90 court cases[18] against competitors, suppliers[7] and associates[10] since 2003.[19] As of 2012, fourteen of those cases had been settled or dismissed.[19]

In 2013, Forbes reported Bhargava's net worth to be $1.5 billion, but he was dropped from its list of billionaires in 2014.[8] Bhargava's 2015 documentary, Billions in Change, reports he has a net worth of over $4 billion,[20] while some news articles report the $4 billion figure to be unverified.[14][21]

Bhargava is a member of the

National Geographic that he planned to distribute 10,000 of his stationary, power-generating bikes to rural homes and villages in India.[14]

In January 2022, Bhargava purchased 90% of Freelancer Television Broadcasting, including television network NewsNet and television stations WMNN-LD and WXII-LD through his company MBX Wyoming Inc.[25][26]

In 2023, Bhargava launched several hydration drink brands – True Hydration, Cellular Hydration, and Natural Glow Hydration. The intracellular hydration drinks boast a sugar- and sodium-free formula, and are made using the reverse-osmosis technology Bhargava developed for HANS Premium Water.[27][28][29]

In August 2023, Bhargava acquired a majority stake in Ross Levinsohn's The Arena Group, owner of several magazine brands.[30]

Personal life

Bhargava is married, with one child, and lives in Farmington Hills, Michigan, US.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Manoj Bhargava, richest Indian in US commits 90% earnings to charity". The Economic Times. 10 April 2012.
  2. ^ "Manoj Bhargava, Founder and CEO, Innovation Ventures LLC and Living Essentials LLC". Smart Business. 1 July 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  3. ^ Duggan, Daniel; Walsh, Dustin (29 May 2011). "Energy Drink King Behind $100m Fund: Bhargava Sets Up Tech Park For New Firms". Crain's Detroit Business. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  4. ^ O'Connor, Clare (8 February 2012). "The Mystery Monk Making Billions With 5-Hour Energy". Forbes.
  5. ^ Ilan Mochari (15 October 2015). "Inside the Mind of the Billionaire Who Built the 5-Hour Energy Empire". Inc. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  6. ^ Josh, Taylor (12 December 2023). "Arena Group fires CEO in wake of Sports Illustrated AI articles scandal". The Guardian.
  7. ^ a b c d Murphy, Eamon (9 February 2012). "5-Hour Energy: A Success Equal Parts Caffeine, Chemistry and Meditation". DailyFinance.
  8. ^ a b c d e "Profile". Forbes.
  9. ^ a b Staff writer (11 October 2015). "Dropout, Monk and billionaire". Sunday Times of India.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h Duggan, Daniel (19 February 2012). "Wizard of odds". Crains Detroit.
  11. ^ a b "Newsmakers of the Year 2011". Crains Detroit Business. 1 January 2012.
  12. ^ Frank Esposito (4 June 2007). "Spell purchases Prime PVC". Plastics News.
  13. ^ Gormley, Brian (19 May 2010). "With Tempting Idea For Start-Ups, MicroDose Makes First Two Deals". Wall Street Journal.
  14. ^ a b c Koch, Wendy. "Creator of 5-hour Energy Wants to Power the World's Homes—With Bikes". No. Oct 6, 2015. National Geographic. Archived from the original on 7 October 2015. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  15. ^ Tom Henderson (4 March 2014). "Bhargava Funds Company to Invest in Water, Energy Deals". Crain's Detroit Business. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  16. ^ Cheney, Alexandra (13 August 2014). "Ex-Focus Features Chief Launches Distribution Company". Variety. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  17. ^ Johnson, Eric. "5-Hour Energy Inventor Likes 'Toiling in Obscurity'". ABC. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
  18. ^ O'Connor, Clare (8 February 2012). "The Mystery Monk Making Billions With 5-Hour Energy". Forbes.
  19. ^ a b Ben Wieder (26 March 2015). "The political kingmaker nobody knows". Center for Public Integrity.
  20. ^ a b Ilan, Mochari (15 October 2015). "Inside the Mind of the Billionaire Who Built the 5-Hour Energy Empire". Inc Magazine. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  21. ^ Kumar, Bhaswar (22 October 2015). "Manoj Bhargava's crusade: From energy drinks to limitless energy". Business Standard. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  22. ^ "Current Pledgers". The Giving Pledge. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
  23. ^ Saumya Bhattacharya (11 November 2014). "Philanthropists in the world not thinking through what people need: Manoj Bhargava". The Economic Times.
  24. ^ "Manoj Bhargava". Glasspockets. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  25. ^ "Assignee Parties Addendum". WXII-LD FCC Filing. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
  26. ^ "MI News 26 Founder Starting National News Network". TVNewsTalk.net. 23 January 2022. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
  27. ^ Buss, Dale (1 July 2023). "A Category Pioneer Stays Energized". Institute of Food Technologists. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  28. ^ "Natural Glow Hydration". Natural Glow Hydration. August 2023. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  29. ^ King, R.J. (7 December 2020). "Novi Inventor Manoj Bhargava Plans $1B Gift of Clean Water Devices". DBusiness. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  30. ^ Venta, Lance (14 August 2023). "5-Hour Energy Founder Expands Media Holdings Including Audacy & Cumulus Stakes - RadioInsight". Retrieved 15 August 2023.

External links

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