PhysicsWallah Founder's Astonishing Journey: Rs 5,000 Salary to Billionaire Status, Rejects Rs 75 Cr Offers!

Tech

|

Updated on 13 Nov 2025, 09:28 am

PhysicsWallah founder Alakh Pandey's remarkable journey began with a monthly salary of Rs 5,000. Today, his net worth, as pegged by the Hurun India Rich List, surpasses that of actor Shah Rukh Khan. In several YouTube interviews, Pandey revealed turning down an offer of Rs 75 crore, stating he would not allow investors into the company if it meant increasing course prices. Despite external investment backing PhysicsWallah now, course prices have remained largely stable, ranging from Rs 2,500 to Rs 32,000 for a mix of online and offline classes. He also previously rejected a Rs 40 crore remuneration package from Unacademy to join as a star educator.

Pandey's core objective is not personal wealth accumulation but ensuring access to high-quality, affordable education for students from all economic backgrounds, including those from low-income families. He encourages students to "keep the cycle going" by giving back to society upon success. He emphasizes that course fees contribute to the organization's growth and ability to provide better facilities. Growing up in Prayagraj with financial constraints, Pandey recalls his father selling part of their house to buy him a bicycle, and he started tutoring in the 8th grade before dropping out of engineering.

The PhysicsWallah YouTube channel launched in 2016, with Pandey recording lessons in a small room. It quickly gained traction among JEE and NEET aspirants, especially in tier 2 cities and government schools, reaching 10,000 subscribers in its first year and becoming a popular physics teaching platform. Monetization began actively in 2019. PhysicsWallah Pvt. Ltd. was incorporated in 2020 by Pandey and co-founder Prateek Maheshwari, leading to the development of the company's app and website.

Their strategy of offering courses starting around Rs 2,000, significantly lower than competitors like Byju's and Unacademy, provided a market edge, driving high enrollments and early profitability. PhysicsWallah reported a profit of nearly Rs 7 crore in its first full financial year, while larger edtech rivals were widening losses due to high marketing and sales expenditures.

Impact 7/10 This news highlights a successful edtech business model focused on affordability and quality, which could inspire similar ventures and attract investor interest in cost-effective education solutions. It reinforces the significant growth potential in the Indian edtech market, particularly for platforms catering to price-sensitive student segments and underscores the value of founder vision in disruptive business strategies.

Difficult Terms Hurun India Rich List: A list published annually by Hurun Report that ranks the wealthiest individuals in India based on their net worth. Edtech: Short for educational technology, referring to the use of technology in education to enhance learning, teaching, and administration. Star educator: A highly popular and influential teacher on an online learning platform, often associated with attracting a large student following and high engagement. Remuneration package: The total compensation offered to an employee, including salary, bonuses, stock options, and other benefits. Monetise: The process of converting an asset, activity, or product into revenue or financial gain. Tier 2 cities: Mid-sized cities in a country, typically falling between metropolitan areas (Tier 1) and smaller towns or villages (Tier 3), often having developing infrastructure and economic opportunities. JEE (Joint Entrance Examination): An all-India standardized examination conducted for admission to undergraduate engineering programs in Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and National Institutes of Technology (NITs). NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test): An all-India standardized examination conducted for admission to undergraduate medical courses (MBBS, BDS) in India. Incorporated: The legal process of forming a corporation or company, establishing it as a separate legal entity. Profitability: The ability of a business or activity to generate profit, usually expressed as a percentage of revenue or return on investment.