Quick Info
| Profession | Businessman, Chairman, Managing Director |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Indian |
| Date of Birth | 11/05/1941 |
| Age | 85 years |
| Birthplace | Pune, Maharashtra |
| Zodiac Sign | Taurus |
Latest News about Cyrus Poonawalla
Cyrus Poonawalla unveiled the new Indian Red Cross Society's Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla School for Hearing Impaired in Pune. The new facility was opened at Centenary Centre, Lulla Nagar, and is intended to expand educational support for hearing-impaired students.
The University of Oxford announced the start of construction on the Cyrus Poonawalla Vaccines Research Building after a groundbreaking ceremony held on 24 June 2025. The project marks a major research-focused philanthropic contribution associated with his name.
Cyrus Poonawalla received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Economic Times Awards for Corporate Excellence 2025. The recognition highlighted his long-term leadership of the Serum Institute of India and his role in making vaccines affordable and widely accessible.
The Institute of Chemical Technology in Mumbai awarded Cyrus Poonawalla the 2nd Dr K Anji Reddy Memorial Fellowship for Affordable Biopharmaceuticals in recognition of his contributions to biopharmaceutical innovation and global healthcare. The award was presented in Pune at a ceremony attended by Dr R. A. Mashelkar.
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Bio/Wiki
| Full Name | Cyrus Soli Poonawalla |
|---|---|
| Names Earned | The Vaccine King |
Physical Stats & More
| Height | 5' 8" (173 cm) |
|---|---|
| Eye Color | Black |
| Hair Color | Salt & Pepper |
Educational Qualification(s)
| Bachelor's Degree | Bachelor of Arts/Science from Brihan Maharashtra College of Commerce (BMCC), Savitribai Phule Pune University (1966) |
|---|---|
| PhD | Savitribai Phule Pune University (1988) - Thesis: Improved Technology in the Manufacture of Specific Anti-toxins and its Socio-economic Impact on the Society |
Personal Life
| School | The Bishop's School, Pune, Maharashtra |
|---|---|
| Religion | Zoroastrian |
| Ethnicity | Parsi |
| Political Inclination | Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) |
Relationships & More
| Marital Status | Widowed |
|---|---|
| Marriage Date | 1966 |
Family
| Father | Soli Poonawala (horse breeder) |
|---|---|
| Mother | Gool Poonawalla |
| Siblings | Zavareh Soli Poonawalla (businessman) |
| Spouse | Villoo Poonawalla (died in 2010) |
| Children | Adar Poonawalla (businessman, CEO of Serum Institute of India) |
Career
| Awards, Honours, Achievements |
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Style Quotient
| Car Collection |
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| Jet Collection |
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| Money Factor |
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Some Lesser Known Facts
| 1. He established India's horse racing and breeding sector. | |
| 2. In 1966, the Serum Institute of India was founded by him for vaccine production. | |
| 3. He has made substantial impacts in the field of vaccine manufacturing and healthcare. | |
| 4. He has shown commitment to manufacturing COVID-19 vaccines. | |
| 5. Forbes India's 2023 list ranks him as the 6th richest individual in India. | |
| 6. He has a passion for cigars, art, and liquor. | |
| 7. He holds multiple directorships and partnerships in various domains. | |
| 8. Serum Institute of India produces over 1.5 billion vaccine doses annually. | |
| 9. He chairs Poonawalla Fincorp, a leading non-banking financial company in India. |




















