From selling fruits to building a billion-dollar education empire, his journey is a testament to perseverance and vision
Born on April 9, 1957, in Kerala, India, Sunny Varkey is the founder and executive chairman of GEMS Education, the world’s largest private K-12 school network. His rise from selling fruits on the streets to creating a global educational empire showcases the power of hard work and determination, reported india.com.
Sunny Varkey’s Early Life
Sunny Varkey was born into a family of teachers. In 1959, his family relocated to Dubai, where his father worked at the British Bank of the Middle East (now HSBC Middle East). His parents also taught English to local Arab families, including members of the royal family.
At just 11 years old, Varkey showcased his entrepreneurial spirit by selling fruits on the streets to earn extra income. These modest beginnings shaped his strong business acumen and perseverance.
Education in Dubai and the UK
Varkey’s educational journey began at Infant Jesus Anglo-Indian Boys School in Dubai, followed by St. Mary’s Catholic High School, where he completed his O-levels. Later, he pursued A-levels at Bembridge School in the UK. This diverse educational background played a crucial role in shaping his vision for a global education network.
Early Career: Multiple Ventures Before Education
In 1968, Varkey’s parents established Our Own English High School in Dubai to cater to expatriate children. However, Varkey initially explored other career paths.
-
He started his career at Standard Chartered Bank before trying multiple businesses, including running a small trading company, co-owning Dubai Plaza Hotel, and entering the healthcare sector
-
Despite his initial success, he eventually shut down these ventures to focus entirely on the education industry, following his parents’ legacy
Founding GEMS Education
In 2000, Sunny Varkey founded Global Education Management Systems (GEMS) to expand his family’s educational initiatives. His goal was to offer high-quality education through multiple curricula, including Indian (CBSE and ICSE), American, British, and International Baccalaureate (IB) programs.
By 2003, he launched his first school in England, followed by expansion into India in 2004. Today, GEMS operates more than 80 schools across the globe, including in Libya, Jordan, the USA, Switzerland, Kenya, Uganda, Egypt, and Singapore.
Sunny Varkey: A Billionaire Visionary
Beyond leading GEMS Education, Varkey is also the chairman of the Varkey Group, a business conglomerate with diverse interests. Under his leadership, GEMS pioneered holistic education with cutting-edge facilities and innovative teaching methods.
Now one of the wealthiest Indians in Dubai, Sunny Varkey boasts a net worth of $4 billion (Rs 35,115 crore) as of February 9, 2025, according to Forbes’ Real-Time Billionaire Index.
Varkey’s incredible journey serves as an inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs and dreamers worldwide. His story proves that with determination and perseverance, no goal is out of reach.
***********************************************************
Readers
These are extraordinary times. All of us have to rely on high-impact, trustworthy journalism. And this is especially true of the Indian Diaspora. Members of the Indian community overseas cannot be fed with inaccurate news.
Pravasi Samwad is a venture that has no shareholders. It is the result of an impassioned initiative of a handful of Indian journalists spread around the world. We have taken a small step forward with the pledge to provide news with accuracy, free from political and commercial influence. Our aim is to keep you, our readers, informed about developments at ‘home’ and across the world that affect you.
Please help us to keep our journalism independent and free.
In these difficult times, running a news website requires finances. While every contribution, big or small, will make a difference, we request our readers to put us in touch with advertisers worldwide. It will be a great help.
For more information: pravasisamwad00@gmail.com