Manoj Bhargava

Manoj Bhargava is an entrepreneur, humanitarian, and philanthropist best known as the founder of 5-hour ENERGY. A self-made billionaire, Bhargava has also launched and oversees a diverse portfolio of companies including Cerezen (Alzheimer’s treatment) and Hans Scientific (pharmaceutical contract manufacturing). His company is the largest investor in The Arena Group, a media company that operates well-known brands such as TheStreet, Parade, Men’s Journal, and Athlon Sports.

His business philosophy is rooted in practicality and purpose. Bhargava believes business should be simple, useful and focused on solving real problems. He is known for challenging conventional business wisdom and resisting trendy notions of innovation. His approach has resulted in the successful creation of not just one, but three billion-dollar companies.

Guided by the belief that wealth comes with responsibility, Bhargava has committed 99 percent of his fortune to helping others. His zero-profit business model aims to serve as many people as possible, focusing not on charity, but on empowerment through sustainable solutions. In 2009, he founded The Hans Foundation, one of India’s largest charitable endowments serving some of the world’s poorest communities.

Bhargava also started Billions in Change, a movement dedicated to developing scalable inventions that address fundamental human needs like clean water, reliable electricity and basic healthcare. His humanitarian work emphasizes enabling people to lift themselves out of poverty through access to life-changing tools and systems.

Whether in business or philanthropy, Bhargava’s north star remains the same: be useful, act with purpose, and help improve life for those who need it most.