According to a report released by Bloomberg, Bill Gates, the co founder of Microsoft, was replaced as the world’s second richest person by Bernard Arnault, the Chairman of LVMH. Bill Gates was ranked as the 2nd richest person in Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index for the last 7 years. However, he was replaced by Arnault after the French businessman added $ 39 billion in 2019 to his wealth, pushing his net worth to $ 108 billion.
Arnault, aged 70, joined world’s most exclusive wealth club after Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates, when his fortune surpassed the $ 100 billion mark for the first time in June 2019. As the chairman and CEO of the luxury goods maker LVMH, most of Arnault’s wealth comes from his holdings in Louis Vuitton and Christian Dior. He holds a 97 % stake in Christian Dior. Apart from Louis Vuitton, Bernard also oversees 70 other luxury good companies like Givenchy, Marc Jacobs, Sephora and Fendi, to name a few.
Arnault and his family are among the list of luxury titans who pledged more than $ 650 million for the reconstruction of the Notre Dame Cathedral, which was destroyed by a massive fire in April 2019.
Bill Gates, with a net worth of $ 107 billion, lost the title of being the world’s second richest man because of his philanthropic work. Gates donated over $ 35 billion to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, founded in 2000 by him and his wife Melinda Gates. The primary focus of the Foundation is to enhance healthcare and reduce extreme poverty. Amazon’s Bezos’ net worth was up slightly this year to $ 125 billion, despite his divorce settlement with his former wife MacKenzie Bezos, which saw MacKenzie keep 4% stake in his multinational technology company. This made MacKenzie Bezos the 4th richest woman in the world.
Declared the richest man in Europe, Bernard Arnault has been climbing the ladder to success continuously. His $ 39 billion addition to his wealth in 2019 alone, according to Bloomberg, is the biggest individual gain among the 500 people it ranks.
Cult.fit, the Bengaluru-based fitness and wellness platform backed by Zomato, has finalized five top investment banks—Axis Capital, Jefferies, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and JM Financial—to manage its highly anticipated Initial Public Offering (IPO). The company aims to raise ₹2,500 crore through this offering, which is expected to value Cult.fit at nearly $2 billion.
Company Growth and Business Model
Founded in 2016 by Mukesh Bansal and Ankit Nagori, Cult.fit has grown into a diversified health and wellness ecosystem. The company operates over 500 gyms across India and has expanded into multiple segments:
Cultsport: Direct-to-consumer fitness apparel and equipment (30% revenue contribution).
Eat.fit: Healthy meal delivery service (24.5% of revenue).
Mind.fit: Yoga and mental wellness services.
Care.fit: Healthcare clinics and diagnostics.
In FY24, Cult.fit reported an operating revenue of ₹927 crore, a 33.6% jump from ₹694 crore in FY23. Despite this growth, the company recorded a loss of ₹535 crore.
IPO Details
The IPO marks a significant milestone for Cult.fit, which was last valued at $1.56 billion during Zomato’s $100 million investment in 2021. With strong backing from investors like Accel Partners, Tata Digital, Temasek, Kalaari Capital, and Chiratae Ventures, the upcoming IPO is set to further strengthen its position in the Indian fitness industry.
Strategic Importance
Cult.fit’s move to go public reflects its ambition to scale operations and attract institutional investors globally. Its diversified business model positions the company as a leader in India’s growing fitness market. Analysts are closely watching this IPO as one of the most anticipated offerings of 2025.
Dozee, an Indian healthtech startup focused on remote patient monitoring, has raised $8 million in its latest funding round to boost its global expansion. This significant investment will help the company enhance its presence in both domestic and international markets.
Funding Overview
The funding attracted a mix of existing and new investors, including Prime Venture Partners, 3one4 Capital, and the State Bank of India. The capital will primarily be used to expand Dozee’s reach to hospitals worldwide and strengthen its research and development efforts. CEO Mudit Dandwate highlighted the funding’s role in improving critical care facilities globally while promoting Indian-made products.
Innovative Solutions
Dozee is recognized for its Contactless Vital Signs Measurement System, which allows healthcare providers to monitor patients’ vital signs without direct contact. This technology has been implemented in over 380 hospitals across India, significantly reducing the workload on nursing staff and saving valuable time.
The company’s AI-powered Early Warning System (EWS) can predict patient deterioration up to 16 hours in advance, enabling timely medical interventions that could save lives.
Global Expansion Plans
Dozee aims to tap into over 2,000 hospitals across more than 100 districts in India within the next two years as part of its expansion strategy. The company is also looking to enter new international markets while adapting its technology to meet various regulatory standards.
With this funding, Dozee is set to make substantial progress in the healthtech sector, aligning with global trends towards more efficient healthcare solutions and positioning itself as a leader in remote patient monitoring.
Zepto, the Bengaluru-based quick commerce startup, is preparing for its initial public offering (IPO) by facilitating a secondary share sale worth up to $250 million. This strategic move aims to increase Indian investor ownership from approximately 33% to nearly 50% before the anticipated public listing later this year or early next year.
Funding and Investor Details
The secondary sale will involve private equity firms, including Motilal Oswal Financial Services and Edelweiss Financial Services, allowing existing investors and employees to liquidate their shares. Although Zepto will not raise additional capital through this transaction, it is expected to execute the sale at a valuation of just over $5 billion, consistent with its last funding round in November 2024.
Objectives Behind the Sale
The primary goal of this secondary share sale is to enhance domestic ownership in Zepto, aligning with regulatory preferences and making the IPO more attractive to local institutional investors. Co-founders Aadit Palicha and Kaivalya Vohra currently hold about 20% of the company, and increasing Indian shareholder stakes is seen as a way to strengthen governance and influence over the company’s future direction.
Market Context
Zepto operates in India’s competitive grocery delivery market, facing challenges from established players like Amazon India, Swiggy, Zomato, and BigBasket. Founded in 2021 by Palicha and Vohra after they dropped out of Stanford University, Zepto has quickly gained traction in the quick commerce sector.
Conclusion
As Zepto approaches its IPO, this secondary share sale represents a crucial step in solidifying its position in the Indian market. By boosting domestic investor participation, Zepto aims to enhance its credibility and appeal as it prepares for a public listing amidst a wave of Indian startups entering the stock market.