This man earns much more than the average salary required to live comfortably in his home country - all through begging on the streets of the financial capital.
18:47, Sun, Dec 22, 2024 | UPDATED: 18:51, Sun, Dec 22, 2024
Bharat Jain has made thousands through begging (Image: Getty/Joe.co.uk)
A 54-year-old man in India has managed to purchase a flat and two shops with earnings he made through begging.
He's been labelled as the "world's richest beggar" and is claimed to have a net worth of around $1 million, which is equal to nearly £800,000.
The India Times reported that in a day Bharat Jain can make around 2500 rupees, which is equivalent to around £23 - and within a month, he can make as much as 75,000 rupees (£695).
He does this all by begging at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus railway station and Azad Maidan sports ground in the busy streets of Mumbai.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus station in Mumbai is where he begs (Image: Getty)
If you were to compare that to the UK, you might think that's not a lot.
However, the average monthly salary required to live comfortably in Mumbai is around 50,000 rupees (£468), which is 25,000 rupees (£234) less than what Bharat Jain makes.
Not only that, but the country's cost of living and low property prices mean that the money he has gained has allowed him to set up quite a comfortable life for himself.
According to The India Times, he has been able to purchase a two-bedroom flat in Mumbai worth 12 million rupees (£111,300) as well as make income from renting out two shops for 30,000 rupees (£278) per month.
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They also reported that he was unable to pursue formal education when he was young. The financial struggles that his family faced are what kickstarted his 40-year begging journey.
However, with his earnings, he was able to send his two sons to a prestigious school, and today they both contribute to the family's business.
Within 10 to 12 hours, he is able to earn significantly more than those who work long hours and end those shifts with a few hundred rupees, all because of the generosity of others.
Despite his riches, Bharat Jain remains begging on the streets of India's financial capital, even though his family, which includes his wife, two sons, brother and father, have advised him to but he said: "I enjoy begging and I don't want to give it up."
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