Manoj Bhargava was a young math whiz who moved to Philadelphia with his family. Showing great potential from a young age, Bhargava was eventually accepted to Princeton University, where he attended for a year prior to dropping out. Following his departure from Princeton, Bhargava returned to India and lived as a monk in the mountains for 12 years. After years of seclusion, he returned to the US. Upon his return, Bhargava forged a highly successful career in plastics. He also discovered the formula for energy shots at a health trade fair — from this he developed his 2-ounce caffeine and vitamin elixir: 5-Hour Energy. This popular energy supplement was developed by Bhargava and promises consumers high levels of alertness. Additionally, this supplement claims a 90%+ market share in the energy shot sector.

Bhargava now owns 35% of 5-Hour’s parent company. He has pledged 45% to charitable initiatives in poverty-stricken areas of rural India. His donations have exceeded tens of millions, and been focused primarily on developmental initiatives in India to fuel sustainable development, affordable healthcare, and stimulate income generation. He has directed his donations through the Billions in Change initiative and the Hans Foundation, and has also been a signatory of the Giving Pledge.