Inspiring story of Prem Watsa as an immigrant will motivate future entrepreneurs worldwide.

Born in Hyderabad, India, V. Prem Watsa arrived in Canada with just Rs 64 in his pocket. He moved to join his brother and pursued an MBA at the University of Western Ontario. To fund his education, he took up a modest job selling appliances door-to-door.

V. Prem Watsa Career

Watsa started his career as an investment analyst, but his turning point came in 1985 when he founded Fairfax Financial Holdings, a Toronto-based financial services company. Inspired by the investment philosophy of Warren Buffett, Watsa focused on acquiring underperforming insurance companies, revitalizing them, and building a diversified global portfolio.

Today, Fairfax Financial Holdings operates property and casualty insurance and reinsurance businesses in multiple countries. The firm also has significant investments in major companies such as BlackBerry and General Electric (GE).

V. Prem Watsa Influence and Canada

Watsa’s influence extends beyond the corporate world. He is a co-founder and director of The BlackNorth Initiative, a movement dedicated to fight racism within Canadian businesses and creating equal opportunities for underrepresented communities.

V. Prem Watsa Net Worth

Ranked 1851 on Forbes’ real-time billionaire list as of 2024, Prem Watsa has a net worth of $2.2 billion according to Forbes. From arriving in Canada with little more than determination to becoming a billionaire, Watsa’s journey is a story of an extraordinary success.