'Darkest day of my life' :Vedanta's Anil Agarwal promises to give back 75% of his wealth after son dies in the US

Vedanta chairman Anil Agarwal on Wednesday announced the death of his son, Agnivesh Agarwal, who passed away in New York days after sustaining injuries in a skiing accident in the United States.

Agnivesh was 49.

In a deeply emotional post on X, Agarwal described the loss as “the darkest day of my life,” recounting how the family believed Agnivesh was recovering well before a sudden cardiac arrest claimed his life.

“Today is the darkest day of my life. My beloved son, Agnivesh, left us far too soon,” Agarwal wrote.

“He was just 49 years old, healthy, full of life, and dreams. Following a skiing accident in the US, he was recovering well in Mount Sinai Hospital, New York. We believed the worst was behind us. But fate had other plans, and a sudden cardiac arrest snatched our son away from us.” Agarwal said the tragedy has left his family shattered.

“No words can describe the pain of a parent who must bid goodbye to his child. A son is not meant to leave before his father. This loss has shattered us in ways we are still trying to comprehend,” he said.

Today is the darkest day of my life.

My beloved son, Agnivesh, left us far too soon. He was just 49 years old, healthy, full of life, and dreams. Following a skiing accident in the US, he was recovering well in Mount Sinai Hospital, New York. We believed the worst was behind us.… pic.twitter.com/hDQEDNI262

— Anil Agarwal (@AnilAgarwal_Ved) January 7, 2026

Reflecting on his son’s life, Agarwal traced Agnivesh’s journey from birth to his professional and personal accomplishments. Agnivesh was born in Patna on June 3, 1976, into what Agarwal described as a middle-class Bihari family.

“From a middle-class Bihari family, he grew into a man of strength, compassion, and purpose,” Agarwal wrote, remembering him as “the light of his mother’s life, a protective brother, a loyal friend, and a gentle soul who touched everyone he met.”

Agnivesh studied at Mayo College in Ajmer before embarking on a professional career that blended entrepreneurship with leadership. He went on to establish one of the first companies under Fujairah Gold and later served as Chairman of Hindustan Zinc, earning the respect of colleagues across industries.

Yet, Agarwal stressed that his son’s true character extended far beyond corporate milestones.

“Beyond all titles and achievements, he remained simple, warm, and deeply human,” he said. “He Was My Friend. My Pride. My World.”

Describing their personal bond, Agarwal wrote that Agnivesh was not just his son, but his closest companion. “To me, he was not just my son. He was my friend. My pride. My world,” he wrote, adding that he and his wife Kiran were struggling to come to terms with the loss.

“Kiran and I are broken. And yet, in our grief, we remind ourselves that the thousands of young people who work across Vedanta are also our children.”

Agarwal also reflected on Agnivesh’s commitment to social causes and nation-building. He said his son believed strongly in building a self-reliant India and shared a vision of addressing hunger, education and employment.

“He would often say, ‘Papa, we lack nothing as a nation. Why should we ever be behind?’”

Agarwal said he had promised his son that more than 75% of the family’s earnings would be given back to society, a pledge he now intends to renew.

“Today, I renew that promise and resolve to live an even simpler life,” he wrote.

Agarwal concluded his tribute by acknowledging the void Agnivesh’s passing has left behind, not only for his family but for friends, colleagues, and the many young people across Vedanta whom he considered his extended family.

“There was so much life ahead of him. So many dreams yet to be lived,” he wrote. “Beta, you live on in our hearts, in our work, and in every life you touched. I do not know how to walk this path without you, but I will try, carrying your light forward,” Agarwal added.