Millionaire Sunny Varkey is the epitome of a self-made man. His education group, GEMS, has morphed from a single Indian primary school to the biggest provider of K12 education in the world. Under Varkey's steer, Global Education Management Systems (GEMS) teaches 100,000 students in 100 schools across eleven countries, and it has no plans to stop there. The group plans to triple its schools in the next five years, adding 100 in the MENA region and a further 100 in India. Bringing up the rear is a plan for 20 schools in the US.

Varkey's interests don't end with education. The Dubai-based entrepreneur has fingers in a number of pies, including construction and healthcare. Emirates Healthcare Limited is a joint venture between Varkey Group, South Africa's Medi-Clinic, which operates more than 60 hospitals worldwide, and General Electric. The group runs two hospitals and five clinics across Dubai.

Varkey has received numerous accolades for his efforts in the fields of education and healthcare and has also been recognised for his humanitarian pursuits.