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What Is Bikram Choudhury’s Net Worth?
Bikram Choudhury, an Indian-born American yoga instructor and the founder of Bikram Yoga, a form of hot yoga performed in a series of 26 Hatha yoga postures in a heated environment, boasts a net worth of $75 million. This figure represents the culmination of his earnings from yoga studios using his format and name, book publications, and appearances in documentaries.
Bikram Choudhury’s Earnings and Revenue Streams
At the peak of his career, during the period his copyright claims were active, Bikram Choudhury earned between $7 million and $10 million annually in royalties. These royalties were paid by yoga studios worldwide that adopted his specific format and branding of Bikram Yoga. This substantial income stream reflected the widespread popularity and commercial success of his yoga method before legal challenges and controversies impacted his business. It’s important to note that this income was significantly affected by subsequent lawsuits and copyright disputes.
The Early Life and Career of Bikram Choudhury
Born in Calcutta, British India, in 1944, Bikram Choudhury’s early life is marked by his association with Bishnu Charan Ghosh, an Indian Hathayogi and bodybuilder. While Choudhury has stated that he began studying with Ghosh at the age of 5, some accounts suggest that he didn’t start training with Ghosh until he was 18. Despite Choudhury’s claims of winning the National India Yoga Championship three times as a teenager, records indicate that the first yoga competition in India was held in 1974. He has stated that an accident occurred at age 20, and he was told he wouldn’t walk again, but with Ghosh’s help, he recovered within six months.
In the 1970s, Choudhury developed Bikram Yoga, based on sequences that were created by Ghosh. He emigrated to the U.S. in 1971 and began teaching yoga, with his first yoga studio opening in Los Angeles in 1974. By 2006, Bikram Yoga had expanded to over 1,600 studios across 40 countries. This rapid expansion highlights the peak of his influence and the profitability of the Bikram Yoga method during that time. In the 1990s, Bikram started offering certification courses and training instructors, teaching celebrities such as Madonna, David Beckham, and Lady Gaga.
Legal Issues and Financial Implications
Bikram Choudhury’s career took a turn when he began asserting copyright claims over Bikram Yoga in 2009, leading to lawsuits and disputes. Although the United States Copyright Office stated that yoga postures could not be copyrighted, the legal battles affected the yoga community and raised questions about intellectual property in the fitness industry. These legal challenges marked the beginning of a decline in Choudhury’s business and reputation. Further compounding his financial troubles were the multiple lawsuits alleging sexual harassment, assault, and discrimination. In 2016, a judge ordered Bikram to pay more than $6 million to his former legal advisor, Minakshi Jafa-Bodden, for sexual harassment and wrongful termination. Choudhury’s departure from the United States in 2016 and his subsequent bankruptcy filing in 2017 indicate the significant financial strain resulting from these legal issues. In December 2019, 22 of Choudhury’s luxury cars were seized in order to be auctioned off, including a dozen Rolls-Royces and five Bentleys. The sales value of the seized vehicles was estimated to be between $800,000 and $1.5 million.
Bikram Choudhury’s Assets
During his divorce proceedings in 2016, Bikram Choudhury’s assets were divided. He retained the couple’s apartment in Hawaii, while his former wife, Rajashree Chakrabarti, kept their homes in Los Angeles and some of Choudhury’s cars. The specifics of these properties, such as exact addresses or assessed values, are not detailed in the provided information. However, the mention of multiple homes and luxury vehicles indicates substantial property holdings at the time.
Documentaries and Public Perception
Bikram Choudhury has been the subject of documentaries that have significantly influenced public perception of him and his yoga empire. He appeared in the 2007 documentary “Yoga, Inc.” and is the subject of the 2019 Netflix documentary “Bikram: Yogi, Guru, Predator.” The latter film, in particular, explores the allegations of sexual misconduct against him and has led many yoga studios to distance themselves from the “Bikram Yoga” name, opting instead for the term “Hot Yoga.” The release of this documentary further eroded his brand and income, impacting the value of his name and business.
