From 10th grade to millionaire: Inspiring journey of a Gujarati restaurateur in the US

American billionaire and PayPal founder Peter Thiel once remarked that investing in restaurants is one of the worst business decisions. According to Thiel, the fierce competition, slow growth and low wages make the restaurant industry an unattractive investment. However, the story of a Gujarati man who immigrated to the US and established a successful restaurant offers a compelling counterpoint to Thiel’s view.

The world recently learned about this self-made millionaire through a post by X user Sunil, who shared the inspiring journey of his Gujarati friend. The man, known as Patel, moved to the United States and opened a Gujarati restaurant, eventually achieving financial success and living the American dream. Sunil humorously contrasts Patel’s entrepreneurial achievements with his own academic qualifications.

"Patel, who is now 43 years old, runs a thriving restaurant in New Jersey," Sunil wrote. "What might surprise you is his educational background—he only studied up to the 10th grade. Meanwhile, I’ve completed post-graduation, but here I am telling him about Peter Thiel’s opinion that the restaurant business is the worst. Patel just frowned at me. The truth is, Patel doesn’t even know who Thiel is."

Sunil further elaborates on Patel's rapid rise in the restaurant industry. Initially, Patel’s customer base consisted of around fifty regular families. "He once explained to me that predicting customer behavior is nearly impossible," Sunil shared. "For instance, one day a customer complained that the food was low in salt. They simply added more salt and continued eating. They didn’t stop coming to the restaurant because of it."

Another key to Patel’s success was choosing the perfect location. Patel strategically opened his restaurant near the Swaminarayan Temple in Robbinsville Township, New Jersey—a site frequented by large groups of Gujaratis from New York and Pennsylvania. These visitors, often traveling by tourist buses, would stop at Patel’s restaurant to enjoy authentic Gujarati cuisine. On some days, the restaurant would serve 50 to 75 people from a single bus.

Patel’s daily routine is simple yet effective. "He wakes up every morning to cook dal, chawal, roti, sabji and dhokla," Sunil noted. "In just 10 years, he became a millionaire, all without an MBA or even finishing high school. He simply had the guts to take a risk and that’s why he’s a millionaire today."

Sunil’s post has resonated widely on social media, with nearly 3 lakh views, showcasing the power of resilience, determination and smart business choices, regardless of educational background.