At 86, a Fijian-Indian entrepreneur whose name was undisclosed is still behind the wheel of a ride-share car by choice rather than necessity—or at least not the type you’d expect.
Social-media personality Nav Shah had a one-in-a-thousand chance encounter when he booked a ride in Fiji—only to discover that his Uber driver, an 86-year-old, was a multimillionaire businessman. During their chat, the driver revealed, “I’m a businessman. My company does a $175 million turnover.”
His business empire reportedly includes 13 jewellery shops, six restaurants, a local newspaper, four supermarkets and other ventures. This will have anyone wondering why the head of such a prominent chain drives for Uber. Well, his earnings apparently go into sponsoring the education of 24 girls in India every year.
He explained, “I have three daughters. I gave them a good education; they’ve done well. So I thought, if I can help other girls achieve their dreams, why not?”
His family’s business roots go back to 1929, when his father started with “five pounds he had”, saved from a fifteen-pound yearly salary.
On the ride, Shah captured the conversation on video, posting it with the caption: “A man who’s seen it all – wealth, business, legacy – still grounded in kindness and purpose. He reminded me: true success isn’t about how high you climb; it’s about how many people you lift along the way.”
Online reactions, full of praise and admiration, poured in via the comment section. One user called him “an absolute legend”, while another noted that driving likely helps keep him connected and sharp.
Here’s a man who could spend his days in boardrooms or luxury resorts, yet finds his joy behind the wheel. Driving has become his chosen pastime—a way to stay active, meet new people, and fund a cause close to his heart.
Reminds one of the famous Ajala—if you haven’t heard the story of the African traveller, meet Olabisi Ajala, the Nigeria-born globetrotter who turned wanderlust into a lifetime pursuit. In the 1950s, long before travel blogging or digital passports, Ajala set out on a Vespa scooter to explore the world—crossing over 80 countries, from India and Iran to Australia and the Soviet Union.
What began as a simple ride across America evolved into a journey of discovery that made him one of the earliest Nigerian travel journalists. He wasn’t driven by riches or fame but by a burning curiosity to see the world and meet people. Though not a billionaire, Ajala recognised that mobility, in all its forms, was essential to living fully.
Both stories offer a reminder that financial success and personal humility don’t have to be opposites—and that giving back can come from everyday action as much as from large-scale programmes.
