What is Nav Bhatia's Net Worth?
Nav Bhatia is an Indian-born Canadian businessman with a net worth of $100 million. Known as the "Toronto Raptors Super Fan," his unwavering support for the team has earned him widespread recognition.
Early Life
Nav Bhatia and his family moved from India to Canada in 1984 to escape brutal anti-Sikh riots. Despite holding an advanced degree in mechanical engineering, Nav struggled to find employment due to racism and a hesitancy to hire individuals with thick Indian accents. Arriving with barely a dollar in his pocket, he faced significant challenges in his new homeland.
Automotive Career
After more than 300 interviews, Nav finally secured a job as a car salesman at a Hyundai dealership in a rough neighborhood. Despite being overqualified and having no previous sales experience, Nav sold 127 cars in his first three months, setting a Hyundai record that still stands.
Nav quickly rose through the ranks at Hyundai, demonstrating great skill in turning around struggling dealerships. He was eventually recruited to be the sales manager at a rival dealership on the verge of bankruptcy. Despite skepticism from the existing team, Nav hired a new sales team and turned the dealership into one of the most successful in Canada. He later bought this dealership as well as the original one that first employed him.
Today, Nav Bhatia is one of the most successful automobile dealership owners in North America. His dealerships have been leading Canada in overall sales volume every year since 2013.
(Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)
Toronto Raptors Super Fan
Nav Bhatia has earned fame as the Toronto Raptors Super Fan. A season ticket holder since 1995, he became a courtside fixture on TV. Nav did not miss a single home game between 1995 and 2021, except for a few games in 2020 when the NBA moved to Orlando, Florida due to COVID-19.
Nav missed his first game on December 10, 2021, due to COVID-19 isolation. Kal Penn, the actor portraying Nav in an autobiographical movie, took his seat at the game.
Nav spends $300,000 annually on tickets and millions more gifting underprivileged children tickets to Raptors games, especially Sikh children. If you tune into a Toronto basketball game, look for a man in a turban courtside – that's Nav Bhatia.
When the Raptors won the NBA Championship in 2018, Nav received a team ring, becoming the only fan to receive an official championship ring. He also served as the grand marshal for the victory parade.
NBA Hall of Fame
In 2021, Nav was inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame. During the induction, Nav stated:
"I made a promise as a kid to my mom I would never remove my turban. Today it is in the Hall of Fame. Embrace what makes you different. It is your superpower. This is the crown I wear each day. Thank you, mom."
