Dr Zakir Naik is an Indian Islamic scholar and a public orator on Islam and comparative religion. He is one of the well-known figures for compelling interest in steering people toward Islamic teachings.
Dr Zakir Naik was born on October 18, 1965, in Mumbai, India. He founded and became the president of the Islamic Research Foundation-IRF and Peace TV. While these have made him popular, earning him a huge following, they have also caused him controversies which have affected his career and finances.
As of 2023, the estimated net worth of Dr. Zakir Naik is believed to be around $5 million.
Early Life and Career
Zakir Naik began his career as a medical doctor; he completed his degree in medicine and surgery at Topiwala National Medical College and BYL Nair Charitable Hospital, Mumbai. However, he discontinued his medical career to focus on Islamic da’wah. He established the Islamic Research Foundation in 1991 and founded Peace TV, which would reach millions of viewers worldwide. Generally, the lectures are on Islamic teachings, interfaith dialogue, and debates on religious issues.
Legal Troubles and Exile
In 2016, Dr. Zakir Naik ran into serious legal trouble when Indian authorities, while he was abroad, accused him of money laundering. Charges against him had been filed in the backdrop of allegations that his speeches inspired terrorist activities-a charge that was never proven. Granted citizenship in Malaysia, he never returned to India and could not be reached as the National Investigation Agency’s attempt to issue an Interpol Red Notice against him failed on account of insufficient evidence.
Consequences of this nature have seen Peace TV banned in several countries like India, Bangladesh, Canada, Sri Lanka, and the United Kingdom since then, further affecting his reach and financial status. All these odds notwithstanding, Dr. Naik still lives in Malaysia and remains an influential figure in Islamic circles.
Net Worth of Dr. Zakir Naik
As of 2023, Dr. Zakir Naik is estimated to be worth $5 million. A far-from-modest amount by any means, it speaks highly of his extensive career as a speaker and the controversies that have always surrounded him. His wealth is primarily attributed to his work with the IRF, public speaking engagements, book sales, and the now-banned Peace TV network.
While the network was up and running, it reportedly raked in quite a sum of money in the form of donations and advertisements, along with sponsorships.
This too is besides the fact that Naik is said to live a modest life considering his financial background. Quoted always to speak about living simple and according to the tenets of Islam, as would be expected by his public image of a religious leader.
Family and Personal Life
Dr. Zakir Naik is married to Farhat Naik, who was also an Islamic education propagator and the president of the IRF Women’s Wing. They are blessed with a son, Fariq Zakir Naik, born on 10 July 1994, who since his childhood had been engaged in giving speeches on Islam. This is the reason he has not only been an internationally recognized speaker, but also well-read across the current cosmopolitan Indian social framework.
Dr. Zakir Naik is worth about $5 million because he has been a public speaker and Islamic preacher for the majority of his life. But his financial journey, marked by influence in the Islamic world, has also been shaped by legal controversies that have forced him into exile. Dr. Naik remains an enigma in Malaysia, where he has been accorded asylum. His erudite Islamic discourses attract scores to his services, while many despise him for the accusations he faces. Like his career, his finances too have been a mixed bag of growth and controversy: the ability to bounce back after each such case became evident.
