S unny Varkey is an Indian-born, Dubai-based education entrepreneur who is the founder and chairman of GEMS Education, the largest operator of private K-12 schools in the world. He inherited a single school from his parents, who were teachers who had moved from Kerala, India, to Dubai in the 1950s. From this single school, Varkey built a massive global education empire.

He expanded his network of schools across the United Arab Emirates and then internationally, building and acquiring schools in numerous countries. GEMS Education operates schools that cater to a wide range of curricula and price points, from affordable schools to premium international institutions. He also established the Varkey Foundation, a philanthropic organization dedicated to improving education standards for underprivileged children. The foundation is known for awarding the annual $1 million Global Teacher Prize. His fortune is derived from his ownership of the world's largest private school network.