From hibernating under sacks of rice in a small town in Bihar to securing a seat in an IIT, getting a job and finally settling down to sell ‘chai’ ₹730 in Los Angeles — Prabhakar Prasad’s journey sounds almost unbelievable. The man now known online as the viral “Chaiguy” recently shared his journey of breaking free from “corporate slavery” and finding happiness and fun in what he does.
“I am happy selling tea. I am free from corporate slavery. Money is less but work is more fun,” Prabhakar told Aaaj Tak.
Prabhakar Prasad — popularly known as “Bihari Chaiwala” or “Chaiguy” also spoke to Humans of Bombay about his journey from a small town in Bihar to Los Angeles.
How did ‘Chaiguy’ go viral?
Originally from Barhu, a small town near Patna, Prabhakar’s story gained attention after videos of him selling chai for $8 (~ ₹736) cup in Los Angeles went viral on social media. The venture came after he was hit with tech layoffs in February 2025, prompting him to rethink his career.
Looking back, Prabhakar recounted the hardships he faced growing up.
“I was born in Barh, a small town near the Ganges. We were very poor,” he told Humans of Bombay.
The family’s struggles were so severe that they could not even afford basic winter bedding. During the cold nights, they slept under long sacks to keep warm.
Prabhakar said his father tried to run several businesses over the years, but none worked. Despite the financial strain, his parents remained firm believers in the power of education.
A journey from a small Indian town to LA
As a child, Prabhakar studied at a Hindi-medium school in Bihar. “I studied well. I loved cricket and singing and was even a school ‘Senapati’,” he said.
But life took a dramatic turn after his brother became the target of a kidnapping attempt, forcing the family to leave Bihar overnight and move to Bhopal.
The transition was not easy.
In Bhopal, Prabhakar moved from a Bihar boarding school to a CBSE English school, where he initially struggled to keep up.
“From Bihar boarding school to CBSE English, I couldn’t even understand basic words. Kids laughed at my accent. But I worked hard, caught up and finally cleared the IIT exam,” he said.
He also secured a job in 2008, but the world of corporate technology never really excited him. After modeling for several years in Mumbai, Prabhakar wanted a “bigger change”.
“Bigger Change”
At the time, Prabhakar said his girlfriend was living in the United States and the two had already spent years in a long-distance relationship. Prabhakar decided to try to move to the US, although the process proved difficult. His visa application was rejected twice before he finally succeeded on the third attempt. In 2014, he moved to Texas to pursue his MBA.
A shot to the stars
Life in the US brought many challenges. Prabhakar dealt with loneliness, a painful breakup, health problems and repeated career setbacks. Over the next decade, he moved between different cities and jobs, trying to find stability or fulfillment. Corporate roles came and went, and he was fired more than once. At one point, his health also deteriorated.
During this uncertain phase, he began to think about what remained constant in his life despite many changes – “Chai”.
“There were many days when I had no idea where life was going. One night I asked myself, ‘What is the one thing that has always remained constant?'” That’s when a friend suggested chai,” he said.
No matter where he lived or what he went through, Bihar-bonr always found solace in making tea for himself – something that reminded him of home.
When he lost his job in February 2025 due to widespread technology layoffs, he decided to turn this habit into an opportunity.
With very little money, Prabhakar started selling chai in Los Angeles, California. The Indian-style sweet tea quickly caught the attention of the locals and began to gain popularity.
His big break came months later when he posted a reel selling chai in traditional Bihari style with a gamcha slung over his shoulder. The clip quickly went viral on the internet.
While “Chaiguy’s” persona has resonated strongly on social media, he says the platforms themselves don’t generate direct income and instead function mainly as a marketing tool for his business.
Reflecting on his journey, “Chaiguy” told Aaj Tak that back then he had more money but little freedom. “Today, I have very little money, but my freedom and happiness are at their peak,” Prabhakar told the daily.
