Sonam Wangchuk Net Worth & Role in 2025 Ladakh Protests: All You Need to Know

Sonam Wangchuk has become a major figure in the 2025 Ladakh protests, advocating for the region's autonomy and protection of its cultural identity. The 59-year-old engineer and environmentalist is known globally for his innovations like the Ice Stupa and his foundations SECMOL and HIAL.

Sonam Wangchuk Net Worth and Sources of Income

According to a report, Sonam Wangchuk's net worth is estimated to be between Rs. 75 lakh and Rs. 2 crore. Wangchuk maintains a modest lifestyle, without luxury cars or real estate, reinvesting most of his income into educational and environmental projects in Ladakh.

His primary sources of income include:

• Earnings from his popular YouTube channel "Wangchuk's World", generating around Rs. 3-5 lakh per month
• He also earns fees from global speeches, lectures, and conferences, along with payments from solar energy and environmental projects in collaboration with organisations like the Indian
• A major portion of his income is also invested into research, innovation, and his social organisations.

Background of the Ladakh Protests 2025

The ongoing Ladakh protests of 2025 are the result of long-pending demands by the people of Ladakh who want more control over their own land, jobs, and identity. Locals have been asking for greater autonomy, constitutional safeguards, and recognition of their unique culture and traditions.

The protests are being led by Sonam Wangchuk, along with two major local groups, the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA). Together, they have put forward four main demands:

• Full statehood for Ladakh with its own legislature so that local people can make decisions for the region.
• Inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, which would give Ladakh special powers to protect its land, natural resources, and tribal way of life.
• Separate Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil, ensuring equal political representation for both districts.
• Employment and reservation benefits for locals so that government jobs and development projects primarily benefit the people of Ladakh.

The movement began peacefully in September 2025, with hunger strikes and silent marches led by Sonam Wangchuk and local groups. However, tensions rose on September 24, when protests in Leh turned violent. Police action led to four deaths, several injuries, and the arrest of Sonam Wangchuk under the National Security Act (NSA). Following the violence, authorities imposed curfews and internet shutdowns across parts of Ladakh.

Reasons Behind the Agitation In Ladakh

Back to 2019, when Jammu and Kashmir was reorganised and Ladakh became a separate Union Territory. This gave Ladakh direct governance from the Centre, but it also took away its legislature, leaving locals with limited say in administrative matters.

Since then, many Ladakhis have felt that they have lost control over their land, jobs, and resources, and the tribal land ownership system is under pressure due to rapid development and lack of local decision-making powers. Protesters also say their cultural identity, shared by both Buddhist and Muslim communities, is at risk without legal protection.

Even after Sonam Wangchuk's arrest, the protests have continued in a peaceful manner. People are now demanding a judicial inquiry into the deaths during the police action and accountability from the government.