Success is more or less guaranteed the moment you make it to IIM, Ahmedabad, Bangalore or Calcutta. And if you end up topping your class, you are red-hot property. A dream employer, a jaw-dropping salary, or a key assignment will be yours for the asking. In other words, you are all set for a glorious corporate career. But is that how the topper's story turns out in reality? Where do these brilliant students end up... five, 10, 20 years into their careers? You'd never guess-neither would we. Business Today tracked down a dozen such toppers of different vintages from IIM A, B & C to find out how their lives have shaped up after B-school. Take a look:

The '80s

Intellectual Capitalist
NAME: Vipul Jain, 47
B-SCHOOL: IIM, Ahmedabad
UGRADUATING CLASS: 1980
HONOUR: Gold Medallist
CAREER TRACK:
1980-1986: CIO, TAS. Computerised the Taj Hotels
1986 till now: Founded Kale Consultants with Narendra Kale
SUCCESS MANTRA: "Follow your instincts, don't fear experimenting"