As of January 2025, here are some of the richest individuals in India along with detailed information about them:
1. Mukesh Ambani
- Net Worth: Approximately $85 billion.
- Source of Wealth: Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), a conglomerate with interests in petrochemicals, refining, oil, telecommunications, and retail.
- Background: Mukesh Ambani is the chairman and largest shareholder of Reliance Industries. Under his leadership, RIL transformed from a textile manufacturing company to a diverse global powerhouse.
2. Gautam Adani
- Net Worth: Approximately $75 billion.
- Source of Wealth: Adani Group, which operates in sectors like energy, resources, logistics, agribusiness, real estate, financial services, and defense.
- Background: After starting with a small commodity trading business, Gautam Adani expanded his empire into one of the largest integrated infrastructure players in India.
3. Shiv Nadar
- Net Worth: Approximately $30 billion.
- Source of Wealth: HCL Technologies, an IT services and consulting company.
- Background: Shiv Nadar is a pioneer of the IT industry in India and has been instrumental in building HCL Technologies into a major global player.
4. Radhakrishna Damani
- Net Worth: Approximately $30 billion.
- Source of Wealth: DMart (Avenue Supermarts), retail.
- Background: Radhakrishna Damani is known for his value investing strategies and has built a successful chain of hypermarkets across India.
5. N. Chandrasekaran
- Net Worth: Approximately $20 billion.
- Source of Wealth: Tata Group, primarily through Tata Consultancy Services (TCS).
- Background: As the chairman of Tata Sons, Chandrasekaran is credited with steering Tata Group’s conglomerate through its various growth phases.
6. Cyrus Poonawalla
- Net Worth: Approximately $18 billion.
- Source of Wealth: Serum Institute of India, the largest vaccine manufacturer by doses produced.
- Background: Cyrus Poonawalla’s Serum Institute became critical during the COVID-19 pandemic by supplying vaccines globally.
7. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw
- Net Worth: Approximately $17 billion.
- Source of Wealth: Biocon, a biotechnology company.
- Background: As the founder of Biocon, Mazumdar-Shaw has played a key role in advancing biopharmaceuticals in India.
8. Sunil Bharti Mittal
- Net Worth: Approximately $15 billion.
- Source of Wealth: Bharti Airtel, telecommunications.
- Background: Sunil Bharti Mittal founded Bharti Enterprises, which includes one of India’s leading telecommunications companies, Bharti Airtel.
9. Lakshmi Mittal
- Net Worth: Approximately $14 billion.
- Source of Wealth: ArcelorMittal, the world’s largest steel manufacturer.
- Background: Lakshmi Mittal is known for his prowess in the global steel industry and has significantly impacted the sector through mergers and acquisitions.
10. Adi Godrej
- Net Worth: Approximately $13 billion.
- Source of Wealth: Godrej Group, which operates in consumer goods, real estate, appliances, and agriculture.
- Background: A prominent industrialist, Adi Godrej has overseen significant expansion of the family-owned Godrej Group.
Additional Considerations
These net worth estimates can fluctuate significantly based on factors like stock market performance and changes in the valuation of their companies. For the most accurate and current information, financial news sources like Forbes or Bloomberg are excellent resources.
