In this article, Catalystng.com will discuss the top 15 richest Indians men in the world. Recently, Mukesh Ambani, the chairman of Reliance Industries, who used to be the richest Indian man has dropped to number 2.
Our rankings are based on the Forbes India Rich List, with additional verification from the Bloomberg Billionaires Index and the M3M Hurun India Rich List. Net worth estimates are calculated using the latest available stock prices and exchange rates, in line with Forbes’ methodology. Figures are current as of the time of publication.
The countdown is arranged from No. 1 to No. 15 in an orderly manner, see below;
1. Gautam Adani ($113B)
Gautam Adani is the chairman of the Ahmedabad-based Adani Group, a diversified conglomerate with businesses spanning ports, airports, power generation and transmission, renewable energy, and other key sectors. Founded in 1988 as a commodities trading company, the Adani Group has grown rapidly through strategic acquisitions and expansion, becoming one of India’s largest business empires.
A high school dropout, Adani chose to forgo working in his father’s textile business and instead launched his own commodities trading venture. His rise from modest beginnings to becoming one of India’s wealthiest entrepreneurs has often been described as one of the country’s most remarkable success stories.
However, the conglomerate faced a major setback in January 2023 after New York-based short-selling firm Hindenburg Research accused it of stock manipulation and accounting fraud. The Adani Group strongly denied the allegations, but the report triggered a sharp sell-off that erased more than $150 billion from the group’s market value and slashed Adani’s personal fortune by as much as 60%.
The business empire later staged a significant recovery. In September 2025, India’s securities regulator stated that it could not establish Hindenburg Research’s allegations of fraudulent transactions, providing a major boost to investor confidence. Adani has since outlined ambitious plans to develop up to 10 gigawatts of nuclear power capacity by 2035 as part of efforts to strengthen India’s energy security.
In recent years, Adani has frequently traded places with Mukesh Ambani as India’s and Asia’s richest person, with a strong rally in Adani Group stocks during 2026, supported by key legal and regulatory clearances, further boosting his fortune. According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Gautam Adani is currently the 17th richest person in the world.
2. Mukesh Ambani ($83.5b)
Mukesh Ambani, the chairman and managing director of Reliance Industries, has a net worth of $83.5 billion as of July 23, 2026, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
The Indian business magnate’s fortune declined by $1.33 billion (1.6%) in the latest trading session and has fallen by $23.6 billion, or 21.9%, since the start of 2026, making him one of the biggest wealth losers among the world’s richest individuals this year.
A significant portion of Ambani’s wealth is tied to his 42% stake in Reliance Industries, India’s largest private-sector company and the owner of the world’s biggest oil refining complex. The Mumbai-headquartered conglomerate generated $114 billion in revenue during the financial year ended March 2025, with operations spanning oil refining, petrochemicals, polymers, chemicals, telecommunications, retail, and financial services.
Beyond Reliance Industries, Ambani owns approximately 41% of Jio Financial Services, which was spun off from Reliance in 2023. His investment portfolio also includes ownership of the Mumbai Indians, one of the Indian Premier League’s most successful cricket franchises.
Bloomberg’s estimate of Ambani’s wealth also includes Antilia, his iconic 27-storey mansion in Mumbai. Although the residence has often been reported to have cost more than $1 billion to build, Bloomberg values the property at just over $400 million, citing uncertainties surrounding its construction cost and resale value.
The Bloomberg Billionaires Index further estimates that Ambani has received around $3.5 billion in dividends from Reliance Industries over the years, with much of those earnings invested in cash and other family assets.
Born into one of India’s most influential business families, Ambani studied chemical engineering before enrolling at Stanford University. He left the program after one year at the request of his father, Dhirubhai Ambani, to help oversee the construction of a polyester plant as Reliance expanded its operations from textiles into petrochemicals and energy.
Following Dhirubhai Ambani’s death in 2002 without leaving a will, Mukesh Ambani and his younger brother, Anil Ambani, became embroiled in a widely publicized dispute over control of the family business empire. Their mother eventually brokered a settlement in 2005, under which Mukesh retained Reliance’s refining, petrochemicals, oil and gas, and textile businesses, while Anil took charge of the group’s telecommunications, entertainment, power, and financial services operations.
Mukesh Ambani has continued to expand his business interests beyond India, with Africa becoming a key focus of his global growth strategy. In December 2025, the billionaire strengthened his presence on the continent through an investment in Ghana’s telecommunications sector.
Beyond business, Ambani has also attracted global attention for his family’s lavish celebrations. In July 2024, his youngest son, Anant Ambani, held extravagant pre-wedding festivities that featured performances by several international music stars. Canadian pop sensation Justin Bieber reportedly received $10 million to perform, while Barbadian singer Rihanna and Nigerian Afrobeats star Rema also delivered headline performances during the high-profile event.
3. Savitri Jindal ($39.1B)
Savitri Devi Jindal has maintained her position as India’s richest woman, with an estimated net worth of $39.1 billion, according to the Forbes India Rich List 2025.
Born on March 20, 1950, the 75-year-old Indian industrialist and politician leads the OP Jindal Group, one of India’s largest industrial conglomerates. She assumed control of the business following the death of her husband, O.P. Jindal, on March 31, 2005, transforming what many expected to be a difficult transition into one of the country’s most remarkable business success stories.
Since taking over the company, Savitri Jindal has overseen the expansion of the OP Jindal Group beyond its traditional steel business. Today, the conglomerate has diversified interests in steel, power generation, cement, and infrastructure, with operations extending across India, the United States, South America, Europe, and Africa.
The group’s various businesses are managed by her four sons—Prithviraj Jindal, Sajjan Jindal, Ratan Jindal, and Naveen Jindal, while Savitri Jindal continues to play a central role in shaping the family’s business empire and its long-term strategy.
Widely regarded as one of India’s most influential business leaders, Savitri Jindal remains one of the few women in the world to head a heavy-industry conglomerate of such scale. Her leadership has cemented her reputation as a trailblazer in the global business community while reinforcing the OP Jindal Group’s position as one of India’s leading industrial enterprises.
4. Lakshmi Mittal ($31billion)
Lakshmi Niwas Mittal is an Indian-born steel industrialist and the Chairman of ArcelorMittal, the world’s second-largest steelmaking company. Born on June 15, 1950, Mittal is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the global steel industry and is often referred to as the “Steel Magnate of India.”
Based in London, Mittal built his business empire by acquiring financially distressed steel mills across countries including Kazakhstan, the United States, and several European nations, transforming them into profitable operations through improved efficiency and strategic management.
Although he is based in the United Kingdom, Mittal’s steel empire maintains significant operations and supply chains linked to India, ensuring his continued influence in the country’s industrial sector. His decades of leadership in global steel production have consistently earned him a place among India’s wealthiest individuals.
With an estimated net worth of $31 billion, Lakshmi Niwas Mittal remains one of the richest industrialists of Indian origin and a leading figure in the global steel business.
5. Shiv Nadar ($30.9 billion)
Shiv Nadar has continued to cement his legacy as one of India’s most influential technology entrepreneurs, with an estimated net worth of $30.9 billion.
The 79-year-old billionaire is the founder of the HCL Group, a company widely credited with helping shape India’s information technology industry. Nadar launched HCL from a modest garage in Delhi in 1976, nearly two decades before India’s IT sector rose to become a global force.
Over the years, HCL Technologies has evolved into one of the country’s leading technology firms, providing services to some of the world’s biggest corporations, including Cisco, Microsoft, and Boeing. The company’s continued growth in artificial intelligence solutions and cloud infrastructure has played a key role in maintaining Nadar’s vast fortune.
Although he has stepped away from day-to-day executive responsibilities, Nadar remains closely associated with the company after handing over leadership to his daughter, Roshni Nadar Malhotra, who now oversees the technology giant.
Beyond his business achievements, Nadar is widely recognized for his philanthropic efforts and contributions to education. In 2008, the Government of India honoured him with the Padma Bhushan, the country’s third-highest civilian award, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the nation’s information technology sector.
6. Cyrus Poonawalla ($27B)
Cyrus S. Poonawalla is an Indian businessman and the founder of the Serum Institute of India, the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer by volume, producing more than 1.5 billion vaccine doses annually. Born on August 20, 1941, the 83-year-old entrepreneur has built one of the most influential pharmaceutical companies in the world.
Poonawalla’s wealth grew significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic after the Serum Institute partnered with AstraZeneca to manufacture the Covishield vaccine, supplying billions of doses to low- and middle-income countries worldwide. The achievement earned him global recognition as the “vaccine billionaire.”
The Serum Institute continues to expand its global footprint in 2025, while Poonawalla’s son, Adar Poonawalla, oversees the company’s day-to-day operations. Beyond vaccines, the Poonawalla family has diversified its investments into sectors such as real estate and financial services.
With an estimated net worth of $27 billion, Cyrus S. Poonawalla remains one of India’s wealthiest entrepreneurs and a leading figure in the global healthcare industry.
7. Dilip Shanghvi ($25.6B)
Dilip Shanghvi is an Indian pharmaceutical entrepreneur and the founder of Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, India’s largest pharmaceutical company by market capitalisation. Born on October 1, 1955, Shanghvi launched Sun Pharma in 1983 with just five products and a ₹10,000 loan from his father, laying the foundation for what would become one of the world’s leading generic drug manufacturers.
Through a strong focus on affordable generic medicines and expansion into emerging markets, Shanghvi transformed Sun Pharma into a globally recognised pharmaceutical giant. A major milestone came in 2014 when the company acquired Ranbaxy Laboratories in a $3.2 billion deal, significantly strengthening its global presence and making it a powerhouse in the generic drug industry.
Shanghvi serves as the Managing Director of Sun Pharmaceutical Industries and has been honoured with the Padma Shri for his contributions to India’s pharmaceutical sector. With an estimated net worth of $25.6 billion, he ranks among the wealthiest entrepreneurs in India.
8. Bajaj Family ($21.8billion)
The Bajaj family is one of India’s oldest and most respected business dynasties, with a legacy dating back to the pre-independence era. The family’s business empire traces its roots to Jamnalal Bajaj, a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi, and today spans several major companies, including Bajaj Auto, Bajaj Finance, and Bajaj Finserv.
The group is currently led by key figures Niraj Bajaj, Rajiv Bajaj, and Sanjiv Bajaj. Bajaj Finance has emerged as the crown jewel of the conglomerate, becoming one of India’s largest consumer-lending non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) and a significant driver of the family’s wealth over the past decade.
In 2025, Niraj Bajaj and his family recorded one of the biggest wealth gains among India’s richest individuals, with their fortune rising by 43% and moving up four places on the Hurun India Rich List. Meanwhile, Bajaj Auto, under the leadership of Rajiv Bajaj, strengthened its global position by expanding into the electric vehicle market and growing its premium motorcycle brand, KTM.
With a combined net worth of $21.8 billion, according to the Forbes India Rich List 2025, the Bajaj family remains one of the wealthiest and most influential business families in India.
9. Kumar Birla ($21.1B)
Kumar Mangalam Birla is an Indian industrialist and the chairman of the Aditya Birla Group, one of India’s oldest and largest business conglomerates. Born on June 14, 1967, Birla assumed leadership of the family-owned enterprise in 1995 at the age of 28 following the death of his father.
Under his leadership, the Aditya Birla Group has expanded into a global business empire valued at approximately $65 billion, with operations spanning more than 40 countries. The conglomerate has interests in metals, cement, telecommunications, and financial services, with flagship companies including UltraTech Cement, India’s largest cement manufacturer, and Hindalco Industries, one of the country’s leading metals companies.
While the group’s telecom business, Vodafone Idea, continues to face industry challenges, its core industrial operations have remained strong, generating substantial revenue and reinforcing the company’s position as one of India’s most influential business empires.
With an estimated net worth of $21.1 billion, Kumar Mangalam Birla ranks among the richest entrepreneurs in India.
10. Hinduja Family ($20.6 billion)
The Hinduja family is one of India’s most prominent business dynasties, with its global conglomerate operating across 38 countries. The group is led by key members of the family, including Gopichand Hinduja, the late Srichand Hinduja, Prakash Hinduja, and Ashok Hinduja, and has interests spanning banking, automotive manufacturing, media, real estate, energy, and healthcare.
Founded by Parmanand Deepchand Hinduja in the early 1910s, the Hinduja Group has grown into a multinational business empire with flagship companies such as IndusInd Bank and Ashok Leyland, one of India’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturers.
The family’s operations are managed from major global business hubs, including London, Geneva, Dubai, and Mumbai, making the Hindujas one of the most geographically diversified Indian business families. Like several of India’s largest conglomerates, the group oversees a broad portfolio of manufacturing and asset-intensive businesses across multiple industries.
With an estimated combined net worth of $20.6 billion, according to the Forbes India Rich List 2025, the Hinduja family remains among the wealthiest and most influential business dynasties in India.
11. Sudhir and Samir Mehta ($16.2 Billion)
Sudhir Mehta and Samir Mehta are Indian businessmen who jointly lead the Torrent Group, an Ahmedabad-based conglomerate with major interests in the pharmaceutical and power sectors. The group’s flagship companies, Torrent Pharmaceuticals and Torrent Power, are both publicly listed and have established strong positions in their respective industries.
Torrent Pharmaceuticals ranks among India’s leading manufacturers and exporters of generic medicines, with a significant presence in the United States and European markets. Meanwhile, Torrent Power operates extensive electricity generation, transmission, and distribution networks across Gujarat and several other Indian states.
Despite overseeing one of India’s largest business empires, the Mehta brothers have maintained a relatively low public profile. According to the Forbes India Rich List 2025, the Mehta family’s combined fortune is estimated at $16.2 billion, placing them among the country’s wealthiest business families.
As of July 29, 2026, Forbes estimates that Sudhir Mehta and Samir Mehta each have a net worth of approximately $8.1 billion.
12. Radhakishan Damani ($15.7 billion)
Radhakishan Shivkishan Damani has retained his place among India’s wealthiest individuals, with an estimated net worth of $15.7 billion, according to the Forbes India Rich List 2026.
The Indian billionaire is the founder of Avenue Supermarts Limited, the company behind the popular DMart retail chain, which operates nearly 336 stores across India. Since opening the first DMart outlet in Mumbai in 2002, Damani has built one of the country’s most successful retail businesses, earning him the reputation as “India’s retail king.”
Before making his mark in the retail industry, Damani was already well known in India’s financial markets as a highly respected investor. He is also widely recognized as a mentor to the late billionaire investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, often referred to as India’s “Warren Buffett.”
Unlike many retailers that aggressively expanded into e-commerce, Damani focused on strengthening DMart’s network of physical stores. His strategy of offering value-driven shopping experiences through brick-and-mortar outlets has proven highly successful, particularly in India’s Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, where the brand continues to enjoy strong customer loyalty and steady growth.
Despite his immense wealth and influence, Damani is known for maintaining an exceptionally private lifestyle. The billionaire rarely grants interviews and has consistently kept his personal life and family away from the public spotlight, making him one of India’s most low-profile business leaders.
13. Uday Kotak ($14.4 B)
Uday Suresh Kotak is an Indian banker and entrepreneur who founded Kotak Mahindra Bank, one of India’s leading private-sector financial institutions. Born on March 15, 1959, Kotak transformed a small finance company into a diversified financial services group with operations spanning banking, investment, insurance, and asset management.
Widely regarded as one of India’s most successful banking entrepreneurs, Kotak’s business model and leadership have become case studies in business schools. Although he stepped down as the Chief Executive Officer of Kotak Mahindra Bank in 2023, he continues to hold a significant ownership stake in the company, which remains the primary source of his wealth.
Kotak Mahindra Bank has earned a reputation as one of India’s most trusted banks, driven by its conservative lending practices, digital transformation strategy, and measured approach to expansion. These factors have helped the bank maintain steady growth in an increasingly competitive financial sector.
With an estimated net worth of $14.4 billion, Uday Kotak ranks among India’s richest entrepreneurs and remains one of the country’s most influential figures in banking and finance.
14. Sunil Mittal ($14.2 Billion)
Sunil Bharti Mittal has a net worth of $14.2 billion as of the time of writing, according to Forbes.
The 67-year-old Indian telecom entrepreneur climbed three places to become the fourth-richest person in India, a position he last held in 2008. The significant increase in his fortune marks one of the most notable gains among the country’s billionaires this year.
Mittal is the founder and chairman of Bharti Airtel, one of the world’s largest telecommunications companies. Since launching the company in 1995, he has transformed it into a global telecom giant serving more than 500 million customers across Asia and Africa.
According to the Forbes India Rich List 2025, the surge in Mittal’s wealth was largely driven by Bharti Airtel’s rapid expansion of its 5G network and the continued growth of its enterprise business, both of which have strengthened the company’s market position and financial performance.
The telecom billionaire, whose fortune is shared with his family, has benefited significantly from Airtel’s strong performance, allowing him to reclaim a spot among India’s top four richest individuals after a 17-year gap. His return to the upper ranks of India’s wealthiest business leaders highlights the continued growth of the country’s telecommunications sector and Bharti Airtel’s expanding influence in global markets.
15. Kushal Pal Singh ($12.7B)
Kushal Pal Singh, popularly known as K.P. Singh, is an Indian real estate developer and the chairman emeritus of DLF Limited. Born on August 15, 1931, the 93-year-old businessman is the oldest billionaire on the list and is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of modern real estate development in India.
Singh joined DLF in 1960 and played a pivotal role in transforming the company from a small Delhi-based property developer into India’s largest publicly listed real estate firm. Under his leadership, DLF developed landmark projects, including DLF City in Gurugram, helping reshape the skyline of the National Capital Region.
A defining moment in the company’s history came in 2007 when Singh led DLF’s listing on the Indian stock exchanges. The initial public offering (IPO) became one of the most successful and lucrative in India’s corporate history, further cementing DLF’s position as a leader in the real estate sector.
With an estimated net worth of $12.7 billion, K.P. Singh remains one of India’s wealthiest real estate entrepreneurs, leaving behind a lasting legacy in the country’s urban development and infrastructure landscape.
