In 2024, the Indian billionaire club keeps on growing and shows part of the immense wealth that’s pushing the rise of the country in its ranking on the global economic stage. A look at the top 10 richest Indians, their source of wealth, age, and net worth in Indian rupees:
10. Ravi Jaipuria
Net Worth: ₹1.44 Lakh Crore ($17.2 Billion)
Age: 68
Source of Wealth: Beverages and Fast Food (RJ Corp)
Ravi Jaipuria steers the business process of RJ Corp, the diversified conglomerate with substantial franchise rights for companies like PepsiCo in India. The company has ventured into fast food, healthcare, and education. Known for his foresight in tapping into the beverages sector, Jaipuria’s empire also includes Devyani International operating popular fast food brands like KFC, Pizza Hut, and Costa Coffee. His diversified portfolio made Jaipuria leave a remarkable mark on the consumer industry of India.
9. Kushal Pal Singh
- Net Worth: ₹1.70 Lakh Crore ($20.3 Billion)
- Age: 93
- Source of Wealth: Real Estate (DLF)
At 93, K.P. Singh still towers above in the country’s real estate fraternity. Having reshaped the Gurgaon skyline into one of India’s premier business districts as chairman emeritus at DLF Limited, much of the firm’s operations are now handled by his son Rajiv Singh. His contributions, however, towards real estate live beyond him and he remains one of India’s richest real estate barons.
8. Radhakishan Damani
- Net Worth: ₹1.83 Lakh Crore ($21.9 Billion)
- Age: 69
- Source of Wealth: Retail (DMart)
Radhakishan Damani is often referred to as the “retail king of India.” He is the brain behind Avenue Supermarts, owner of the hyper-popular DMart chain of supermarkets. His retail fiefdom has grown manifold, with hundreds of stores across India. Other than retail, Damani has sizable investments in various sectors and also holds substantial interests in companies such as VST Industries and India Cements. His astute investment strategy, gelled with his no-frills retail model, has catapulted him into the top rankings among India’s richest.
7. Cyrus Poonawalla
- Net Worth: ₹2.06 Lakh Crore ($24.6 Billion)
- Age: 82
- Source of Wealth: Pharmaceuticals (Serum Institute of India)
Cyrus Poonawalla founded Serum Institute of India, which is the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer. His company was very crucial during the fight against COVID-19, producing millions of vaccines for the world. The dominance of Serum Institute in the vaccine industry keeps contributing to Poonawalla’s wealth, and it is a global leader in immunization, supplying vaccines to more than 170 countries.
6. Kumar Mangalam Birla
- Net Worth: ₹2.10 Lakh Crore ($25.1 Billion)
- Age: 56
- Source of Wealth: Commodities and Telecom (Aditya Birla Group)
Kumar Mangalam Birla heads the Aditya Birla Group, a multinational conglomerate having business interests in cement, metals, telecom, and financial services. During his tenure, some of the most important strategic business decisions were made: for instance, the Vodafone Idea merger, one of the largest telecom companies in India. Spearheading the conglomerate into more growth, he remains among the top industrialists of India.
5. Dilip Shanghvi
- Net Worth: ₹2.64 Lakh Crore ($31.5 Billion)
- Age: 68
- Source of Wealth: Pharmaceuticals (Sun Pharma)
Dilip Shanghvi founded Sun Pharmaceuticals, the largest drug manufacturer in India. From a modest house, Sun Pharma expanded its operations throughout the world, with a concentration on difficult-to-produce generics and specialty drugs. Shanghvi’s leadership and the strategic acquisitions he has made have helped him grow into one of the largest global players in the pharmaceuticals market.
4. Shiv Nadar
- Net Worth: ₹3.37 Lakh Crore ($40.3 Billion)
- Age: 78
- Source of Wealth: Technology
Shiv Nadar is the founder of HCL Technologies, who has been behind some of the major initiatives in shaping India’s IT industry into what it stands today. HCL is one of the major IT services companies in India, with large exposure globally. He is not just a great entrepreneur but also an active philanthropist, one of the most outspoken ones, in education in India, thereby changing lives across the country. His daughter, Roshni Nadar Malhotra, now heads the company as its chairperson and continues the family legacy.
3. Savitri Jindal & Family
- Net Worth: ₹ 3.65 Lakh Crore ($ 43.6 Billion)
- Age: 74
- Source of Wealth: Steel and Power (JSW Group)
At the head of the Jindal Group, one of the largest conglomerates in India, dealing with steel, energy, and infrastructure, Savitri Jindal operates. The family company, inspired by her late husband O.P. Jindal, has been extended to her and her sons. JSW Group remains one of the major industrial houses in India and is the source of Jindal’s high net worth.
2. Gautam Adani
- Net Worth: ₹7.04 Lakh Crore ($84.1 Billion)
- Age: 61
- Source of Wealth: Infrastructure and Energy (Adani Group)
While Gautam Adani faced many challenges in 2023 regarding alleged financial misconduct, he is back on his feet. The Adani Group is involved in different fields of business: ports, airports, green energy, and infrastructure. His vision to make India a global leader in renewable energy has been the key behind his increasingly growing wealth. Through the businesses, Adani has become an international figure in infrastructure development.
1. Mukesh Ambani
- Net Worth: ₹9.66 Lakh Crore ($115.3 Billion)
- Age: 67
- Source of Wealth: Oil, Telecom, and Retail (Reliance Industries)
Mukesh Ambani, the chairman of Reliance Industries, remains the richest person in India. His company is a giant, with significant exposure to petrochemicals, telecom through Jio, and retail. Reliance’s foray into e-commerce and the revolution in the Indian telecom sector, led by Jio, kept Ambani at the top of Indian enterprise. These strategic forays into technology and retail have ensured continuous growth for Reliance, making Ambani not only the richest Indian but also among the wealthiest in the world.
Summary Table (2024)
| Rank | Name | Age | Wealth (₹ Lakh Crore) | Wealth (Billion $) | Source of Wealth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mukesh Ambani | 67 | ₹9.66 Lakh | $115.3 Billion | Oil, Telecom, Retail (Reliance Industries) |
| 2 | Gautam Adani | 61 | ₹7.04 Lakh | $84.1 Billion | Infrastructure, Energy (Adani Group) |
| 3 | Savitri Jindal & Family | 74 | ₹3.65 Lakh | $43.6 Billion | Steel, Power (JSW Group) |
| 4 | Shiv Nadar | 78 | ₹3.37 Lakh | $40.3 Billion | Technology (HCL Technologies) |
| 5 | Dilip Shanghvi | 68 | ₹2.64 Lakh | $31.5 Billion | Pharmaceuticals (Sun Pharma) |
| 6 | Kumar Mangalam Birla | 56 | ₹2.10 Lakh | $25.1 Billion | Commodities, Telecom (Aditya Birla Group) |
| 7 | Cyrus Poonawalla | 82 | ₹2.06 Lakh | $24.6 Billion | Pharmaceuticals (Serum Institute) |
| 8 | Radhakishan Damani | 69 | ₹1.83 Lakh | $21.9 Billion | Retail (Avenue Supermarts Limited) |
| 9 | Kushal Pal Singh | 93 | ₹1.70 Lakh | $20.3 Billion | Real Estate (DLF) |
| 10 | Ravi Jaipuria | 68 | ₹1.44 Lakh | $17.2 Billion | Beverages, Fast Food (RJ Corp) |