India’s rapid growth has brought attention to its expanding wealth. In 2024 alone, there were a record-breaking 200 Indians on the Forbes list of billionaires, Mukesh Ambani led this elite group followed by Gautam Adani and Shiv Nadar closely behind him. This article explores how these top 10 richest people in India, built their fortunes through various sectors while driving India’s economic growth forward as a global powerhouse. These entrepreneurs from technology pioneers to industrial leaders have transformed industries while mirroring India’s swift progress, becoming icons of its financial success story worldwide.
Top 10 Richest People in India
1. Mukesh Ambani
Mukesh Ambani holds the title of richest person in India with an estimated net worth of $116 billion as of June 2024. He was the chairperson and managing director at Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), covering various industries like petrochemicals, telecommunications, and retail stores under the conglomerate. His business mindset and strategic plans have earned him the dominant position in various competitive industrial sectors. His wealth also cements his importance to the Indian economy while he is also acknowledged for his charitable work that contributes towards social causes.
2. Gautam Adani
Gautam Adani founded the Adani Group and became one of the top 10 richest Persons in India, with an estimated net worth of around $84 billion as of June 2024. His wide-ranging enterprises cover important industries like ports, airports, energy, and mining. Even after facing hurdles such as fraud accusations which led to a decline in his wealth, he displayed tremendous strength of character. He made an astonishing recovery that highlighted the durability needed for success. Gautam Adani’s journey is interconnected with India’s economic growth and its businesses, making him a key figure contributing greatly towards infrastructure development in the country and shaping its business landscape significantly.
3. Savitri Jindal & Family
Savitri Jindal was born in 1940 and has become one of the top Indian female entrepreneurs with her net worth at $33.5 billion by June 2024. After becoming chairperson emerita for O.P. Following her husband’s death in 2005, she led the company to growth across sectors like steel, power, and infrastructure and saw its revenue quadruple under her guidance. She even joined politics as a minister in the Haryana government while also being seen symbolically standing against women’s empowerment hurdles within India’s business sector which is often dominated by men traditionally.
4. Shiv Nadar
Born in 1945, Shiv Nadar is a pioneer of India’s technology industry who has also made his mark on the world through philanthropy. As founder of HCL Technologies (originally an IT hardware company), he transformed it into an international enterprise with $11.8 billion in revenue and over 222,000 employees. In terms of wealth, as reported in 2024, Nadar’s net worth is $36.9 Billion, making him the third in the list of top 10 Richest People in India.
Beyond just business achievements though, he has gained fame for philanthropic work via the Shiv Nadar Foundation focusing on education and rural development projects. His influence in the technology sector as well as society was recognized when receiving the Padma Bhushan award back in 2008; however, even nowadays continues to guide HCL company serving the role of chairman emeritus strategist advisor aide.
5. Dilip Shanghvi
Dilip Shanghvi was born in India back in 1955. He’s a successful businessman who made Sun Pharmaceuticals, now one of the largest pharmaceutical companies based in his home country. His net worth reached around $26.7 billion in March 2024 which makes him one of the top 10 Richest Person in India. Dilip Shanghvi took over and expanded Sun Pharma into an international company operating across more than 100 countries globally. He’s honored with prestigious awards such as Padma Shri for his contributions in the field of healthcare services, reflecting on never giving up spirit and constantly seeking innovative ways to ensure accessibility to essential medical solutions everywhere around our world.
6. Cyrus Poonawalla
Cyrus S. Poonawala, born in 1941 and a prominent Indian businessman/philanthropist serves as chairman of Cyrus Poonawalla Group overseeing Serum Institute India – the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer by volume. With an estimated net worth of $21.3 billion, easily places himself in the position of the top 10 Richest People in India. His journey from modest investments has grown into a global healthcare powerhouse extending his business interests to finance, energy, and real estate sectors too. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he was recognized for public health contributions through the Padma Bhushan award, and continues philanthropy work with Villoo Poonawalla Foundation focusing on education sanitation, especially in the healthcare sector.
7. Kumar Birla
Kumar Mangalam Birla, born in 1967, is a very iconic businessman in India. He is the chairman of Aditya Birla Group, which is one of the biggest business groups in India. As of March 2024, he has a net worth of $19.7 billion and stands 8th in ranks of the top 10 Richest People in India. Birla became head of the group when he was 28 years old, growing its yearly earnings from $2 billion to $60 billion. His business includes metals, cement, textiles, telecommunications, and financial services in 36 countries. Birla has clever strategies that have helped his businesses grow worldwide and explore many different areas. He is also famous for helping others through charity work and starting education programs, like when he worked as the chancellor of BITS Pilani. His contributions to industry and society earned him the Padma Bhushan in 2023.
8. Radhakishan Damani
Radhakishan Damiani, born in the year 1955, is a renowned Indian billionaire businessman and investor who gained fame through shrewd trading practices on India’s stock market. He is one of the top 10 Richest People in India with a net worth of $17.6 Billion. He established DMart which has now grown to be one of the largest retail chains across the nation with over three hundred stores. His approach revolves around value investing strategies combined with unique approaches in his field, leading him to become widely known as ‘the Retail King’. Despite being wealthy and influential, Damiani maintains a low-key lifestyle and dedicates himself significantly towards philanthropy focusing mainly on educational advancement and healthcare services for the masses.
9. Kushal Pal Singh
Kushal Pal Singh is known for leading DLF Limited, the largest property development company in India, he became a significant figure in real estate due to strategic leadership transforming Gurgaon into an essential business hub. With wealth exceeding $20.9 billion by June of 2024 and recognition as one of the seven richest Indians then, he also innovated with earthquake-resistant structures setting industry standards followed later on. His journey began from humble farmland workings to building a global real estate empire recognized through philanthropic efforts including Padma Bhushan Award – making him an influential entrepreneur in India today.
10. Lakshmi Mittal
Lakshmi Niwas Mittal was born in 1950; he’s an internationally recognized steel tycoon and philanthropist who transformed global steel production through his company ArcelorMittal, the world leader in this field. With a $16.4 billion net worth as of June 2024, Mittal ranks among India’s wealthiest individuals globally. His journey began with founding Mittal Steel Company and later merging it into today’s giant through strategic acquisitions like his 2006 Arcelor merge that revolutionized the industry. Known for philanthropy focused on education & sports development, he has received several prestigious honors such as Padma Vibhushan and a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II.
Conclusion
The top 10 Richest People in India show the country’s strong economy and entrepreneurial spirit. From Mukesh Ambani’s varied business empire to Lakshmi Mittal’s international steel dominion, these individuals have played a big part in India’s growth story. They reflect how India has transformed into a global economic powerhouse. Many of these billionaires are recognized for their philanthropic work and commitment to social causes, demonstrating harmony between business achievement and societal obligation. As the Indian economy continues to grow stronger, these industry titans remain inspiring role models for future generations aiming high in entrepreneurship.
