Top 10 Indian Billionaires In The Forbes List 2017
The Forbes Rich List is out and somehow, we’re not too surprised. The Indian Billionaires List once again has those familiar names with a few new entrants and Mukesh Ambani still occupying the topmost position. Here are the top 10 Billionaires in India.
#1 Mukesh Ambani
Net Worth: 22.7 Billion
Proudly acquiring the top position on the list yet again, Ambani is the chairman, managing director and largest shareholder of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL). RIL works in diverse sectors including refining, petrochemicals and oil and gas. The retail arm Reliance Retail Ltd is the largest of its kind in India. His new telecom offering Reliance Jio has spread like wildfire in the country thwarting the business of similar companies.
#2 Dilip Sanghvi
Net Worth: 16.9 Billion
Pharma magnate Dilip Sanghvi founded Sun Pharmaceuticals, a multinational company that sells pharmaceuticals primarily in India and the US. The firm has manufactured formulations for cardiology, psychiatry, neurology, gastroenterology and diabetology. He won the prestigious Padma Bhushan award in 2016.
#3 Hinduja Family
Net Worth: 15.2 Billion
Four close-knit siblings, Srichand, Gopichand, Prakash and Ashok, control the Hinduja Group, a far-flung multinational empire with businesses ranging from trucks and lubricants to banking and cable television. The umbrella company houses 23 brands making it the most diversified company in the country.
#4 Azim Premji
Net Worth: 15 Billion
Having spent 5 decades as the chairman of IT services corporation Wipro, Azim Premji is known as the Czar of Indian IT industry. Under his able hands, Wipro has become the largest software company in the country. He also owns private equity fund Premjiinvest, charitable trust Azim Premji Foundation and Azim Premji university.
#5 Pallonji Mistry
Net Worth: 13.9 Billion
Pallonji Mistry, 2016 recipient of the Padma Bhushan award, chairs the construction-giant Shapoorji Pallonji Group. The company is run by his son Shapoorji Mistry. His biggest asset is his 18.4% stake in Tata Sons. His younger son Cyrus Mistry chairs Tata Group.
#6 Lakshmi Mittal
Net Worth: 12.5 Billion
Lakshmi Mittal, dubbed as King of Steel, is the CEO of ArcelorMittal, the world’s largest steelmaking company. After a few years of downfall, the company has seen a profit catapulting Mittal up to the 6th position on the list. Along with his steel business, he is also an educationist and has founded the LNM Institute of Information Technology and the Usha Lakshmi Mittal Institute of Management.
#7 Godrej Family
Net Worth: 12.4 Billion
The 119-year-old consumer goods company, Godrej, has reached insurmountable heights under the legendary Godrej Family consisting of Sohrab Pirojsha Godrej, Adi Godrej, Naval Godrej, Parmeshwar Godrej, Jamshyd Godrej and Nadir Godrej. The company has its roots in several industries like real estate, consumer products, industrial engineering, appliances, furniture, security and agricultural products.
#8 Shiv Nadar
Net Worth: 11.4 Billion
Founder of technology outfit HCL and the Shiv Nadar Foundation, Nadar is best described as a philanthropist and industrialist. He reinvented HCL from a hardware company to a complete IT company, while working simultaneously on his vision to revolutionize the Indian education system. Along with founding the SSN College of Engineering, he has also opened two schools for children residing in rural areas of UP.
#9 Kumar Birla
Net Worth: 8.8 Billion
Under the guidance and leadership of Kumar Birla, Aditya Birla Group’s turnover has skyrocketed. Apart from pioneering metals, cement, branded apparel and financial services sector, Birla also acts as a chancellor at the Birla Institute of Technology and Science.
#10 Cyrus Poonawalla
Net Worth: 8.6 Billion
Founder of the Serum Institute of India, Poonawalla is now known as the vaccine billionaire. His company, The Poonawalla Group, manufactures pediatric vaccines and is run in tandem with son Adar. He is set to create vaccines for diseases like dengue, pneumonia and diarrhea.
# Special Mention: Vijay Shekhar Sharma
Net Worth: 1.3 Billion
An important cog in the digitized India machine, Paytm CEO has made a shining entry into the list becoming the youngest Indian to make it. Mobile payments wallet PayTM has become hugely popular post the demonetization move and its boom doesn’t seem to be waning any time soon.
We salute all the hardworking Indians that make the country look good and inspire billions with their billions.
