Ambani or Adani: Top 10 richest Indians, as of May 2024

In late April 2024, Forbes released its “Forbes World’s Billionaires List 2024: The Top 200,” which included 200 Indians, an increase from 169 in the previous year. The combined wealth of these Indian billionaires reached a record $954 billion, a substantial 41 per cent increase from $675 billion in 2023.

Here are the top 10 richest individuals in India, as of May 2024:

1. Mukesh Ambani:

Mukesh Ambani

Mukesh Ambani, the Managing Director and Chairman of Reliance Industries commands a staggering net worth of $113.3 billion, solidifying his position as India‘s wealthiest individual. Reliance Industries, with a revenue exceeding Rs 9.03 lakh crore ($109.4 billion), is a diversified conglomerate involved in the petrochemicals, oil and gas, retail, and telecom sectors.

2. Gautam Adani:

Gautam Adani

Gautam Adani, with a net worth of $81.9 billion, is the founder and chairman of the Adani Group, a conglomerate with diverse interests spanning infrastructure, logistics, and energy sectors, with the Adani Ports recognised as India’s largest airport operator.

3. Savitri Jindal and family:

Savitri Jindal

Savitri Jindal, the richest woman in India, is an Indian politician and entrepreneur who holds the esteemed position of emeritus chair at the OP Jindal Group. She, along with her family, boasts a net worth of $37.1 billion, steering the JSW Group to prominence in India’s steel and power sectors. 

4. Shiv Nadar:

Shiv Nadar

Shiv Nadar, a highly respected philanthropist, and the proprietor of the HCL Group, is a pioneer of the IT industry in India. HCL boasts renowned clientele such as Cisco, Microsoft, and Boeing. In 2008, the Indian government honoured Mr Nadar with the Padma Bhushan, India’s esteemed third-highest civilian distinction, in recognition of his remarkable contributions to the IT industry. 

5. Dilip Shanghvi:

Dilip Shanghvi

Dilip Shanghvi, a prominent Indian business tycoon, is the visionary behind Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, the first Indian pharma company with a $5 billion valuation. Commanding a fortune of $25 billion, he grew Sun through a series of acquisitions, the biggest of which was the 2014 purchase of scandal-tainted rival Ranbaxy Laboratories for $4 billion.

6. Kumar Birla:

Kumar Birla

Kumar Birla, with a net worth of $22.0 billion, leads the Aditya Birla Group, a conglomerate with interests in aluminium, cement, and financial services. Birla has held the role of non-executive chairman of the Vodafone Idea telecommunications company but stepped down in 2021 as the entity got riddled with more debts.

7. Cyrus Poonawalla:

Cyrus Poonawalla

Cyrus Poonawalla, a pioneer in vaccine production, boasts a net worth of $21.0 billion, spearheading the Serum Institute of India, headquartered in Pune, one of the world’s largest vaccine manufacturers, with the widespread utilization of the COVID-19 vaccines manufactured by the SII.

8. Radhakishan Shivkishan Damani:

Radhakishan Shivkishan Damani

Known as India’s Retail King, Radhakishan Shivkishan Damani, an astute investor, commands a fortune of $20.6 billion, overseeing Avenue Supermarkets and its network of DMart stores in India. Additionally, he exercises control over his investment ventures via his company, Bright Star Investments Limited. He has stakes in VST and India Cement, and his property portfolio also includes the Radisson Blu Resort in Alibaug.

9. Kushal Pal Singh:

Kushal Pal Singh

With a net worth of $19.1 billion, property tycoon Kushal Pal Singh is chairman of DLF, India’s biggest listed real estate firm by market cap. Founder of the DLF City in Gurgaon and has served as chairman for more than five decades.

10. Ravi Jaipuria:

Ravi Jaipuria

India’s Cola King, Ravi Jaipuria, a prominent figure in the beverage industry, boasts a net worth of $16.9 billion, leading RJ Corp. and Varun Beverages to success, in addition to his company named after her daughter, Devyani International, which operates KFC, Pizza Hut, and Costa Coffee stores, listed in August 2021, led to boosting his fortune.