Top 10 Richest Men In India According To Forbes (2025)

Now let’s be honest — everyone loves a good money story. But not just any kind of money gist o, I’m talking about the serious wealth—the type that can buy islands, fund countries, and still have change for a private jet or two.

Today, we’re heading east—to India, the economic powerhouse of South Asia. A land of ancient empires, modern ambition, and of course, some of the world’s richest individuals. If you’ve ever wondered who the moneybags of India are in 2025, you’re about to find out.

Let me break it down for you like a proper Nigerian blogger who studied both economics and human behavior—because this list isn’t just about big figures. It’s about what drives those figures: the industries, the strategies, the risks, and the rewards.

So sit back, grab a cool bottle of Zobo (or whatever you fancy), and let’s explore the Top 10 Richest Men in India (2025 edition) — according to Forbes.

1. Mukesh Ambani – $115.3 Billion

Industry: Oil, Gas, Telecom, Retail, and Renewable Energy
Company: Reliance Industries

You see that name Mukesh Ambani? It’s practically a permanent fixture at the top of every rich list coming out of India—and for good reason. With a net worth of $115.3 billion, he’s not only India’s richest man but also one of the wealthiest globally.

Ambani runs Reliance Industries, which is more like an octopus of the Indian economy. This company has its tentacles in everything — from petrochemicals and gas, to retail, telecom (remember Jio?), and now even green energy. What makes him stand out isn’t just the volume of his wealth, but the transition he’s leading.

While older billionaires are still holding tight to fossil fuels, Ambani has seen the future: data and clean energy. He’s already heavily invested in solar projects and digital infrastructure — a true lesson in adapting legacy business to modern realities.

In economics, we call this strategic diversification — and Ambani is a master of it.

2. Gautam Adani – $67.0 Billion

Industry: Infrastructure, Energy, Ports, Airports
Company: Adani Group

Gautam Adani is what I like to call India’s infrastructure emperor. His group controls some of the largest ports, airports, logistics chains, and power grids in the country. With a fortune sitting at $67 billion, Adani has bounced back after a few rough years, including regulatory scrutiny and market volatility.

One thing you can’t deny is his audacity — this man goes after billion-dollar projects like some of us go after lunch. His investments into renewables, especially solar and wind energy, show that he’s not just playing for now, but for the next two decades.

What’s even more fascinating is how he built all of this from scratch, with no family legacy. Pure entrepreneurial grit.

3. Shiv Nadar – $38.0 Billion

Industry: Information Technology
Company: HCL Technologies

Now let’s switch gears to tech money. Shiv Nadar is the tech wizard behind HCL Technologies, one of the biggest IT firms in India. His net worth is currently pegged at $38 billion, and he earned it the good old-fashioned way — by being one of the pioneers of India’s software export industry.

But Nadar isn’t just about money. He’s deeply involved in education reform through the Shiv Nadar Foundation, which funds universities, schools, and scholarships across India.

So while he’s making his billions from code and cloud computing, he’s also investing in human capital — and as any economist will tell you, that’s where the real long-term value lies.

4. Savitri Jindal & Family – $37.3 Billion

Industry: Steel, Power, Cement
Company: O.P. Jindal Group

Let’s talk about the Jindals, and the matriarch herself — Savitri Jindal. Yes, she's a woman, but her name pops up in every discussion about the richest individuals in India, and rightly so. Her family’s combined wealth is $37.3 billion, and they control a vast industrial empire built around steel, power, and infrastructure.

Under the current leadership of her sons (especially Sajjan Jindal), the group has branched out into paints, EV technology, and renewables. It’s a classic case of legacy wealth evolving with time — and doing it smartly.

5. Dilip Shanghvi – $26.4 Billion

Industry: Pharmaceuticals
Company: Sun Pharmaceutical Industries

If you're looking for proof that medicine pays, look no further than Dilip Shanghvi, the founder of Sun Pharma — India’s largest pharmaceutical company. With $26.4 billion to his name, Shanghvi represents the biotech and generics boom that India has exported to the world.

He built his fortune through shrewd acquisitions (including buying Ranbaxy), strategic R&D investment, and a deep understanding of global regulatory environments.

What we see here is the value of operating in an industry with high demand and essential utility — especially in a post-COVID world where pharmaceuticals are more important than ever.

6. Cyrus Poonawalla – $25.1 Billion

Industry: Vaccines
Company: Serum Institute of India

If the world needed vaccines, Cyrus Poonawalla was there to deliver. With $25.1 billion in net worth, this gentleman turned the Serum Institute of India into one of the largest vaccine producers globally.

What makes his wealth especially interesting is the social impact. His company isn’t just making billions; it’s literally saving millions of lives, including in Africa.

If you ever needed a blueprint for how public health and private wealth can intersect positively, here it is.

7. Kumar Mangalam Birla – $22.2 Billion

Industry: Conglomerate (Cement, Telecom, Textiles, Finance)
Company: Aditya Birla Group

Ah, the Birla legacy — one of India’s oldest and most prestigious business families. Kumar Mangalam Birla is the current torchbearer, overseeing a group with interests in telecom, cement, aluminium, fashion retail, and financial services.

His net worth? $22.2 billion and counting.

He represents the institutional family firm, blending heritage with modern corporate governance. You see, legacy is good — but it’s useless if you can’t evolve it. That’s where Birla has done well.

8. Lakshmi Mittal – $18.7 Billion

Industry: Steel
Company: ArcelorMittal

Next up is Lakshmi Mittal, a global steel baron and chairman of ArcelorMittal — the largest steelmaker on Earth. Though based in London, his Indian roots are deep, and his net worth of $18.7 billion still secures him a firm place on India’s rich list.

Mittal’s rise is a case study in consolidation economics — buying struggling steel companies across Europe, fixing them up, and scaling operations.

9. Radhakishan Damani – $18.3 Billion

Industry: Retail
Company: DMart

If you live in India, you’ve probably heard of DMart. That’s Radhakishan Damani’s baby — and it’s not just a supermarket, it’s a case study in low-margin, high-volume retailing.

His net worth of $18.3 billion didn’t come from glitz or flashy businesses. It came from understanding India’s middle class psyche — value, affordability, and efficiency.

Damani proves you don’t need a billion-dollar product. You just need a billion people to buy a simple one.

10. Kushal Pal Singh – $18.1 Billion

Industry: Real Estate
Company: DLF

Last but not least, we have Kushal Pal Singh, the real estate mogul behind DLF, with a personal wealth of $18.1 billion.

DLF has played a massive role in shaping modern urban India. Office parks, malls, housing estates — Singh’s empire has touched them all. And at 93 years old, he’s proof that good real estate (like fine wine) appreciates with age.

Final Thoughts: Lessons From India’s Billionaires

Now you might be wondering — what does this list teach us beyond the glitz? As an economist, I’ll break it down for you:

1. Diversification Wins – Ambani and Birla are textbook examples.

2. Infrastructure is Gold – Ports, airports, and roads build empires (ask Adani).

3. Healthcare is the New Frontier – Poonawalla and Shanghvi are ahead of the curve.

4. Retail and IT Remain Strong – Whether it’s DMart or HCL, both industries reflect essential daily demand.

5. Legacy + Innovation = Longevity – Jindals, Birlas, and Mittals are proof.

Conclusion

India’s richest men in 2025 aren’t just wealthy; they are economic architects shaping not only India’s trajectory but global supply chains, health systems, tech solutions, and infrastructure grids.

They remind us that behind every rupee made is a decision — often a risky one — and a vision for something bigger than profit.

Let me know if you’d like me to zoom in on any of these billionaires or compare this list with Nigeria’s wealthiest for perspective. There’s plenty to unpack.

Would you like this as a downloadable PDF next? Or maybe a version with visuals and graphs?

Let me know what you need — I’ve got you.