Rediff.com« Back to articlePrint this article

The Ten Richest Indians!

Last updated on: February 22, 2005 19:55 IST

Here's the Forbes list of the ten richest Indians.

#1: Lakshmi Mittal
Net worth: $11.2 billion / London
54. Married. 2 Children.

This steel titan is set to control the world's largest steel company when his Ispat International and LNM Holdings acquire International Steel. Combined entity will be $30 billion (sales) Mittal Steel, 88%-owned by Mittal himself.

Businessman, Company

Net worth

1

Lakshmi Mittal, Mittal Steel

$11.2 billion

2

Azim Premji, Wipro

$10 billion

3

Mukesh & Anil Ambani, Reliance group

$6.4 billion

4

Kumar Mangalam Birla, AV Birla group

$3.5 billion

5

Pallonji Mistry, Tata Sons

$2.9 billion

6

Sunil Mittal, Bharti group

$2.6 billion

7

Shiv Nadar, HCL

$2.3 billion

8

Adi Godrej, Godrej group

$1.9 billion

9

Malvinder & Shivinder Singh, Ranbaxy

$1.5 billion

9

Dilip Shanghvi, Sun Pharma

$1.5 billion

Associated Companies -- Ispat International: # 1,521 on Forbes 2000 2004

Other Lists: Mittal, Lakshmi: # 62 on World's Richest People 2004, # 177 on World's Richest People 2003, # 327 on World's Richest People 2002, # 272 on World's Richest People 2001, On World's Richest People 2000, On World's Richest People 1999.

#2: Azim Premji
$10.0 billion / Bangalore
59. Married. 2 Children.

Owns 84% of $1.3 billion (sales) Wipro, India's second-biggest infotech company. Riding outsourcing wave. Recently traded his eight-year-old Ford Escort for a new Toyota Corolla.

Associated Companies -- Wipro: # 1,343 on Forbes 2000 2004

Other Lists: # 58 on World's Richest People 2004 , # 45 on World's Richest People 2003 , # 41 on World's Richest People 2002 , # 42 on World's Richest People 2001 , On World's Richest People 2000, On World's Richest People 1999

#3: Mukesh & Anil Ambani
$6.4 billion / Mumbai

Two years after the death of their father, Reliance group's founder Dhirubhai Ambani, brothers are feuding: Older son Mukesh reportedly wants control of the $22 billion (sales) diversified group. News of rift, which became public in November, sent stock tumbling.

Associated Companies -- Reliance Industries # 287 on Forbes International 500 2003 , # 303 on Forbes 2000 2004

Other Lists: # 65 on World's Richest People 2004 , # 123 on World's Richest People 2003

#4: Kumar Mangalam Birla
$3.5 billion / Mumbai
37. Married. 3 Children.

Fourth-generation head of $6 billion (sales) commodities conglomerate,with operations in nine countries, including palm oil in Malaysia. India?s largest cement producer.

Associated Companies -- Hindalco Industries: # 1,998 on Forbes 2000 2004

Other Lists: Other Lists: # 147 on World's Richest People 2004 , # 158 on World's Richest People 2003 , # 200 on World's Richest People 2002 , # 292 on World's Richest People 2001 , On World's Richest People 2000, On World's Richest People 1999

#5: Pallonji Mistry
$2.9 billion / Mumbai
75. Married. 4 Children.

Construction tycoon benefiting from 18.4% stake in Tata Sons, holding company of Tata conglomerate. Newly listed Tata Consultancy Services recently worth $13 billion. Rarely seen in public.

Other Lists: # 231 on World's Richest People 2004 , # 199 on World's Richest People 2003.

#6: Sunil Mittal
$2.6 billion / Delhi
47. Married. 3 Children.

His Bharti group, the country's largest GSM-based cellular service provider, is benefiting from India's booming middle class.New venture to export fruits and vegetables with the Rothschild family.

Associated Companies: Bharti Tele-Ventures: # 1,983 on Forbes 2000 2004

Other Lists: # 186 on World's Richest People 2004

#7: Shiv Nadar
$2.3 billion / Delhi
59. Married. 1 Child.

From modest beginnings in his garage, built and still chairs $1.2 billion (revenues) HCL Group, a leading infotech provider.Commutes between California and Delhi.

Other Lists: # 310 on World's Richest People 2004 , # 427 on World's Richest People 2003 , # 378 on World's Richest People 2002 , # 209 on World's Richest People 2001 , On World's Richest People 2000, On World's Richest People 1999.

#8: Adi Godrej
$1.9 billion / Mumbai
62. Married. 3 Children.

Third generation to head $1 billion (sales) Godrej Group, whose businesses include soaps, hair dyes, office furniture and mosquito repellent. One of Mumbai's biggest landowners, has benefited from rising real estate prices.

Other Lists: # 277 on World's Richest People 2004 , # 386 on World's Richest People 2003 , On World's Richest People 1999.

#9: Malvinder & Shivinder Mohan Singh
$1.5 billion / Delhi

Two brothers inherited family's 33.5% stake in leading pharmaceuticals firm Ranbaxy Laboratories five years ago because of the premature death of their dynamic father, Parvinder Singh. Older brother Malvinder was recently named to its board, while Shivinder looks after a subsidiary.

#9: Dilip Shanghvi
$1.5 billion / Mumbai
49. Married. 2 Children.

With loan from his father started manufacturing psychiatric drugs in 1983. His Sun Pharmaceuticals has a stake in Caraco Pharmaceutical Labs, a US generic drug company.

Complete List

Forbes