Mukesh Ambani regains the top spot with Rs. 9.55 lakh crore fortune, Adani trails at Rs. 8.15 lakh crore; Roshni Nadar Malhotra emerges as India’s wealthiest woman.
NEW DELHI (India CSR): The M3M Hurun India Rich List 2025, unveiled by Hurun Research Institute in collaboration with M3M India, has once again reshaped India’s wealth narrative. Mukesh Ambani and his family reclaimed their long-standing crown as India’s richest, with a staggering net worth of Rs. 9.55 lakh crore, surpassing Gautam Adani and his family, who stand at Rs. 8.15 lakh crore. This year’s list also marks a historic moment with Roshni Nadar Malhotra and her family breaking into the top three, becoming the richest woman in the country with assets of Rs. 2.84 lakh crore.
The report not only underlines the dynamic tussle between Ambani and Adani but also reflects the broader evolution of India’s billionaire class, now surpassing 350 members, collectively holding wealth equal to nearly half of India’s GDP.
Mukesh Ambani Reclaims the Throne
Mukesh Ambani, Chairman of Reliance Industries, once again demonstrated why his empire continues to dominate India’s wealth charts. With strategic expansions in energy, telecom, and retail, Ambani’s family wealth rose to Rs. 9.55 lakh crore, ensuring his return to the top after facing stiff competition from Gautam Adani in previous years.
Reliance’s diversified portfolio, spanning petrochemicals, telecom (Jio), retail, and green energy, has been central to this rebound. Investors and market watchers highlight Ambani’s long-term vision in sustainability and global partnerships as critical to this resurgence.
Gautam Adani Holds Strong Second Position
Gautam Adani and family maintained their dominance in infrastructure, ports, energy, and airports, securing the second spot with Rs. 8.15 lakh crore. While regulatory challenges and global headwinds have affected Adani’s group valuations in the past two years, the billionaire continues to remain a formidable competitor.
The Hurun report also notes that Adani’s strategic investments in renewable energy, logistics, and global expansion remain long-term value drivers. Despite trailing Ambani this year, the rivalry between the two magnates continues to define India’s billionaire narrative.
Roshni Nadar Malhotra: India’s Richest Woman
Breaking gender barriers in wealth leadership, Roshni Nadar Malhotra, Chairperson of HCLTech, and her family amassed a fortune of ₹2.84 lakh crore, earning her the distinction of being India’s richest woman.
Her inclusion in the top three symbolizes the rising power of women entrepreneurs and leaders in India. With 101 women making it to the list, including 26 dollar-billionaires, the report highlights an encouraging trend in wealth creation led by women.
India’s Billionaire Boom
The Hurun India Rich List 2025 reveals that India now boasts over 350 billionaires, a sixfold increase since the list began 13 years ago. Together, their wealth totals an astonishing Rs. 167 lakh crore, representing nearly half of the nation’s GDP.
The rise of young entrepreneurs and innovators has significantly contributed to this surge. The narrative is shifting from inherited wealth to self-made billionaires, who now constitute 66% of the list, with 74% of new entrants being first-generation wealth creators.
Young Billionaires Making Waves
The 2025 list celebrates the rise of youth in wealth creation:
- Aravind Srinivas (31), founder of Perplexity, is now India’s youngest billionaire with a net worth of ₹21,190 crore.
- Kaivalya Vohra (22) of Zepto became the youngest entrant, with co-founder Aadit Palicha (23) not far behind.
- Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan made his debut in the billionaire club with a net worth of ₹12,490 crore, showcasing the growing influence of the entertainment industry in wealth creation.
Wealth Growth and Regional Trends
This year, Niraj Bajaj and family recorded the highest absolute gain, adding Rs. 69,875 crore to their fortune, bringing their wealth to Rs. 2.33 lakh crore. Meanwhile, Vijay Shekhar Sharma, founder of Paytm, re-entered the billionaire ranks with Rs. 15,930 crore, thanks to a remarkable 124% surge in his company’s stock price.
On the geographic front, Mumbai remains India’s billionaire capital with 451 entrants, followed by New Delhi (223) and Bengaluru (116). Among industries, pharmaceuticals lead with 137 billionaires, followed by industrial products and chemicals & petrochemicals.
Women and Wealth Creation
The Hurun report highlights the growing footprint of women in wealth creation. Out of 101 women featured, 26 are dollar billionaires, reflecting both inherited wealth and self-made success. Sectors like technology, pharmaceuticals, and consumer businesses are seeing more women rise to the top.
This growing presence not only redefines gender dynamics in India’s wealth landscape but also signals a more inclusive path toward economic growth.
India’s Richest 2025 – Key Comparison
| Name & Family | Company/Group | Net Worth (₹ lakh crore) | Ranking in 2025 | Key Sector Focus | Special Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mukesh Ambani | Reliance Industries | ₹9.55 lakh crore | 1 | Energy, Telecom, Retail, Green Energy | Reclaims No. 1 spot |
| Gautam Adani | Adani Group | ₹8.15 lakh crore | 2 | Infrastructure, Ports, Airports, Renewable Energy | Holds strong despite global challenges |
| Roshni Nadar Malhotra | HCLTech | ₹2.84 lakh crore | 3 | IT & Technology | Richest woman in India |
The Hurun India Rich List 2025 is more than just a billionaire ranking; it is a snapshot of India’s economic ambitions, entrepreneurial spirit, and generational change. While Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani continue their rivalry at the pinnacle of wealth creation, the rise of Roshni Nadar Malhotra and a wave of young billionaires signal a new era of diversified and inclusive wealth leadership in India.
(India CSR)
