Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani has emerged as the richest Indian for the 11th consecutive year with a networth of $ 47.3 billion, according to Forbes magazine.
Mukesh Ambani is also the year’s biggest gainer, adding $ 9.3 billion to his wealth amid the continuing success of his Reliance Jio broadband telco service.
As per the Forbes India Rich list 2018, Wipro Chairman Azim Premji has retained the second spot, adding $2 billion to his wealth at $ 21 billion;
while Arcelor Mittal Chairman and CEO Lakshmi Mittal moved place ahead to the third slot with a net worth of $ 18.3 billion, increasing his wealth by $ 1.8 billion.
Mittal is followed by the Hinduja brothers with a net worth of $ 18 billion and Pallonji Mistry with $ 15.7 billion.
Other business magnates making the top 10 list are Shiv Nadar (14.6 billion),
Godrej family ($ 14 billion),
Dilip Shanghvi ($ 12.6 billion),
Kumar Birla ($ 12.5 billion) and
Gautam Adani ($ 11.9 billion).
“In a challenging year, which saw the rupee taking a tumble, the country’s 100 richest collectively managed to hold their own. Moreover, new billionaires continue to be minted, which indicates that India’s entrepreneurial energy is upbeat as ever,” said Naazneen Karmali, India Editor of Forbes Asia.
Biotechnology pioneer Kiran Mazumdar Shaw has emerged as the biggest percentage gainer of the year. One of only four women on the list, her net worth rose 66.7 per cent to $ 3.6 billion. In terms of net worth, she stood 39th spot.