A philanthropist is a term related to a person who is capable of helping the needy with the resources they have, especially money. Philanthropists help needy people create a better world and, so to say, improve the economy of a country. The constant effort to promote human welfare makes a person an actual philanthropist.
India is a country that has umpteen slums in every city. People living in such slums are so poor and needy that our industrialists and rich heads come forward to help them during their hard times. In the recent times, these philanthropists donated as much as they could. Here is the top philanthropists’ list in India:
Shiv Nadar, the founder of a multi-billion company (HCL Technologies) donates a huge amount of his earnings through the foundation named after him, Shiv Nadar Foundation. The foundation’s focus is empowering individuals through education to bridge the socio-economic divide.
He is widely regarded as the biggest philanthropist in India and believes that every person should be well educated thus has the aim to establish institutions and schools in the underdeveloped and rural areas of our country. Some of his famous institutions are the SSN Institution, VidyaGyan & Kiran Nadar Museum of Art. Shiv Nadar donated 5% more than FY2023 with a total of INR 2153 crores making him the top philanthropist in India for 2024.
Mukesh Ambani and Family
Name
Mukesh Ambani
Company
Reliance Industries
Donation
INR 407 Crores
Primary Cause
Healthcare
Mukesh Ambani – Famous Philanthropist in India
Mukesh Ambani, one of the richest people in the world is also a big philanthropist who founded the Reliance Foundation, a non-profit organization in 2010. This Foundation‘s objective is to promote sustainable growth in India.
The Reliance Foundation is run by Mrs. Nita Ambani who has a focus on rural transformation, health, education, and sports for development. Every year the foundation donates an amount of approximately INR 407 crores to such programs and NGOs. Mukesh Ambani and his family are second in the top 10 philanthropists of India for 2024.
The Bajaj family, Indian philanthropists, has made notable contributions and has been actively involved in philanthropic activities in the country where they have established their business. Their charitable endeavors have demonstrated a commitment to giving back to society and have had a significant impact on the communities they serve.
Their contribution of INR 352 crore to the cause is a testament to their unwavering commitment to charity and social welfare. This achievement marks their first appearance on the prestigious list since its inception and highlights their dedication to making a tangible impact through their acts of kindness. Bajaj Family is the third in the top 10 philanthropists of India for 2024.
Kumar Mangalam Birla and Family
Name
Kumar Mangalam Birla
Company
Aditya Birla
Donation
INR 334 Crores
Primary Cause
Education
Kumar Mangalam – Famous Philanthropist in India
The chairman of Aditya Birla Group, Kumar Mangalam Birla donated a huge amount of his profits to the PM CARES FUND and helped actively people during the COVID-19 pandemic times to do the needful.
His focus is on the poor who don’t have enough financial resources to pay their hospital bills and get proper treatment. He frequently visits the Aditya Birla Memorial Hospital to check up on its welfare and services. He is one of the top philanthropists in India for 2024.
Gautam Adani
Name
Gautam Adani
Company
Adani Group
Donation
INR 330 Crores
Primary Cause
Education
Gautam Adani – Famous Philanthropist in India
Gautam Adani is a true entrepreneur in every sense. He has businesses in almost every sector. He believes a lot in helping and is always donating finances through the Adani Foundation to the needful.
Adani Foundation is based on the Gandhian Philosophy of Trusteeship. The main motive is to facilitate quality education, enable youth with skills, and promote society through infrastructural development. He also donated an amount of INR 88 Crores during the COVID-19 period to the PM Cares Fund. With a donation of INR 330 crore, Gautam Adani is the 5th in the top 10 philanthropists in India for 2024.
Nandan Nilekani is the co-founder of Infosys. In 1978, he started his career at Infosys, and now he is one of India’s biggest entrepreneurs and a big philanthropist. He and his wife started donating small amounts of their income to poor people, and in 2017, both of them decided to donate 50% of their wealth to an NPO, which is operated by Bill Gates Foundation.
Krishna Chivukula – Famous Philanthropist in India
Krishna Chivukula, chairman of INDO-MIM, has donated INR 228 crore to IIT Madras. This is the largest donation the institute has ever received. The money will be used for fellowships for top BTech students, sports programs, and important research projects. He is now ranked 7th on the list of top donors.
Anil Agarwal
Name
Anil Agarwal
Company
Vedanta
Donation
INR 181 Crores
Primary Cause
Healthcare
Anil Agarwal – Famous Philanthropist in India
Anil Agarwal founded the Vedanta foundation on 15th September 1992, to help in creating more employment for sustainable development. Vedanta Foundation aims to achieve development through programs in the form of initiatives with a broad focus mainly on education, nutrition, and livelihood. He is one of the top philanthropists in India for 2024.
Their main objective is to focus on the school children, to provide them with proper nutrition, training, and knowledge about the digital world, which helps them to grow and grab better job opportunities.
Susmita and Subroto Bagchi
Name
Susmita and Subroto Bagchi
Company
Mindtree
Donation
INR 179 Crores
Primary Cause
Education
Susmita and Subroto Bagchi – Famous Philanthropist in India
Mindtree founder Subroto Bagchi and his wife Susmita are now in the top 10 donors list. They donated INR 179 crore, 63% more than last year. They focus on education and started the Bagchi School of Public Health at Ahmedabad University in 2023.
Rohini Nilekani
Name
Rohini Nilekani
Company
Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies
Donation
INR 154 Crores
Primary Cause
Ecosystem Building
Rohini Nilekani – Famous Philanthropist in India
Rohini Nilekani, a philanthropist in India, has been a beacon of hope for those in need with her consistent and generous donations of INR 15470 crore in 2024. Her unwavering dedication towards philanthropic causes is evident from her pledge to donate half of her wealth to noble works through the ‘Giving Pledge.’ She has been actively involved in various initiatives and programs aimed at uplifting society and making a positive impact on the lives of people. Her philanthropic efforts have touched the lives of many, and she continues to inspire others to follow in her footsteps.
Azim Premji
Name
Azim Premji
Company
Wipro
Donation (FY 2023)
INR 1,774 Crores
Primary Cause
Education
Azim Premji – Famous Philanthropist in India
Mr. Azim Premji is one of the most respected Indian Business tycoons, and also a top Indian philanthropist as he’s been donating his time, money, and experience to the people who are in the utmost need.
Recently, he has donated most of his wealth to all other philanthropists so they can pass on the resources to the right place at the right time. He has a trust named Azim Premji Foundation, which gives grants to non-profit organizations that work for the most vulnerable people in our society by providing them with the essential services required to carry out a healthy life. He is considered one of the most famous philanthropist in India.
Ajay Piramal
Name
Ajay Piramal
Company
Piramal Group
Donation (FY 2023)
INR 200 Crores
Primary Cause
Healthcare, Women’s Empowerment, Education
Ajay Piramal – Famous Philanthropist in India
Ajay Piramal, who owns a business of 460 crores, is a well-known philanthropist and also believes in donating for the good. He started his philanthropic career in 2006 by forming a group named the Piramal Foundation. His main objective was healthcare. As he became a pharmaceutical company he realized the need for a better healthcare system in India.
Presently the foundation works in four areas that are: Healthcare, Education, Better Livelihood, and Youth empowerment. Ajay donates around INR 200 crores every year to India’s needy population and is counted as one of the biggest philanthropist in India.
Shrichand Hinduja – Famous Philanthropist in India
Following the legacy left by his father, Shrichand Hinduja is one of the leading businessmen and a big philanthropist in India. Hinduja Foundation was founded in 1970 with the objective of ending poverty in the country.
The foundation has done various initiatives to identify and enhance the efficiency of water usage in rural areas. They also focus on the healthcare facilities available to remote areas and help in the sustainable development of small villages and towns.
Sudhir Mehta
Name
Sudhir Mehta
Company
Torrent
Donation (FY 2023)
INR 81 Crores
Primary Cause
Community Healthcare, Education, and Knowledge Enhancement
Sudhir Mehta – Famous Philanthropist in India
Sudhir Mehta is a well-known philanthropist in India, owning the Torrent group, which deals in the gas and power business. He donates a lot to the Gujarati community and the Jain people. Sudhir helps the people by giving the poor children a proper source of education and healthy meals to eat. He dreams of achieving a 100% literacy rate in India.
Cyrus and Adar Poonawalla – Famous Philanthropist in India
Cyrus S. Poonawalla and Adar Poonawalla, who represent the Serum Institute of India, have made an outstanding contribution of INR 179 crore to the India Philanthropy List 2023. The Poonawalla brothers have been particularly focused on the healthcare industry, which reflects a remarkable 60% increase in their donations from the previous year.
Their continued support of charitable activities related to the healthcare sector is further illustrated by their additional contribution of $19.08 million from Serum Inc. and Serum Institute Life Science-UK. All these contributions from famous philanthropists are a testament to their unwavering commitment to improving the healthcare sector in India.
The nation requires philanthropists in India who give their best efforts to make the country a better place to live. Such people who are capable of helping others should be appreciated as they are the people who can transform India by filling the gaps that others cannot. The above list of philanthropists in India highlights individuals who have made significant contributions to society through generous donations, particularly in areas like education, healthcare, and research.
FAQs
Who is the greatest philanthropist in India?
Shiv Nadar is considered one of the greatest philanthropists in India, as he has donated around ₹2,153 crores in 2024.
Who is a philanthropist?
A philanthropist is a person who donates his/her time, money, experience, and skills to help create a better world.
What is an example of philanthropy?
An example of philanthropy would be giving money to charity or volunteering.
Who is India’s most charitable person?
Azim Premji, one of India’s most respected business tycoons, is widely regarded as the country’s most charitable person for his extensive philanthropic contributions.
India is home to some insanely wealthy families and individuals well-known across the globe. India has the third largest group of rich people after the US and China. In 2022, the combined wealth of India’s 100 richest increased by $25 billion to touch $800 billion. StartupTalky has compiled an exhaustive list of the top richest people in India . Their net worth is based on the data from 2022 available on their respective Forbes profiles.
Founder – Adani Group Net Worth – $150 Billion Industry – Diversified
Gautam Adani, Founder of Adani Group | Top Richest Indians
Gautam Adani is an Indian billionaire industrialist and stands in the first position on the list of the top richest Indians in 2022. He is the chairman and founder of the Adani Group. The Adani Group is an Ahmedabad-based conglomerate involved in port development and operations in India. He is also the president of the Adani Foundation which operates to nurture communities in four chosen areas—education, healthcare, sustainable livelihood, and rural infrastructure development.
The Adani Group was formed in 1988 and has business interests in the resources, logistics, energy, agriculture, defence, and aerospace sectors. Gautam Adani holds a 66% stake in Adani Ports & SEZ Limited, a 75% stake in Adani Enterprises, a 73% stake in Adani Power, and a 75% stake in Adani Transmission. He was ranked as the 4th most powerful person in India by India Today Magazine in 2017.
Gautam Adani was born on 24 June 1962 in a Bania family in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. He did his schooling at Seth CN Vidyalaya in Ahmedabad. He is a B.Com dropout from Gujarat University. The Adani group’s venture into Australia after a nine-year wait is expected to bring huge windfalls for the billionaire.
Mukesh Ambani
Chairman – Reliance Industries Net Worth – $88 Billion Industry – Diversified
Mukesh Ambani – Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance Industries | Top Richest Indians
Mukesh Ambani is an Indian billionaire businessman and stands in the second position on this list, as of 2022. He is the chairman and managing director of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL). Reliance Industries mainly deals in refining, petrochemicals, and activities in the oil and gas sector. Mukesh Ambani has diversified his reach in the Indian market through several ventures, racing ahead in his net worth and influence exerted over India’s developing economy. Reliance Retail—which offers foods, groceries, apparel, footwear, lifestyle, home improvement products, electronic goods, and farm implements—is one of his group’s recent offerings. The Ambani family is also the owner of Mumbai Indians, an IPL franchise. Mukesh Ambani also owns Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd. which took the telecom sector in India by storm and toppled the monopoly of the oldest players in the domain.
He was ranked 13th on the list of the world’s richest people as of May 2019. He has a stake of approximately 50% in Reliance Industries. Ambani surpassed Jack Ma, founder and executive chairman of Alibaba Group, to become Asia’s richest person with a net worth of $44.3 billion in July 2018. Mukesh Ambani is known to make headlines every now and then for the right reasons—Saudi Arabia-based Aramco buying a 20% stake in RIL for a whopping $15 billion, and him completing a 100% acquisition of Hamleys through Reliance Brands, a subsidiary of Reliance Industries.
Mukesh Ambani’s Life, Biography, and History
Mukesh is the oldest son of Dhirubhai Ambani and has a younger brother, Anil Ambani, whose downhill journey to oblivion is known to all. Mukesh Ambani was born on 19 April 1957 in Aden, Yemen and brought up in Mumbai. He graduated in Chemical Engineering from the Institute of Chemical Technology. He is an MBA dropout from Stanford University. Mukesh is a fan of Bollywood movies and watches three movies a week. He quips, “You need some amount of escapism in life.”
Radhakishan Damani
Founder – DMart Net Worth – $27.6 Billion Industry – Retail, Investments
Radhakishan Damani, Founder of DMart | Top Richest Indians
Radhakishan Damani founded the DMart chain of supermarkets. His retail chain accounts for more than 90 stores across India and is the third biggest in the industry. He has the ownership of a 65.2% stake in Avenue Supermarts, the parent company of DMart. His investment company, Bright Star Investments, holds another 16% stake.
Radhakishan Damani is known as Mr. White for his simplistic way of life coupled with high thinking. He is also a stock investor, broker, and trader. Radhakishan is well-known for his acumen and shrewdness as an investor.
Damani was born in 1945 in a Marwari family in Bikaner, Rajasthan. He enrolled for a bachelor’s degree in commerce but dropped out after the first year.
Cyrus Poonawala
Chairman – Poonawalla Group Net worth – $21.5 Billion Industry – Healthcare
Cyrus Poonawalla, Chairman of Serum Institute of India | Top Richest Indians
Cyrus Poonawalla is a self-made Indian tycoon. He is the founder of the Poonawalla Group. Cyrus comes from a family that is deeply connected with horse breeding. However, his keen interest in the field of medicine led him to create one of the world’s largest vaccine manufacturing and biotech companies – Serum Institute of India.
Cyrus Poonawalla was awarded the Padma Shri for his work and contributions made in the field of medicine. He was also awarded the Life Time Achievement award by the then-Prime Minister Of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh. With a net worth of $8.3 billion, Cyrus Poonawala is the 170th richest person on earth.
Shiv Nadar
Founder – HCL Net worth – $21.4 Billion Industry – Software Services
Shiv Nadar, Founder of HCL | Top Richest Indians
Shiv Nadar is the Chairman Emeritus and founder of HCL and established the Shiv Nadar Foundation. He is a prominent industrialist and philanthropist. Nadar has committed more than $1 billion to philanthropy. He is ranked 5th in the Forbes list of richest persons in India (2022).
Nadar founded HCL in 1976. Nadar was honoured with the third highest civilian award, Padma Bhushan, by the Government of India in 2008. Madras university conferred upon Shiv Nadar an honorary doctorate degree in the year 2007. He was present in Forbes’ 48 Heroes of Philanthropy in the Asia Pacific in 2011.
Nadar was born on 14 July 1945 in Tamil Nadu. He currently lives in New Delhi. He pursued his degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Coimbatore. Nadar is called “Magus” by his friends (meaning ‘wizard’ in Persian).
Savitri Jindal
Chairperson – O.P. Jindal Group Net Worth – $16.4 Billion Industry – Metals and Mining
Savitri Jindal, Chairperson of O.P. Jindal Group | Top Richest Indians
Savitri Jindal is the Chairperson Emeritus of the Jindal group that deals with steel, power, mining, and the oil and gas domains. The Jindal group is well-known in the manufacturing industry (every Indian knows about Jindal Steels). Savitri took over the company after the death of her husband OP Jindal in 2005 who founded the Jindal Group. After taking charge as the chairperson, the revenue of the company quadrupled.
Savitri Jindal is the richest woman in India. She was the world’s 453rd richest person in 2016. She is also the world’s seventh-richest mother. Savitri was a Minister in the Haryana Government and a member of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha from Hisar constituency.
She was born in Tinsukia, Assam and presently lives in Hisar, Haryana. She holds a diploma degree in Education. Her son Naveen is constantly in the limelight for his success as a businessman. She has nine children with Om Prakash Jindal.
Dilip Shanghvi
Founder – Sun Pharmaceuticals Net Worth – $15.5 Billion Industry – Healthcare
Dilip Sanghvi, Founder of Sun Pharma | Top Richest Indians
Dilip Sanghvi is the founder of Sun Pharmaceuticals which manufactures and sells pharmaceutical formulations and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) primarily in India and the United States. He started the company in Vapi in 1982 with a capital of Rs. 10,000. Sun Pharma is the largest pharmaceutical company in India and the fifth largest in the world. Its drugs have always been in high demand with the major markets being India, the USA, and Japan.
Dilip Sanghvi was honoured with the Padma Shri in 2016. He is also a trustee of the Rhodes scholarship programme at Oxford University. He was appointed by the Indian government to the RBI’s 21-member central board committee.
Dilip Sanghvi was born on 1 October 1955, in Amreli, Gujarat. He pursued B.Com from the University of Calcutta. He did his schooling and graduated from J. J. Ajmera High School and Bhawanipur Education Society College respectively. Dilip Sanghvi is unanimously considered the richest businessman in the drug and pharma sector.
Hinduja Family
Ownership – Hinduja Group Net Worth – $15.2 Billion Industry – Diversified
Hinduja Family, Hinduja Group | Top Richest Indians
The Hinduja Group is one of the biggest Indian businesses with a strong international presence. Founded by Parmanand Deepchand Hinduja, the company is now run by his sons Shrichand, Gopichand, Prakash, and Ashok. Though the Hindujas are Indians, they have soaked in success while staying outside the country. The company headquarters is situated in London. This is also the reason behind the Hinduja Group featuring among the wealthiest companies in Britain.
Kumar Managalam Birla
Chairman – Aditya Birla Group Net Worth – $15 Billion Industry – Diversified
Kumar Birla, Chairman of Aditya Birla Group | Top Richest Indians
Kumar Birla is an Indian industrialist and the chairman of the Aditya Birla group. He is an educationist as well. Kumar Birla is the chancellor of the Birla Institute of Technology & Science (BITS). He is the chairman of IIT Delhi, IIM Ahmedabad, and the chairman of the Rhodes India Scholarship Committee for Oxford University. Kumar serves on the Asia Pacific Advisory Board of the London Business School and is an honorary fellow of the London Business School.
Kumar Mangalam Birla handed over the reins of the Birla Group at the age of 28 after the demise of his father in 1998. Under him, the company expanded from being valued at $3.33 billion in 1995 to $41 billion in 2015. He was felicitated with the “CEO of the Year” award by the International Advertising Association, and the Economic Times’ “Business Leader Award” in 2003 and 2013.
He was born on 14 June 1967 in Calcutta and brought up in Mumbai. He studied B.Com from the HR College of Commerce and Economics, has an MBA degree from the London Business School, and is a chartered accountant from the ICAI (India).
Bajaj Family
Ownership – Bajaj Group Net worth – $14.6 Billion Industry – Diversified
Bajaj Family Owners of Bajaj Group | Top Richest Indians
The Bajaj Group owns 40+ companies and the group’s flagship company—Bajaj Auto is ranked as the fourth largest two- and three-wheeler manufacturer in the world. The Bajaj Group is involved in industries such as home appliances, lighting, iron and steel, insurance, travel, and finance.
Bajaj Group was founded by a Rajasthani Marwari businessman, Jamnalal Bajaj, in 1926. Rahul Bajaj, the grandson of Jamnalal Bajaj, the late patriarch and former chairman, shared the family fortune with cousins. Following the passing of the patriarch in February 2022, Rajiv Bajaj, Rahul Bajaj’s older son, now leads Bajaj Auto, while Sanjiv Bajaj, Rahul Bajaj’s younger son, manages Bajaj Finserv—the family’s most significant asset.
Sanjiv Bajaj, Chairman and MD of Bajaj Finserv, leads the financial conglomerate within the Bajaj Group with 9M consolidated revenue of over Rs 58,447 crore ($7.14 billion)* and Rs 4,648 crore ($568 million)* profit after tax for FY2022-23. Under his leadership, Bajaj Finserv has emerged as a leading diversified financial services company in India, offering lending, insurance, and wealth advisory solutions.
Sanjiv Bajaj chairs Bajaj Finance, Maharashtra Scooters, Bajaj Finserv Asset Management, and Bajaj Housing Finance, among others. His contributions to the financial services sector have been widely recognized, including being honored as AIMA’s Transformational Business Leader 2023, among other prestigious honors.
Founder – Bharti Enterprises Net Worth – $14.5 Billion Industry – Telecom
Sunil Mittal, Founder of Bharti Enterprises | Top Richest Indians
Sunil Mittal is the founder of Bharti Enterprises, which has diversified interests in telecom, insurance, real estate, education, malls, hospitality, agriculture, and food. He was among the early birds who identified the potential in the mobile telecom business and came up with Airtel; Sunil dominated the telecom segment in India through Airtel until Mukesh Ambani stepped in with Jio. Bharti Airtel, a subsidiary of Bharti Enterprises, manages Airtel and is currently focusing on Asia and the African regions.
Sunil Mittal was awarded the Padma Bhushan in the year 2007. He was then elected as chairman of the International Chamber of Commerce in 2016. He is no stranger to laurels and recognition, having been the recipient of awards like Telecom Person Of The Year by Telecom Asia Awards, and Business Leader Of The Year by Economic Times to name a few.
Born on 23 October 1957 in Ludhiana, Punjab, he completed his education at Arya College and Punjab University. At the age of 18, he started his first business by borrowing Rs. 20000 from his father. His father was an MP from Ludhiana.
Uday Kotak
Founder – Kotak Mahindra Bank Net Worth – $14.3 Billion Industry – Finance and Investments
Uday Kotak, Founder, MD, and CEO of Kotak Mahindra Bank | Top Richest Indians
Uday Kotak is the founder, MD, and CEO of Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd. Kotak Mahindra Bank. Anand Mahindra lent Rs. 1 lakh to Uday Kotak to start a financial services firm 30 years ago.
He was recognized as the “Most Powerful Person in The Financial World” by Forbes in May 2016. India Today magazine ranked him 8th in India’s most powerful person list of 2017. He was also the Ernst and Young World Entrepreneur of the Year in 2014.
Born on 15 March 1959 in Mumbai, Uday Kotak was brought up in an upper-middle-class Gujarati-Lohana joint family. He pursued his bachelor’s degree from Sydenham College of Commerce and Economics and holds an MBA degree from Jamnalal Bajaj Institute. He is a math wizard and topped his university in B.Com.
Shapoor Mistry and Family
Chairman – Shapoorji Pallonji Group Net Worth – $14.2 Billion Industry – Diversified
Shapoor Mistry, Chairman of Shapoorji Pallonji Group | Top Richest Indians
After the death of Pallonji Shapoorji Mistry and his younger son, Cyrus Mistry earlier in 2022, Shapoor Mistry (Pallonji Shapoorji’s elder son) now runs the Shapoorji Pallonji Group. He serves as the Chairman of the Shapoorji Pallonji Group. The family holds also holds an 18.4% stake in Tata Sons.
Shapoor Mistry, the patriarch’s older son and group Chairman, now oversees the family’s $14.2 billion fortune, which is primarily derived from a minority stake in the sprawling Tata conglomerate.
Godrej Family
Ownership – Godrej Group Net Worth – $13.9 Billion Industry – Diversified
Adi Godrej, Chairman Emeritus of Godrej Group | Top Richest Indians
The Godrej company has existed since 1897 and is present in almost every imaginable sector of the Indian economy. The company was founded by Pirojsha and Ardeshir Godrej. The empire is now run by their grandsons Adi, Nadir, and Jamshyd. Adi Burjorji is the head of the Godrej family and the chairman of the Godrej Group. He has been the chairman of the Indian School of Business since April 2011.
Ardeshir decided to make locks after seeing the crime rates in 1897. His brother joined him in his venture and the rest is history. Smita Godrej is a third-generation heir of the Godrej family. On a lighter note, almost every family in India still has a Godrej almirah that’s at least 20 years old!
Lakshmi Mittal
Chairman – ArcelorMittal Net Worth – $13.8 Billion Industry – Metals and Mining
Lakshmi Mittal, Founder and Chairman of ArcelorMittal | Top Richest Indians
Lakshmi Niwas Mittal is an Indian steel magnate, Founder, and Chairman of ArcelorMittal. He is the owner of Karrick Limited and the co-owner of Queens Park Rangers F.C. He is popularly known as the King of Steel. In 2007, he became the richest Asian in Europe. His empire has been subjected to a minor slowdown after the acquisition of an Italian company but Lakshmi Mittal continues to grow every day with his companies consistently reporting double-digit growth year in, and year out.
Lakshmi Niwas Mittal is on the board of directors of the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company. He is a member of the independent board of directors at Goldman Sachs since 2008. He is also associated with several charities and firmly supports the development of Indian athletes.
Lakshmi Mittal was born on 15 June 1950 in Sadulpur, Rajasthan to a traditional Marwari family. He currently resides in London. He pursued his B.Com degree from St. Xavier’s College, Calcutta. Mittal is known for his lavish lifestyle and incredible success statement; the steel tycoon spent approximately $60 million on his daughter Vanisha Mittal’s nuptials. The spectacle features in Forbes’ top ten most outrageous billionaire weddings.
Madhukar Parekh
Chairman – Pidilite Industries Net Worth – $12.6 Billion Industry – Manufacturing
Madhukar Parekh, Chairman of Pidilite | Top RIchest Indians
Madhukar Balvantray Parekh is the chairman and executive director of Pidilite Industries, an organization dealing in adhesives and construction chemicals. Fevicol, Dr. Fixit, M-Seal, Fevikwik, and Fevistik are some of the big names in the Pidilite chain.
Parekh serves as the Chairman, executive director, and MD of Vinyl Chemicals India Limited. He is also an independent non-executive director of Excel Industries Limited. Under his leadership, the company won many prestigious awards such as the ‘Most Promising Company of the Year’ at CNBC, and the 11th India Business Leader Awards.
Madhukar was born in 1945 in Mumbai. He currently lives in Mumbai. Parekh is a Gold medalist holder from the Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT), a leading chemical technology research institute in India. His father Balvantray Kalyanji Parekh was the founder of Pidilite Industries. Balvantray was popularly known as ‘India’s Fevicol Man’.
Burman Family
Ownership – Dabur India Net Worth – $9.6 Billion Industry – Consumer Goods
Burman Family, Dabur | Top Richest Indians
The Burman family is responsible for giving us Indians Dabur Chyawanprash, a health product that graces the kitchen shelf of every other Indian. An Ayurvedic practitioner Dr. S.K. Burman started the business in the 1880s. His son then went on to set up a research and development facility and also began the mass production of medicines in 1884. Dabur Ltd. is presently handled by the fifth generation of the Burman household. However, Fresenius SE which is based out of Germany controls more than 73.3% of Dabur Pharma Ltd.
Azim Premji
Founder – Wipro Net Worth – $9.3 Billion Industry – Technology
Azim Premji – Founder of Wipro | Top Richest Indians
Azim Premji is referred to as the Czar of the Indian IT Industry. He is an Indian billionaire, business tycoon, investor, philanthropist, and the founder of India’s third-largest software company—Wipro Limited. Wipro Limited is an India-based IT, consulting, and business process services (BPO) company headquartered in Bengaluru, India. Azim Premji is also the richest person in Karnataka.
The Government of India honoured Azim Premji with Padma Bhushan in 2005 and awarded him the Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian award, in 2011 for his excellent work in the field of trade and commerce.
Premji was born on 24 July 1945 in Mumbai and currently resides in Bangalore. Premji pursued Electrical Engineering (equivalent to a Bachelor of Engineering) from Stanford University, USA. He took over his family’s cooking oil business after the death of his father in 1966. He is also the first Indian to sign up for The Giving Pledge, a campaign led by Bill Gates and Warren Buffett. The Giving Pledge focuses on encouraging the wealthiest individuals to give away most of their money to philanthropic causes.
Kushal Pal Singh
Former Chairman – DLF Ltd. Net Worth – $8.8 Billion Industry – Real Estate
Kushal Pal Singh, Chairman Emeritus of DLF | Top Richest Indians
Kushal Pal Singh is the former CEO and chairman of DLF Limited. DLF Ltd. (Delhi Land and Finance) is India’s largest commercial real estate developer. DLF Limited was founded by his father-in-law Chaudhary Raghvendra Singh.
Singh was honoured with Padma Bhushan Award on 26 January 2010 by the Government of India. He was recognized by Forbes magazine as the richest real estate baron and the eighth richest person in the world on 24 March 2008.
KP Singh was born on 15 November 1931 in Uttar Pradesh. He did Aeronautical Engineering in the UK and was also selected for the Indian Army by the British Officers Services Selection Board, UK. An Autobiography named ‘Whatever the Odds: The Incredible Story Behind DLF’ was launched in 2011.
Ashwin Dani
Non-Executive Director – Asian Paints Ltd. Net worth – $8.4 Billion Industry – Manufacturing
Ashwin Dani, Non-Executive Director of Asian Paints | Top Richest Indians
Ashwin Dani is a businessman and the non-executive Director of India’s largest paint company, Asian Paints Ltd. His full name is Ashwin Suryakant Dani. He won the Color Society Lifetime achievement award in the year 2012.
Ravi Jaipuria
Chairman – RJ Corp Net worth – $8.1 Billion Industry – Manufacturing
Ravi Jaipuria, Chairman of RJ Corp | Top Richest Indians
Ravi Jaipuria is an Indian billionaire businessman and Chairman of RJ Corp. Under RJ Corp, he manages Devyani International which operates many large beverage and fast food brands like KFC, Pizza Hut, and more.
Varun Beverages, the other listed company under RJ Corp, is the second-largest bottling partner for PepsiCo’s soft drink brands. Ravi is famously known as India’s cola king.
Kuldip Singh & Gurbachan Singh Dhingra
Owners – Berger Paints India Net worth – $6.8 Billion Industry – Manufacturing
Kuldip Singh (left) and Gurbachan Singh Dhingra, Berger Paints | Top Richest Indians
The brothers control India’s second-largest paint maker company, Berger Paints. Kuldip Singh and Gurbachan Singh bought Berger from Vijay Mallya. Kuldip Singh serves as the Chairman and Gurbachan Singh Dhingra serves as the Vice Chairman of Berger Paints India.
Vikram Lal
Founder – Eicher Motors Net Worth – $6.6 Billion Industry – Automotive
Vikram Lal, Founder and Former CEO of Eicher Motors | Top Richest Indians
Vikram Lal is the founder and former CEO of Eicher Motors which manufactures motorcycles and commercial vehicles. He is also the president of Common Cause, a public interest NGO pursuing major issues relating to reform, governance, and the enforcement of the law.
Eicher Motors is the parent company of Royal Enfield, a manufacturer of middleweight motorcycles. Eicher Motors holds a majority stake of 60% in Royal Enfield. His son Siddharth Lal is the current CEO of Eicher Motors and Royal Enfield.
Lal was born in 1942 in Delhi and presently lives in Delhi. He pursued his Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering from Technical University Darmstadt in West Germany. He is also on the board of directors of ‘The Doon School’. His NGO, Goodearth Education Foundation (GEF), has been working with state governments and other NGOs in primary education for more than 10 years.
Mahendra Choksi
Company – Asian Paints Net worth – $6.5 Billion Industry – Manufacturing
Mahendra Choksi is the son of one of the four co-founders of Asian Paints. Family patriarch Ashwin Choksi, under whom the fortune was previously listed, died in September 2018. Mahendra is the late Ashwin Choksi’s brother. Mahendra’s son, Manish, is the company’s non-executive vice chairman.
Murali Divi
Founder – Divi’s Laboratories Net Worth – $6.45 Billion Industry – Healthcare
Murali Divi, Founder of Divi’s Laboratories | Top Riches Indians
Murali Divi is a U.S.-trained scientist who founded generics maker Divi’s Laboratories 30 years ago as a drug research firm. Today, Divi’s Laboratories is among the world’s top suppliers of active pharmaceutical ingredients. The company’s revenue is estimated to be $1.2 billion in 2022.
Sudhir & Samir Mehta
Owners – Torrent Pharma Net worth – $6.4 Billion Industry – Healthcare
Sudhir and Samir Mehta, Torrent Pharma | Top Riches Indians
Sudhir Mehta and Samir Mehta changed the fortunes of a struggling Trinity laboratory by manifesting it into Torrent Pharma. Torrent has a solid presence in Russia, Brazil, and many other European countries. The Torrent group also tried its hands at generating electricity; today, Torrent Power has a 2,101 Mw generation capacity and distributes power to 2.76 million customers in parts of Gujarat.
Vinod & Anil Rai Gupta
Owners – Havells India Net worth – $6.3 Billion Industry – Manufacturing
Anil and Vinod Rai Gupta, Havells | Top Richest Indians
Havells was founded by Qimat Rai Gupta. Anil Rai is the son of Vinod Gupta (wife of the late Qimat Gupta). Together they own 60% of Havells India, their primary source of wealth. Havells makes everything—from electrical equipment and lighting products to washing machines and refrigerators. The company’s products are available in more than 60 countries in the world.
Hasmukh Chudgar
Founder – Intas Pharmaceuticals Net worth – $6.2 Billion Industry – Pharmaceuticals
Hasmukh Chudgar, Founder of Intas Pharmaceuticals | Top Richest Indians
With a net worth of $6.3 billion, Chudgar is placed at 28th position on the list of India’s richest persons. Hasmukh Chudgar founded the generics maker Intas Pharmaceuticals in 1977. Intas bought the Irish and UK assets of Israeli firm Teva Pharmaceuticals for $764 million in October 2016.
Benu Gopal Bangur
Chairman – Shree Cement Net Worth – $6 Billion Industry – Manufacturing
Benu Gopal Bangur, Chairman of Shree Cement | Top Richest Indians
The Bangur business empire came into existence in the year 1979. Gopal Bangur is the owner of Shree Cement, the leading cement producer in India. He is also the Chairman of the board of NBI Industrial Finance Co. Ltd. and the director of Khemka Properties Pvt. Ltd. Gopal is ranked 29th on the list of richest people in India by Forbes.
Benu Bangur holds a 65% stake in Shree Cement. Shree Ultra Ordinary Portland Cement, Shree Ultra Jung Rodhak, Bangur Cement, and Tuff Cemento 3556 are the crown jewels of Shree Cement.
Bangur was born in 1931 in Kolkata to a Marwari business family. He is a widow with two children and currently resides in Kolkata. Benu has a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce from Calcutta University. He runs a Sanskrit school to promote Indian heritage and culture.
Rekha Jhunjhunwala
Company- Rare Enterprises Net Worth – $5.9 Billion Industry – Finance and Investments
Rekha Jhunjhunwala | Top Richest Indians
After Rakesh Jhunjhunwala’s (popularly referred to as the Indian Warren Buffet and the Big Bull of the Indian Share Market) death in August 2022, his wife, Rekha Jhunjhunwala replaced him on the list of India’s richest people. She inherited a valuable stock portfolio from her late husband and stands in the 30th position on Forbes India’s rich list. Their portfolio includes popular names like Titan, Star Health and Allied Insurance, Crisil, and more.
Murugappa Family
Company- Murugappa Group Net Worth – $5.8 Billion Industry – Diversified
M M Murugappan, Chairman of Murugappa Group | Top Richest Indians
The Murugappa family owns and manages the Murugappa Group, a conglomerate founded in 1900. The Group was founded by Dewan Bahadur A. M. Murugappa Chettiar. Murugappa Group is involved in diversified businesses like engineering, agriculture, financial services, and more. At present, M M Murugappan serves as the Chairman of the Group.
Harsh Mariwala
Chairman – Marico Net worth – $5.7 Billion Industry – Consumer Goods
Harsh Mariwala, Chairman of Marico | Top Richest Indians
Harsh Mariwala started Marico, the consumer goods company which deals in health and beauty products. Popular hair products like Set Wet, Livon, and Nihar are some of Marico’s offerings. Harsh Mariwala is also the founder of Kaya skincare Ltd. Mariwala’s net worth is $5.7 billion and he has been ranked as the 32nd wealthiest Indian by Forbes.
Vijay Chauhan
Chairman – Parle Products Net worth – $5.5 Billion Industry – Food and Beverage
Vijay Chauhan, Chairman of Parle Products | Top Richest Indians
Vijay Chauhan is the patriarch of the family that controls Parle Products. He serves as the chairman of the company. Parle Products Company was founded in 1929 by Mohanlal Chauhan. The company is famous for its most popular product, Parle G glucose biscuits. At present, he, along with Raj Chauhan and Sharad Chauhan, controls and manages the company.
Founders – Macleods Pharmaceuticals Net Worth – $5.45 Billion Industry – Healthcare
Girdhari Lal (in picture), Rajendra Agarwal, and Banwari Lal Bawri, Macleods | Top Richest Indians
Girdhari Lal Bawri, Rajendra Agarwal, and Banwari Lal Bawri belong to a family that owned a pharmacy in Jaipur and made anti-TB medicines. The privately held company, Macleods Pharmaceutical, now produces generics for a range of diseases, including asthma, osteoporosis, and diabetes. Agarwal, the youngest sibling, is a qualified doctor and the company’s managing director. Older brothers Girdhari Lal and Banwari Lal are chairman and joint managing director respectively.
M.A. Yusuff Ali
Founder – LuLu Group International Net worth – $5.4 Billion Industry – Fashion and Retail
M.A. Yusuff Ali, Founder of LuLu Group International | Top Richest Indians
M.A. Yusuff Ali is the founder and MD of LuLu Group International. The Lulu Group owns various malls and hypermarkets all around the world. After completing his studies, Yusuff shifted to Abu Dhabi and joined his uncle in his business. He launched the first Lulu store in 1990 and hasn’t looked back since then. The business tycoon is aggressively expanding his chain of malls in India with states like Kerala being the entry point.
Vakil Family
Company – Asian Paints Net worth – $5.2 Billion Industry – Manufacturing
Nehal Vakil (in picture) Vakil Family, Asian Paints | Top Richest Indians
Abhay Vakil, the son of Arvind Vakil (one of the co-founders of Asian Paints), was an Indian billionaire businessman and a non-executive director of Asian Paints Ltd. Brothers Abhay and Amar Vakil passed away in the year 2021, and now the third generation of the Vakil family runs Asian Paints. Nehal Vakil, Abhay Vakil’s daughter, became a non-executive director of the company after her father’s demise.
The Vakil Family stands at the 36th position on the Forbes list of the richest Indians in 2022.
Mangal Prabhat Lodha
Founder – Macrotech Developers Net worth – $5.1 Billion Industry – Real Estate
Mangal Prabhat Lodha, Founder of Macrotech Developers | Top Richest Indians
Mangal Prabhat Lodha is an Indian businessman and politician. He founded Lodha Group, now Macrotech Developers, a Mumbai-based real estate developer in 1980. He started the group by building middle-class homes in Mumbai’s suburbs.
He is the Minister of Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Maharashtra. He was also the president of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Mumbai unit.
Kapil & Rahul Bhatia
Company – InterGlobe Enterprises Net worth – $4.9 Billion Industry – Service
Kapil and Rahul Bhatia (in picture), IndiGo Airlines | Top Richest Indians
Rahul Bhatia is the co-founder and non-executive director of IndiGo airlines. He is also the group managing director of InterGlobe Enterprises. It is a privately held firm which has vested interests in the airline, travel, and hotel segments. He won awards such as the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award and the Economic Times Entrepreneur of the Year award. Kapil Bhatia is Rahul Bhatia’s father and the joint owner of InterGlobe Aviation. The father-son duo’s net worth is $4.9 billion, as of 2022.
Pavan and Vivek Jain
Company – INOX Group/ INOXGFL Group Net worth – $4.55 Billion Industry – Manufacturing
Pavan and Vivek Jain, INOX | Top Richest Indians
In 2021, Devendra Jain divided the family’s assets in Inox Group between his two sons, Pavan and Vivek Jain. Pavan is the elder son and serves as the Chairman of the Inox Group, which includes medical gas maker Inox Air Products and movie theatre chain Inox Leisure Ltd. Vivek on the other hand is chairman of the InoxGFL group which includes chemical maker Gujarat Fluorochemicals; Inox Wind and wind farm maintenance company Inox Green Energy Services.
Singh Family
Company – Alkem Laboratories Net worth – $4.5 Billion Industry – Healthcare
Singh Family, Alkem Laboratories | Top Richest Indians
The Singh family inherited a majority stake in Alkem Laboratories after its founder Samprada Singh passed away in July 2019. Alkem Laboratories is one of the top generics companies in India with more than 20 factories across India and the US. At present, Basudeo Narain Singh, Singh’s cousin is the Executive Chairman of the company.
N.R. Narayana Murthy
Company – Infosys Net worth – $4.3 Billion Industry – Technology
N.R. Narayana Murthy, Infosys | Top Richest Indians
N.R. Narayana Murthy is one of the founders and chairman emeritus of the Indian multinational information technology company, Infosys. He served as the CEO, Chairman, President, and chief mentor of the company before his retirement. Time magazine and CNBC have described Murthy as the “father of the Indian IT sector” for his great contribution to outsourcing in India.
He has also been honoured with the Padma Vibhushan and Padma Shri, the prominent civilian awards of the Republic of India.
Ramesh Juneja
Company – Mankind Pharma Net worth – $4.2 Billion Industry – Healthcare
Ramesh Juneja, Chairman of Mankind Pharma | Top Richest Indians
Ramesh Juneja co-founded Mankind Pharma, one of the leading pharmaceutical companies in India, with his brother Rajeev Juneja in 1995. He is currently the Chairman of Mankind Pharma. Ramesh Juneja has held different positions in many pharmaceutical companies in India, like KeePharma Ltd., Lupin, etc.
He is now one of the richest Indians, ranking 42nd on the Forbes List of the Top 100 Richest Indians, 2022.
P.P. Reddy
Chairman – Megha Engineering & Infrastructure Net worth – $4.1 Billion Industry – Engineering and Infrastructure
P.P. Reddy, Chairman of Megha Engineering & Infrastructure | Top Richest Indians
Megha Engineering & Infrastructure was founded in 1989 by P.P. Reddy, a farmer’s son, to make small pipes for the municipality. P.P. Reddy later expanded his business to build infrastructure projects. His nephew, P.V. Krishna Reddy, who joined P.P. Reddy in 1991, runs the company.
Falguni Nayar
Founder – Nykaa Net worth – $4.08 Billion Industry – Beauty and Lifestyle
Falguni Nayar, Founder and CEO of Nykaa | Top Richest Indians
Falguni Nayar is an Indian businesswoman who is famously known as the founder and CEO of Nykaa, the leading beauty and lifestyle retail company in India. Nayar founded Nykaa in 2012 with $2 million of her own money, and by 2020, it had become India’s first unicorn startup led by a woman. Nykaa opened its IPO in October 2021, which made Nayar the first Indian woman to lead the public listing of a startup.
Falguni has a net worth of $4.08 billion (2022) and is one of the two self-made female Indian billionaires, the other being Kiran Mazumdar Shaw.
Muthoot Family
Company – Muthoot Finance Net Worth – $4.05 Billion Industry – Financial Services
Muthoot Family | Top Richest Indians
Muthoot Group was founded in 1887. India’s leading lender against gold, Muthoot Finance, is managed and controlled by the Muthoot family. Shri George Jacob Muthoot is the current group chairman of the Muthoot Group of companies.
Chandru Raheja
Company – Mindspace Business Parks REIT (backed by K Raheja Corp.) Net Worth – $4 Billion Industry – Real Estate
Chandru Raheja, Chairman of K Raheja Corp. | Top Richest Indians
Chandru Raheja is an Indian billionaire businessman and the chairman of K Raheja Corp. He formed K Raheja Corp. in 1996, which is involved in the development of IT parks, hotels, and malls, as well as the operation of department store chains such as Shoppers Stop. The company’s important projects include JW Marriott in Mumbai, Inorbit Mall, Mindspace, etc.
Yusuf Hamied
Non-Executive Chairman – Cipla Net worth – $3.9 Billion Industry – Pharmaceuticals
Yusuf Hamied, Non-Executive Chairman of Cipla | Top Richest Indians
Cipla was founded in 1935 by Yusuf’s father Khwaja Abdul Hamied, who passed away in 1972. Yusuf Hamied and his brother then took over the family business. In 2020, Cipla launched a range of drugs to treat Covid-19, including a generic version of Remdesivir manufactured under a license from Gilead Sciences.
Sridhar Vembu and Siblings
Company – Zoho Corporation Net worth – $3.8 Billion Industry – Technology
Sridhar Vembu (in picture) and Siblings, Zoho Corporation | Top Richest Indians
Sridhar Vembu is the founder and CEO of Zoho Corporation, a technology company that makes computer software and web-based business tools. Sridhar owns a majority stake in Zoho with his siblings.
Vembu was awarded the Padma Shri, the fourth-highest civilian award of the Republic of India, in 2021.
Pankaj Patel
Chairman – Zydus Lifesciences Net worth – $3.77 Billion Industry – Pharmaceuticals
Pankaj Patel, Chairman of Zydus Lifesciences | Top Richest Indians
With the title of “Best Pharma Man of the Year 2003” under his belt, Pankaj Patel undoubtedly deserves the respect he gets. Pankaj is popularly known as a “pharma magnate.” He is the current chairman of Zydus Lifesciences Limited, the leading pharmaceutical company in India. He is also the founder and chairman of Zydus Hospitals.
Ravi Modi
Company – Vedant Fashions Net worth – $3.75 Billion Industry – Fashion and Retail
Ravi Modi, Founder of Vedant Fashions | Top Richest Indians
Ravi Modi founded Vedant Fashions, a manufacturer of Indian ethnic wear, in 2002, and the company went public in 2022. He serves as the Chairman and Managing Director of the company. The company’s flagship brand, Manyavar, is famous all over India and is the category leader in the branded Indian wedding and celebration wear market.
India’s biotechnology industry is moving towards new leaps and bounds keeping with the pace of global development. The main concentration of the biotech industry is biopharmaceuticals as India is one of the largest manufacturers of generic drugs.
Adar Poonawalla one of the leading businessmen of India and the chief executing officer at Serum Institute of India, the world’s largest vaccine manufacturing company has revolutionized the way of manufacturing drugs and vaccines. Adar Poonawalla is also a big philanthropist, recently featured in Forbes Asia’s heroes list.
The Bishop’s School(Pune), St. Edmund School And University of Westminister (London)
Title
CEO & Chairman of Serum Institute of India
Parents
Cyrus Poonawalla & Villoo Poonawalla
Spouse
Natasha Poonawalla
Net Worth
13.3 Billion USD
Personal Life of Adar Poonawalla
Adar Poonawalla was born in Pune and did his early schooling at the Bishop’s School in Pune. He was then sent to St. Edmunds School, Canterbury where he completed his higher secondary education. To complete his bachelor’s degree in polytechnic he went to the University of Westminster In London. Returning he joined his father’s company.
In 2005 he met Natasha Poonawalla at a New Year party which was hosted by Mr. Vijay Mallya in Goa. The two struck together and fell in love. The couple got married in 2006 and have two children Cyrus and Darius Poonawalla.
Adar Poonawalla with Natasha Poonawalla and his Children
Career of Adar Poonawalla
In 2001, when Adar Graduated from the University of Westminister, London he joined the Serum Institute of India. At that time his company was exporting its products to 35 countries, Adar having the vision to expand the company’s international market he focused upon the licensing of drugs and getting pre-qualified by the World Health Organization (WHO) to supply for United Nations Agencies including UNICEF and PAHO.
In 2011 Adar became the CEO of Serum Institute of India and with sheer will and to make a prominent position in the biopharmaceutical company he acquired Bilthoven Biochemicals, a Netherlands-based government vaccine manufacturing company. He also launched the oral polio vaccine which was the best seller of the company in 2014.
By his reach, he expanded his exports from 35 countries to 140 countries by 2015. Adar also included vaccines for Dengue, Flu, and cervical cancer in its company portfolio. He also acquired Praha Vaccine Limited in 2017.
Adar is not only a member of Serum Institute but also a board member of the GAVI alliance, which stands for the Global Vaccine Alliance. It was a big position to stand in such a short period. He is one of India’s leading and influential people.
About Serum Institute of India
Serum Institute of India is a biotech and biopharma firm. Founded by Mr. Cyrus Poonawalla in 1966 which now is the biggest vaccine manufacturing company in the world in terms of the number of doses. The Company was recognized after they began developing an Intranasal Swine Flu Vaccine in 2009.
The company initially faced many ups and downs but after working under the guidance of Adar Poonawalla company has been recognized all over the world. The products made here include the tuberculosis vaccine Tubervac (BCG), Poliovac for poliomyelitis, and other vaccinations for the childhood vaccination schedule.
Serum Institute is presently providing the Covid-19 vaccines all over the world with the name of Covisheild. It is reported that Serum Institute will provide 100 million doses of the vaccine to India and other low and Middle income developing countries.
Philanthropy work by Adar Poonawalla
Along with being a successful businessman, Adar Poonawalla has been a big philanthropist too. He is one of the leading philanthropists of Pune, also featured in the Forbes philanthropy list of Asia’s Heroes.
Adar established The Villoo Poonawalla Foundation in 2012 in memory of his mother. The main objective was to make top healthcare services affordable to help low-income families.
Along with healthcare, they focus on educational space by educating over 49,000 students through their elementary schools. The chairperson of Villoo Foundation is Natasha Poonawalla.
Adar being in the pharmacy industry knows the value of proper sanitization and cleanliness thus has a goal to enhance the overall quality of life. He has pledged INR 1.5 crores to clean up the Pune city with a fleet of 50 Garbage trucks and a crew of 70 people to complete the job.
Adar Poonawalla Clean city Movement
He has also installed water ATM’s in the city to provide safe drinking water. He donates approximately 20% of the wealth of his income to the Villoo Foundation and has a lot of fame in the Parsi Community for his philanthropy.
Awards & Recognition of Adar Poonawalla
2016: He was awarded the Philanthropist of the year by the GQ magazine.
2017: Humanitarian Endeavour Award in the Hall of Fame Awards and also Indian of the Year in CSR Business Category on CNN-News-18
2018: ET Edge Maharashtra Achievers Awards of Business Leader of the Year which was given by former CM Devendra Fadnavis. Also awarded with CNBC Asia’s award for Corporate Social Responsibility
2021: Entrepreneur of the Year by Economic Times for manufacturing of Covishield
Adar Poonawalla has been a very successful businessman and also a true achiever who is expanding his reach by pure talent and diligence. He has helped the nation to grow and worked towards the economic development of India. Being a drug maker and saving people’s lives with his medicines he is the actual vaccine prince of India.
FAQ
What is the net worth of Adar Poonawalla?
The net worth of Adar Poonawalla is $12 billion.
Who is the father of Adar Poonawalla?
Cyrus S. Poonawalla is the father of Adar Poonawalla.
What is the age of Adar Poonawalla?
Adar Poonawalla was born on 14 January 1981 and is 40 years old.
Company Profile is an initiative by StartupTalky to publish verified information on different startups and organizations. The content in this post has been approved bySerum Institute of India.
India has reported more than 19 million cases since the pandemic started, second only to the United States. There have also been over 200,000 deaths recorded. A total of 150 million vaccine shots have been administered, covering 11.5 percent of India’s 1.3 billion population. Serum Institute of India is India’s leading biotechnology firm, producing highly advanced life-saving biologicals such as vaccines, antisera, and other medical specialties using cutting-edge genetic and cell-based technologies. Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla established the Serum Institute of India in 1966 with the aim of producing life-saving immuno-biologicals
Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd. is now the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer, with more than 1.5 billion doses manufactured and distributed worldwide.
Know the complete Success story of Serum Institute and get a glance on on how Serum Institute started, its revenue, business model, its role in Covid-19 vaccine development, competitors & more…
May 2021 – CEO Adar Poonawalla, who has been in the United Kingdom on an extended stay to avoid alleged threats in India over rising demand for COVID-19 vaccines, has announced that he will return in a few days.
Had an excellent meeting with all our partners & stakeholders in the U.K. Meanwhile, pleased to state that COVISHIELD’s production is in full swing in Pune. I look forward to reviewing operations upon my return in a few days.
Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd. is now the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer, with more than 1.5 billion doses manufactured and distributed worldwide, including Polio vaccine, Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Hib, BCG, r-Hepatitis B, Measles, Mumps, and Rubella vaccines.
Serum Institute vaccines are administered to approximately 65 percent of the world’s children. The Serum Institute’s vaccines are approved by the World Health Organization in Geneva and are used in over 170 countries around the world as part of their national immunization programmes, saving millions of lives.
The Serum Institute of India uses cutting-edge technology to scan its goods for minute particles that are undetectable by the naked eye. The inspection is completely automated, with high resolution CCD cameras and an electronic monitored panel, reducing the margins of human error.
Tetanus antitoxin, snake antivenom, DPT vaccine, and MMR vaccine were among the first drugs manufactured in large quantities by the Serum Institute of India. Vaccines against bacterial and viral infections, combined vaccines, influenza vaccine, and meningococcal vaccine were added to the company’s product line.
Serum Institute’s mission is to develop high-quality vaccines and make them affordable to a wide range of countries, allowing them to increase their Health Index. The Serum Institute was founded to ensure that vaccines are no longer a privilege for Indian children.
Serum Institute began supplying high-quality, but affordable vaccines to many countries around the world after achieving this aim. International agencies such as the WHO, PATH, NIH, NVI/RIVM, and CBER/USFDA have collaborated with Serum Institute to produce vaccines against Meningococcal A, H1N1 Influenza, Rotavirus, and other diseases.
Serum Institute of India – Name, Logo and Tagline
Serum Institute of India’s tagline says, “Serum – Protection from birth onwards”. The company is the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer and produces vaccines(including Polio vaccine, Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Hib, BCG, r-Hepatitis B, Measles, Mumps, and Rubella vaccines) that protect people from birth onwards.
Serum Institute Logo
Serum Institute of India – Founder and History
Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla established the Serum Institute of India in 1966 with the aim of producing life-saving immuno-biologicals that were in short supply in India and had to be imported at a high cost.
Founder of SII – Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla
Following that, many life-saving biologicals were produced at reasonable prices and in large quantities, resulting in the country being self-sufficient in Tetanus Anti-toxin and Anti-snake Venom serum, then DTP (Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis) vaccines, and finally MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella) vaccines.
Vaccines against bacterial and viral infections, combined vaccines, influenza vaccine, and meningococcal vaccine were added to the company’s product line. Apart from vaccines, the company also produces antisera, blood plasma, and hormones. The Serum Institute of India’s vaccines has been used in international vaccination programs run by the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and the Pan American Health Organization as of 2014. (PAHO). The Poonawalla Group now runs the Serum Institute of India, which is involved in research, production, and manufacturing.
In 2009, the company started working on a swine flu vaccine that would be administered intranasally. Bilthoven Biologicals, a pharmaceutical firm in the Netherlands, was the company’s first foreign purchase in 2012.
The Serum Institute of India developed Rabies Human Monoclonal Antibody (RMAb), also known as Rabishield, with help from Mass Biologics of the University of Massachusetts Medical School in the United States.
CEO of SII – Adar Poonawalla
By 2020, the company will have developed 1.5 billion vaccine doses each year, making it the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer by amount of doses produced. Tuberculosis vaccine Tubervac (BCG), poliomyelitis vaccine Poliovac, and other childhood vaccines are among the products created.
Serum Institute of India – Covid 19 Vaccine Development
AstraZeneca, a British-Swedish multinational pharmaceutical firm, has teamed up with Oxford University to grow AZD1222. According to reports, Serum Institute will provide India and other low- and middle-income countries with 100 million (10 crores) vaccine doses.
By the end of 2021, the target had been raised to one billion doses. It’s expected to cost about $3 per dose or around 225 dollars. Trials were suspended by DCGI in September 2020 after a volunteer in Oxford became ill after being vaccinated, but were quickly resumed after British regulators agreed. The Serum Institute of India applied for emergency approval for the vaccine produced with AstraZeneca in December 2020, and it was granted a month later. A deal was reached in March 2021 to supply certain doses to the United Kingdom.
The Serum Institute of India has also agreed to produce Novavax’s NVX-CoV2373 vaccine for India and other low- and middle-income countries. Codagenix’s nasal COVID-19 vaccine CDX-005 will also be manufactured by the company (tradename COVI-VAC)
SII’s net sales in 2018-19 were Rs 5,238 crore, with an after-tax profit of Rs 2,252 crore. The compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) for revenue was 8.1 percent over five years (2014-2019), while the CAGR for profit after tax was 5.3 percent. In 2019, SII’s export earnings accounted for more than two-thirds of its net sales. At the end of 2019, it had total assets of Rs 16,703 crore.
The pharma giant AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford collaborated on the Covid-19 vaccine. Covishield has a 62 percent efficacy rate. The SII has already generated a stock of approximately 5 crore doses. By February, it claims to be able to increase production to 10 crore doses per month.
Serum Institute of India – Investments
Date
Organization Name
Round
Amount
Jul 23, 2019
X-Vax Technology
Series A
$56M
Oct 5, 2017
Visterra
Series C
$23.6M
Serum Institute of India – Acquisitions
Acquiree Name
About Acquire
Date
Amount
Nanotherapeutics
Privately held specialty biopharmaceutical company with product development, cGMP manufacturing capabilities
Biocon, Panacea Biotec, Bharat Serums, Wockhardt, Biological E, Bharat Biotech, Syngene International, Indian Immunologicals, Premas Biotech, Reliance Life Sciences, and Zydus Cadila are among the other leading competitors in Serum Institute’s competitive set.
Cadila Healthcare, India’s fifth largest pharmaceutical firm, is working on an indigenous vaccine for the novel coronavirus in addition to producing Covid treatment drugs like remdesivir. Phase-III trials on 26,000 Indian patients have been approved by the government. The vaccine’s price has yet to be determined by Cadila.
According to Poonawalla, the real challenge in 2020 will be determining if the Covid vaccine will actually function and be effective in humans. It was also difficult to demonstrate its effectiveness and plan a trial in a country where outbreaks are likely to occur, most likely China.
According to the CEO, “Our journey now is looking and has lot of challenges because we are trying to enter the Europe and US markets. We are trying to sensitize the Indian government to take more vaccines and plan and help them in their programmes to fight these life threatening diseases. We have got other challenges from China and other countries where we are offering a red carpet treatment for them to come here, but when we want to go to China, we have got a lot of barriers that we are facing like parting with our technology, we have got to do joint ventures things which are impossible.”
Serum Institute of India – Future Plans
As it struggles to fulfil supply obligations, the Serum Institute of India, which manufactures the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine, is considering starting vaccine manufacturing in other countries.
“There’s going to be an announcement in the next few days,” Adar was quoted.
Poonawalla said the Serum Institute would be able to increase its monthly production to 100 million doses by July, a month later than the previous goal of end-May. Vaccines against Covid-19 have run out in some Indian states.
Within six months, he planned to increase the Serum Institute’s capability from 2.5 billion to 3 billion doses per year. He flew to London until Britain imposed an eight-day travel ban on Indians.
Serum Institute of India – FAQs
What does SII do?
Serum Institute of India is India’s leading biotechnology firm, producing highly advanced life-saving biologicals such as vaccines, antisera, and other medical specialties using cutting-edge genetic and cell-based technologies.
Who founded SII?
Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla established the Serum Institute of India in 1966 with the aim of producing life-saving immuno-biologicals that were in short supply in India and had to be imported at a high cost.
Cyrus Poonawalla is an Indian businessman and Philanthropist who is the Chairman of Cyrus Poonawalla Group, which includes the Indian biotech company, Serum Institute of India. He is also known as “vaccine king of India”, because his firm manufactures pediatric vaccines and contributes towards society by providing low-cost vaccines to the masses. As a Philanthropist, he supplied 100 thousand doses of measles vaccines for free vaccination in Ukraine in partnership withan Ukrainian businessman, Naum Koen. As of January 2021, he has an estimated net worth of $11.50 billion.
Cyrus was born in a Parsi family and his father was a horse-breeder. The family had a business of horse racing and they owned the Poonawalla Stud Farms. He is married to Villoo Poonawalla, who died in 2010 due to cardiac arrest. The couple has a son named, Adar Poonawalla, who currently serves as the Chief Executive Officerof Serum Institute of India.
Cyrus Poonawalla – Education
Cyrus completed his elementary education from Bishops School, Pune. He completed his graduation Brihan Maharashtra College of Commerce (BMCC) in 1966. He acquired a PhD in 1988 by Pune University for the thesis named “Improved Technology in the Manufacture of Specific Anti-toxins and its Socio-Economic Impact on the Society.”
Cyrus Poonawalla – Professional Life
At age 20, Cyrus realized that his family business of horse racing had no future ahead. He then started experimenting with cars and built a $120 prototype sports car modeled on the D-type Jaguar along with a friend, however, they did not have enough capital to produce such cars on commercial basis.
He thus dropped the idea and thought of manufacturing cars for masses rather targeting the elite community of society. At that time, horses were donated to Haffkine Institute in Mumbai, a government owned firm that manufactured vaccines using horse serum.
Cyrus Poonawalla – Business idea
Cyrus noted the scope in the serum industry and decided to take upon the challenge of producing vaccines by extracting horse serum. He aimed at availing these vaccines and supplying it across the country at affordable prices.
He raised $12,000 along with his brother Zavaray by selling horses and requested their father to contribute the required capital. In 1966, they eventually established their venture on a 12 acre plot and started manufacturing vaccines.
Cyrus Poonawalla – Cyrus Poonawalla Group
Cyrus founded the Cyrus Poonawalla Group and serves as its Chairman. The biotech firm, Serum Institute of India is also founded by him and it is a portal of the Group. The Cyrus Poonawalla Group of companies deal with pharmaceuticals & biotechnology, finance, clean energy, hospitality & reality, and aviation. The company is headquartered in Pune, India.
The group runs several companies across diverse sectors like, Poonawalla Finance, Bilthoven Biologicals, Poonawalla Aviation, Villoo Poonawalla Greenfield Farms, Poonawalla Clean Energy, Poonawalla Hospitality and Real Estate. The company also runs philanthropic firms like, Villoo Poonawalla Foundation, Adar Poonawalla Clean City Initiative, and Tennis Academy.
Cyrus Poonawalla – Serum Institute of India
Cyrus founded Serum Institute of India (SII) in 1966 with an aim to manufacture life-saving immuno-biologicals in India. The company is recognized as India’s No. 1 biotechnology firm with the world’s largest vaccine manufactured, produced and sold globally.
The company launched its first therapeutic anti-tetanus serum within two years of the establishment. Gradually, they started manufacturing DTP vaccine, Measles vaccine. SII is presently India’s leading Biotech company and is currently exporting vaccines to more than 140 countries across the world.
His son, Adar started serving as the CEO of SII from 2011 and he expanded the business with new licensed and pre-qualified products by the World Health Organization (WHO) to supply it to the United Nations Agencies.
Cyrus Poonawalla – Poonawalla Stud Farms & Horse Racing
The Poonawalla Stud Farms was owned by his late-father and he used to ran house racing and breeding industry. The farm is currently handled by Cyrus and his brother. It is one of the leading stud farm in the country.
He solely represented India at the International Federation of Horse Racing authorities and was a member of the Asian Racing Federation (ARF) for more than 10 years. He held various positions in the horse racing field like, Chairman, Turf Authorities of India, Vice Chairman of Asian Racing Federation, and Royal Western India Turf Club etc.
Varad Kitey
