If you have heard of the Ambani family, possibly the most famous person among them would not be either Mukesh Ambani or his children. The figure is actually his wife, Nita Ambani. A well-known figure in business and philanthropic circles, Nita is the chairperson of the Reliance Foundation and a director at the Dhirubhai Ambani International School. She is one of the co-owners of Reliance Industries and also runs the Mumbai Indians cricket team.
Till 2024, the estimated net worth of Nita Ambani is around INR 2340-2510 crore. This reflects her own contribution to the running and management of all the family businesses along with her philanthropic involvement.
Nita Ambani – Biography
| Name | Nita Ambani (nee Dalal) |
|---|---|
| Born | 1st November |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Age | 60 years |
| Residence | Mumbai, India |
| Education | Narsee Monjee College of Commerce and Economics |
| Profession | Philanthropist |
| Parents | Ravindrabhai Dalal (father) Purnima Dalal (mother) |
| Spouse | Mukesh Ambani |
| Children | Akash Ambani (twin) Isha Ambani (twin) Anant Ambani (youngest son) |
| Net Worth | INR 2340 – 2510 Crore (as of December 2024) |
Nita Ambani – Early Life and Education
Nita Ambani – Family
Nita Ambani – Career Highlights
Nita Ambani – Awards and Recognition
Nita Ambani – Interesting Facts
Nita Ambani – Early Life and Education
Born to middle-class Gujarati parents in the person of Ravindrabhai and Purnima Dalal in November of 1964, Nita Ambani is an original Mumbaikar and even holds a college degree from the Narsee Monjee College of Commerce and Economics. She is a trained Bharatnatyam dancer and has proven her dancing talent several times.
Ashwini
Nita Ambani – Family
Nita Ambani was spotted by Dhirubhai Ambani and Kokilaben Ambani at a dance show, where she later met her family with a marriage proposal for the eldest son, Mukesh Ambani. Their marriage was planned after dating for a couple of months back in the year 1985.
After her marriage, she would teach at school for several more years but soon ventured into the family business. She is very close to Dhirubhai Ambani who used to question her on world events every evening. It is her father-in-law whom she attributes to becoming the woman she is today.
Nita and Mukesh Ambani had their twins, Akash and Isha, via IVF seven years after their marriage. But Anant was naturally conceived three years after the twins were born. She is also a grandmother of four little toddlers.
Sakshi Jadhav
Nita Ambani – Career Highlights
Nita Ambani is also the founder and chair of Reliance Foundation, and she is the corporate social responsibility arm for the company, Reliance Industries. She was elected to the Board in 2014 and resigned in August 2023. She preferred to put in all her efforts towards the Reliance Foundation. Nita Ambani still continues to attend all the Reliance Industries Board meetings as a permanent invitee.
Jamnagar Township Project
In 1997, Nita Ambani was working on the company township for the employees who are part of the Reliance refinery in Jamnagar. The project included the construction of environmentally friendly houses for over 17000 residents.
Mumbai Indians
She and her husband are co-owners of the Indian Premier League team -the Mumbai Indians. There are more than 5 titles under their belt currently (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020). Not limited to this, she initiated the ‘Education and Sports for All (ESA)’. The initiative was that in return to society, as being made mandatory by Mumbai Indians under their banner, ESA has seen that over 100,000 underserved children have been approached to create awareness concerning education through various digital avenues.
IOC Membership
In 2016, Ambani was one of the eight candidates nominated as a member of the International Olympic Committee by the Swiss panel. The elections for these members took place at the 129th IOC Session in August 2016. Nita Ambani was the first Indian woman to be elected as an IOC member.
Her Circle
The ‘Her Circle’ is a digital platform for women who compete with its own discussion panels and social networking app. Nita Ambani’s Reliance Foundation launched the ‘Her Circle’ app on International Women’s Day in March 2022. This new initiative helps empower women with modern digital tools. Launched for Indian women, but extended to women overseas, the tool provides ladies with a ‘joyful and safe space for interaction, engagement, collaboration, and mutual support.’ As per Nita Ambani, the platform helps women lean on women and their shared experiences help end problems and improve triumphs for each other.
Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC)
Located in the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre, it was the first to be inaugurated within the Jio World Centre, Mumbai, in March 2023. The idea for this centre was to focus on community problems such as outreach programs and competitions, award functions, in-residency Guru-Shishya sessions, and literacy programs for adults. The four-storied building has over 16,000 sq ft of space and over three theatres. The biggest of these is a 2000-seat Grand Theatre that has a lotus-themed chandelier with over 8400 Swarovski crystals.
There are more than three dedicated spaces for performance art centres – The Grand Theatre, The Cube, and The Studio Theatre. The centre also has an Art House with a four-story space for both international and Indian artists.
Sakshi Jadhav
Nita Ambani – Awards and Recognition
Nita has received multiple awards and accolades for her work in sports, philanthropy, and CSR. These include:
- 2015: Entrepreneur of the Year – From All India Management Association (AIMA)
- 2016: Asia’s 50 Most Powerful Women – From Forbes Magazine
- 2017: Honored by the Metropolitan Museum of Art – From the Metropolitan Museum of Art
- 2017: Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Award – For promoting grassroots sports
- 2018-2019:Best Corporate Supporter of Indian Sports – From Times of India
- 2023: Global Leadership Award for Philanthropy and CSR – From the USA-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF)
- Pravinchandra V Gandhi Award for Excellence in Public Life – From the Rotary Club of Bombay
- Global Philanthropist and the Leader of the Year Award – From the Vogue India Magazine
- 2023: Rotary Citizen of Mumbai Award – From the Rotary Club of Bombay
- 2024: Nita Ambani was awarded the “Outstanding Contribution to Brand India” at CNBC-TV18’s IBLA in Mumbai.
Nita Ambani is also a part of multiple commissions such as the Public Affairs and Social Development through the Sports Commission, the Olympic Channel Commission, and the Olympic Education Commission.
Sakshi Jadhav
Nita Ambani – Interesting Facts
- Nita is a trained Bharatanatyam dancer, which played a pivotal role in her introduction to Mukesh Ambani. Dhirubhai Ambani, Mukesh’s father, saw this performance and later proposed the alliance.
- As chairperson of the Reliance Foundation, Nita led efforts in these four areas, namely education, health, rural development, and disaster response.
- She owns the IPL cricket team called Mumbai Indians, and she bagged several IPL titles with that very team.
- Nita formed a great setup of the Reliance Foundation Young Champs initiative, bringing grassroots football across India to its notice.
- She was the first Indian lady to win membership in the International Olympic Committee in 2016.
- She founded Dhirubhai Ambani International School one of India’s foremost international schools.
- She resides at Antilia, one of the pricey private homes available in this world, in Mumbai.
- She is known for her exquisite taste and has a collection of customized tea sets, reportedly valued at ₹1.5 crore, and Hermès Birkin bags.
- Nita has been vocal about her fitness transformation. After battling weight issues, she adopted a healthier lifestyle, including yoga and a balanced diet.
- Nita is an avid collector of Indian and international art. The Ambani family is known for supporting the arts and culture extensively.
- Her sense of style and grace often make headlines. She frequently dons creations by top Indian and international designers.
- Despite her immense success, Nita Ambani emphasizes the importance of family and often talks about her close bond with her children—Akash, Isha, and Anant—and her husband Mukesh.
Sakshi Jadhav
FAQ
What is the qualification of Nita Ambani?
Nita Ambani holds a degree in Commerce from Narsee Monjee College, Mumbai.
Which NGO is run by Nita Ambani?
Nita Ambani runs the Reliance Foundation.
What did Nita Ambani use to do before marriage?
Nita Ambani was a school teacher before her marriage.
