Top 10 Indian Entrepreneurs

Indian Entrepreneurs are the pillars of our economy and concentrate on enhancing India’s technological growth. As India is considered the largest growing economy, it supports Entrepreneurship and provides financial assistance. Successful Entrepreneur must be revolutionary and inspiration for the upcoming and their success is recognized based on their status and profit. 

List of Top 10 Indian Entrepreneurs: 

An Entrepreneur is notably successful when they achieve unbeatable financial stability, and eventual growth in company progress, hire talented employees, and result in mesmerizing work. Here’s the list of the Top 10 Indian Entrepreneurs based on their net worth, success rate, statistical growth, and their industry gross development. 

Name	Company Name	Industry	Net worth
Mukesh Ambani	Reliance Industries	Refining & Marketing, Petrochemicals, Oil & Gas Exploration and Production, Retail, Digital Services, Telecom, Media & Entertainment, etc..,	113.7 Billion
Ratan Tata	Tata Group	Conglomerate ( several companies owned under Tata Group)	38 billion
Shiv Nadar	HCL Technologies	IT services and Enterprises	36.9 billion
Azim Premji	Wipro Limited	IT sector and service-based company	26 billion.
Lakshmi Mital	ArcelorMittal	Steel and Stainless Steel	17 billion.
Narayana Murthy	Infosys	IT and consulting	4.8 billion.
Nithin Kamath	Zerodha	Brokerage Firm	4.8 billion
Kiran Mazumdar – Shaw	Biocon Limited	Biopharmaceuticals	2.5 billion.
Deepinder Goyal	Zomato	Food Delivery Company	1.6 billion.
Vijay Shekhar Sharma	Paytm	Digital Payments and Finance Services	1.2 billion.

Mukesh Ambani: 

Networth: 113.7 Billion. 

Mukesh Ambani took over Reliance Industries after Dhirubhai Ambani’s death due to his significant involvement in the company’s operations from 1981. His strategic vision and leadership skills were essential to the company’s growth. His younger brother Anil Ambani later managed separate entities following a family settlement. Mukesh Ambani holds a 42% share in Reliance and 45% in Jio. 

Jio is portrayed for its cost-effective feature and it enables every Indian to have a smartphone. During covid, the digitization of the economy and online education paved the way for the huge success of this brand. 

Milestones: 

• 1966: Reliance Commercial Corporation was founded by Dhirubhai Ambani.
• 1977: Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange.
• 1985: The company changed its name from Reliance Textiles Industries Ltd. to Reliance Industries Ltd.
• 1991: Diversified into petrochemicals with the commissioning of the Hazira petrochemical complex.
• 1995: Entered telecommunications with Reliance Telecom Private Limited.
• 1998: Commissioned the world’s largest grassroots refinery in Jamnagar, Gujarat.
• 2002: Launch of Reliance Infocomm (later rebranded as Reliance Communications).
• 2010: Acquired shale gas assets in the United States.
• 2016: Launched Reliance Jio, revolutionizing the Indian telecom sector with affordable 4G services.
• 2017: Jio becomes the largest mobile network operator in India by subscriber base.
• 2020: Reliance Jio Platforms receives investments from major global companies, including Facebook, Google, and others.

Industry: Refining & Marketing, Petrochemicals, Oil & Gas Exploration and Production, Retail, Digital Services, Telecom, Media & Entertainment, etc..,

Awards and Achievements: Global Leadership Award in 2010 by Business Council for International Understanding, Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2000, and Global Vision Award at The Awards Dinner in 2010. 

Ratan Tata: 

Networth: 38 Billion. 

Ratan Tata, Chairman of Tata Group from 1991 to 2012, transformed the conglomerate into a global powerhouse. He led key acquisitions, including Jaguar Land Rover and Tetley, and significantly increased revenues, ensuring Tata Group’s prominent position in various industries worldwide.

Ratan Tata is ideally known for his philanthropy, his company profit of about 60-65% has been contributed to social welfare. Apart from being a successful businessman, he stood as a social well-wisher to Indians. 

Milestones:

• 1868: Jamsetji Tata founded Tata Group with an investment of Rs. 21,000/-
• 1907: Establishment of Tata Steel (originally Tata Iron and Steel Company).
• 1910: Tata Hydro-Electric Power Supply Company established (now Tata Power).
• 1932: Tata Airlines launched (later became Air India).
• 1945: Tata Motors was founded (originally Tata Engineering and Locomotive Co. Ltd.).
• 1968: Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) was established as the first Indian software services company.
• 1991: Tata Communications was established (originally VSNL).
• 1998: Launch of Tata Indica, the first Indian passenger car.
• 2007: Tata Steel acquired Corus, a major steel company in Europe.
• 2008: Tata Motors acquired Jaguar and Land Rover from Ford.
• 2020: Tata Group’s TCS becomes the second Indian company to reach a market capitalization of 100 billion.
• 2021: Tata Digital acquires a majority stake in online grocery startup BigBasket.
• 2022: Tata Group takes over Air India, bringing the airline back under its fold after several decades.
• 2023: Tata Group announces the consolidation of its airline businesses under Air India, integrating Air India Express and AirAsia India.
• 2024: Tata Motors unveils its first electric commercial vehicle, enhancing its commitment to sustainable transportation. 

Industry: conglomerate ( several companies owned under Tata Group)

Awards and Achievements: Padma Vibhushan – 2008 and Padma Bhushan – 2004. ( Awarded by the Government of India to recognize them as the highest civilian). 

Shiv Nadar:

Networth: 36.9 Billion. 

Shiv Nadar founded HCL Technologies, in the mid 1970’s. Initially, the company began with five buddies at the garage to produce microprocessors later it developed into an IT Hardware company and now stands as IT Enterprises. At present, he holds the position of Chairman Emeritus & Strategic Advisor to the Board of Directors. 

He is also a renowned philanthropist and a good educational reformer. He created the Shiv Nadar Foundation for welfare schemes and Shiv Nadar University (a deemed University) for education. 

Milestones: 

• 1976: HCL (Hindustan Computers Limited) was founded by Shiv Nadar and his partners.
• 1981: launched India’s first microcomputer, the HCL 8C.
• 1983: launched the first Relational Database Management System (RDBMS) in India.
• 1986: entered into the international market with Far East Computers in Singapore.
• 1991: introduced multiprocessor UNIX in India.
• 1994: diversified into software services with HCL Consulting Ltd.
• 1999: HCL Technologies is listed on the Indian stock exchanges.
• 2001: HCL BPO services launched to cater to global outsourcing needs.
• 2014: launched the Digital Systems Integration (DSI) practice.
• 2019: HCL acquires select IBM software products, expanding its product portfolio.
• 2021: HCL signs a digital transformation deal with the telecommunications company Ericsson.
• 2022: HCL Technologies rebrands as HCLTech, highlighting its tech-forward approach.
• 2023: HCLTech acquires German IT consulting firm GBS, expanding its European footprint.
• 2024: announced a strategic partnership with Google Cloud to accelerate digital transformation initiatives for enterprises worldwide.

Industry: IT services 

Awards and Achievements: Padma Bhushan – 2008. 

Azim Premji: 

Networth: 26 billion

Azim Premji, the Chairman and founder of Wipro, an Indian Multinational corporation. It was started in 1945, it began with the manufacturing of small vegetable oil and developed into a worldwide IT company. As Chairman of Wipro, he focused on diversifying the company into IT services, software, and consumer care products. Under his leadership, Wipro became known for its innovation and ethical practices, setting benchmarks in corporate governance in India.

In philanthropic activities, he founded the Azim Premji Foundation and educated low-strata people. In 2010, the foundation donated nearly 2 billion (US dollars) for the school development projects. The motto of this non – profitable organization is to elevate quality education for the poor. 

Milestones: 

• 1945: Wipro was founded as Western India Vegetable Products Limited, primarily a manufacturer of vegetable oils.
• 1970s: Wipro diversified into IT services and began manufacturing computers.
• 1980s: Wipro entered the software services industry and started exporting its products.
• 1990s: Wipro became a publicly listed company and expanded globally with offices in the USA, Europe, and Asia-Pacific.
• 2000s: Wipro focused on IT consulting and outsourcing services, growing its client base worldwide.
• 2021: Wipro launched its ‘Wipro FullStride Cloud Services’ to accelerate digital transformation for businesses globally, focusing on cloud technologies.
• 2022: Wipro expanded its presence in Europe with new offices and strategic partnerships to bolster its service delivery and customer support in the region.
• 2023: Wipro introduced advanced cybersecurity solutions to combat rising threats and enhance data protection for its clients worldwide.
• 2024: Wipro continued its expansion in emerging markets, particularly in Asia-Pacific, to tap into growing opportunities in digital transformation and IT services.

Industry: IT, consulting, business, and service-based companies. 

Awards and Achievements: Padma Vibhushan – 2011. 

Lakshmi Mital:

Networth: 17 Billion.

One of the largest steel manufacturers and mining companies in the world – ArcelorMittal, is owned by Lakshmi Mital. He positions as an executive chairman of the Company and also the chairman of Aperam, a stainless steel manufacturing unit. Shareholding of Lakshmi includes 38% in ArcelorMittal, 3% in EFL Championship, 41% in Aperam, and 49% in HPCL-Mittal Energy.

As Mital witnessed India was not awarded a gold medal in the Olympics during the 2000s, He started Mittal Championship Trust to support Indian athletes and gave sponsorship to players. 

Milestones: 

• 1976: Lakshmi Mittal founded Mittal Steel Company in Indonesia.
• 1989: Mittal Steel acquired its first steel plant outside Indonesia in Trinidad and Tobago.
• 2004: Mittal Steel acquired International Steel Group, making it the largest steel producer in the world.
• 2006: ArcelorMittal was formed through the merger of Arcelor and Mittal Steel, creating the world’s largest steel company.
• 2007: ArcelorMittal launched its ‘Global Research and Development’ program to drive innovation in the steel industry.
• 2013: ArcelorMittal inaugurated the world’s first steel plant to capture and reuse carbon dioxide emissions.
• 2018: ArcelorMittal completed the acquisition of Ilva and integrated it into its European operations.
• 2020: ArcelorMittal announced a significant investment in digital transformation and advanced manufacturing technologies.
• 2021: ArcelorMittal committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, aligning with global sustainability goals.
• 2022: ArcelorMittal launched its ‘XCarb™’ innovation fund to support the development of breakthrough technologies in steel production.
• 2023: ArcelorMittal continued to invest in green steel production technologies to reduce its environmental footprint.
• 2024: ArcelorMittal expanded its renewable energy portfolio to support sustainable steel production and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

Industry: Steel Manufacturing 

Awards and Achievements: Padma Vibhushan – 2008. 

Related Post: How to Start a Business in India

Narayana Murthy:

Net worth: 4.8 Billion.

He was the Co-founder, CEO, and chief advisor of Infosys previously. But now he serves as a chairman emeritus and resigned as Advisor of the board. In 1981 he started Infosys with six software experts and now it shines as a global IT services outsourcing from India. Additionally, his leadership in creating a flat organizational structure encouraged open communication and innovation, making Infosys one of the most admired companies worldwide.

He was involved in several educational and charitable trusts like the UN Foundation, Ford Foundation, Rhodes Trust, and Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton. 

Milestones: 

• 1981: Infosys was founded by N.R. Narayana Murthy and six others in Pune, India.
• 1983: Infosys moved its headquarters to Bangalore, India.
• 1993: Infosys became a publicly listed company in India with an initial public offering (IPO).
• 1999: Infosys became the first Indian company listed on the NASDAQ.
• 2001: Infosys launched its consulting arm, Infosys Consulting.
• 2006: Infosys crossed the $1 billion revenue mark.
• 2011: Infosys rebranded itself as Infosys Limited, dropping “Technologies” from its name.
• 2012: Infosys launched its EdgeVerve Systems subsidiary to develop products and platforms.
• 2015: Infosys introduced its AI platform, Infosys Nia, for businesses.
• 2017: Infosys appointed Salil Parekh as CEO and Managing Director.
• 2019: Infosys crossed the $12 billion revenue mark.
• 2020: Infosys expanded its digital and cloud capabilities through strategic acquisitions and partnerships.
• 2021: Infosys joined The Climate Pledge, committing to net-zero carbon emissions by 2040.
• 2022: Infosys launched its ‘Living Labs’ initiative to foster innovation and collaboration with clients.
• 2023: Infosys was recognized as a leader in AI and cloud services by several industry analysts.
• 2024: Infosys continued its focus on sustainability and digital transformation, driving growth through innovation and technology.

Industry: IT and consulting.

Awards and Achievements: Padma Shri – 2000, Padma Vibhushan – 2008, and Honorary Commander of the Order of the British Empire by the UK Government – 2007. 

Nithin Kamath: 

Networth: 4.8 Billion. 

Among the Top 10 successful Indian businessmen, Nithin stands as the upcoming young entrepreneur on the list. Though he has the same net worth as Narayana Murthy, due to seniority, business statistics, and other reasons he ranks seventh. 

But he is a pioneer young businessman to get placed among the Top 10. He co-founded Zerodha with his brother Nithin Kamanth, the company aims to offer brokerage services in goods and currencies. Introducing the Discount Brokerage service enables reduced transaction charges that impress clients to make investments. 

He also co-founded True Beacon and Gruhas. He played an online chess match with Viswanathan Anand on Chess.Com to raise charity funds during the pandemic COVID situation. 

Milestones: 

• 2010: Zerodha was founded by Nithin Kamath and Nikhil Kamath as a discount brokerage firm in India.
• 2015: Zerodha introduced its brokerage-free equity investing model, revolutionizing the brokerage industry in India.
• 2016: Zerodha launched Coin, a platform for direct mutual fund investments.
• 2017: Zerodha introduced Zerodha Varsity, an educational initiative to help investors learn about trading and investing.
• 2018: Zerodha became the largest retail stockbroker in India by active clients.
• 2020: Zerodha introduced a loan against securities products and achieved the milestone of over 3 million clients.
• 2021: Zerodha launched ‘Trading Q&A’, a community forum for traders and investors to discuss and share knowledge.
• 2022: Zerodha expanded its educational offerings and tools, enhancing its platforms to support new investors.
• 2023: Zerodha continued to innovate with new features and tools for traders, maintaining its position as a leading brokerage in India.
• 2024: Zerodha focused on sustainability and financial literacy, further expanding its client base and product offerings.

Industry: Brokerage Firm.

Awards and Achievements: Entrepreneur of the Year Award by The Economic Times – 2022. 

Kiran Mazumdar – Shaw: 

Networth: 2.5 Billion

A Wonderful Women Entrepreneur, who founded Biocon Limited, a biotechnology company based in Bangalore, India. She is a prominent figure in the biotech industry and has been recognized for her contributions to innovation and healthcare. Her initiation to give cost-effective healthcare to the people has been successfully achieved. 

She hated the term philanthropy and preferred the term – ‘Compassionate Capitalist’. She has also done renowned social work for the people.

Milestones : 

• 1978: Biocon was founded by Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw as a small enzyme manufacturing company in Bangalore, India.
• 2004: Biocon became the first Indian biotech company to go public, with its IPO oversubscribed 33 times.
• 2006: Biocon launched India’s first indigenously developed monoclonal antibody, BIOMAb-EGFR.
• 2010: Biocon launched its first biosimilar product, BIOMAb-KR, for head and neck cancer.
• 2017: Biocon’s biosimilar pegfilgrastim received regulatory approval in the United States, marking its entry into the U.S. market.
• 2022: Biocon acquired Viatris’ biosimilars business, enhancing its global biosimilar portfolio.
• 2023: Biocon continued to expand its biosimilar offerings and strengthen its position in the global biopharmaceutical market.
• 2024: Biocon focused on advancing its pipeline of novel biologics and biosimilars, driving innovation in healthcare solutions.

Industry: Biopharmaceuticals

Awards and Achievements: Othmer Gold Medal – 2014 and Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award – 2002. 

Deepinder Goyal:

Net worth: 1.6 Billion.

Deepinder Goyal is the founder, CEO, and Managing Director of Zomato. At first, Zomato had started in the name of Foodiebay, computing an Indian Multinational restaurant and later it became a renowned food delivery Company. It created a revolution of restaurant food at the doorstep! This makes everyone choose their meals in minutes. 

He has also invested in startups like Unacademy, SquadStack, Therado, and so on. Thus, encouraging new entrepreneurs to start their businesses. 

Milestones: 

Here are some key milestones in the history of Zomato:

• 2008: Zomato was founded by Deepinder Goyal and Pankaj Chaddah as Foodiebay, a restaurant discovery and food delivery platform in India.
• 2010: The company rebranded from Foodiebay to Zomato, expanding its services across major Indian cities.
• 2012: Zomato launched its international operations, starting with the UAE, Sri Lanka, Qatar, the UK, the Philippines, and South Africa.
• 2014: Zomato acquired several restaurant search companies, including MenuMania (New Zealand), Lunchtime (Czech Republic), and Obedovat (Slovakia).
• 2018: Zomato raised significant funding from Ant Financial, a part of Alibaba Group, and expanded its delivery services to over 500 cities in India.
• 2020: Zomato adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic by launching contactless dining and grocery delivery services.
• 2022: Zomato acquired Blinkit (formerly Grofers), expanding its quick commerce and grocery delivery services.
• 2023: Zomato continued to innovate with new features like Zomato Pro Plus, offering exclusive benefits to subscribers, and strengthened its focus on sustainability and reducing food wastage.

Industry: Food Delivery 

Awards and Achievements: Startup of the Year Award by The Economic Times – 2011 and Distinguished Alumni Award by IIT Delhi – 2018. 

Vijay Shekhar Sharma: 

Net worth:  1.2 Billion.

Sharma is the CEO and creator of Paytm, the app that enables digital banking transactions in online mode. The growth of this app took its speed during the covid period and earned more than 400% of users. It made easy payments and simplified bank transactions. He is also the founder of One97 Communication the parent company of Paytm.

The invention achieved its vision of the digital economy and led to Digital India. You can make the highest to lowest transactions through this app. 

Milestones: 

• 2010: Paytm was founded by Vijay Shekhar Sharma as a prepaid mobile and DTH recharge platform.
• 2015: Paytm received a license from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to launch Paytm Payments Bank.
• 2016: Paytm played a significant role in promoting digital payments in India following the government’s demonetization policy. 
• 2018: Paytm expanded its services to include mutual fund investments with the launch of Paytm Money.
• 2019: Paytm introduced Paytm First, a subscription-based loyalty program offering exclusive benefits to users.
• 2020: Paytm expanded its financial services portfolio by launching Paytm Insurance and strengthening its presence in the lending sector with Paytm Postpaid.
• 2022: Paytm enhanced its merchant services, providing comprehensive solutions for small and medium-sized businesses, including payment gateways, POS systems, and business loans.
• 2023: Paytm introduced several new features, such as UPI Lite and Paytm Credit Cards, to simplify digital payments and offer more value to its users.
• 2024: Paytm focused on expanding its international operations and deepening its presence in the financial services sector, including digital banking, wealth management, and insurance. The company also emphasized sustainability and corporate social responsibility initiatives.

Industry: Digital Payments and Finance Services.

Awards and Achievements: Best Serial Entrepreneur Award at the Rural and Urban Development Summit presented by the Minister of State for the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India – 2022. 

Bottom Up: 

The list of the Top 10 successful Indian billionaires and the provided information is given according to the recent updates. Though there are a lot of Entrepreneurs, people eagerly address the Top 10 for their glory. The role of business people in democratic India is indispensable, their success brings clouds of fame to the nation. Their contributions highlight India’s entrepreneurial spirit and inspire future generations to pursue excellence.