Gautam Adani reclaims top spot as India’s richest, edges out Mukesh Ambani: Hurun Rich List

Gautam Adani and his family have reclaimed the top position on the M3M Hurun India Rich List 2026, overtaking Mukesh Ambani and family. Adani’s wealth rose 13% to Rs 9.23 lakh crore ($96 billion), while Ambani’s wealth declined 10% to Rs 8.63 lakh crore ($90 billion).

Adani now leads Ambani by Rs 59,400 crore.

The latest Hurun list includes 1,810 individuals with wealth of at least Rs 1,000 crore. Their combined wealth rose 12.8% from last year to Rs 187.5 lakh crore ($1.96 trillion), equal to nearly half of India’s GDP.


India now has a record 391 dollar billionaires, up from 237 five years ago. The country added 27 dollar billionaires in the past year.

Steel, metals push new faces into top 10

LN Mittal and family of ArcelorMittal moved up eight places to rank third. Their wealth rose 93% to Rs 3.39 lakh crore.

The company’s wealth increased amid Europe’s steel trade protection measures and firmer regional steel prices. Mittal recorded the largest absolute wealth gain on the list, adding Rs 1.64 lakh crore.

Anil Agarwal and family of Vedanta Resources rose seven places to ninth after their wealth increased 87% to Rs 2.08 lakh crore. The group’s restructuring into separate metals, power and energy businesses helped revalue its portfolio.

Samir Mehta and family of Torrent Pharmaceuticals entered the top 10 at number 10. Their wealth rose 52% to Rs 1.89 lakh crore after the completion of the JB Chemicals merger.

Quantum computing makes its debut

Nagendra Nagaraja of Bengaluru-based QpiAi has become the first quantum computing entrepreneur to enter the Hurun list. He debuted with wealth of Rs 1,700 crore.

The fortune is the first on the list to be built on quantum hardware and software.

Artificial intelligence has also entered the Hurun list as a separate sector. It has 19 entrants with combined wealth of Rs 3.07 lakh crore. Fifteen of them are new entrants.

Aerospace and defence added 23 entrants with total wealth of Rs 85,200 crore.

Tanay Kothari and Sahaj Garg, both 28, entered the list with their artificial intelligence company Wispr Flow. Each has wealth of Rs 4,200 crore.

India’s wealth base expands

The number of people on the list increased by 128 from last year and by 803 over the past five years. The list now covers 163 cities, including 106 Indian cities.

Mumbai has the highest number of rich listers, with 465 individuals, followed by New Delhi with 236 and Bengaluru with 129. Mumbai is also home to 93 dollar billionaires.

The average wealth of those on the list rose to Rs 10,362 crore from Rs 9,874 crore. The listers added wealth at a rate of Rs 5,833 crore a day.

Twenty-three individuals now have wealth of more than Rs 1 lakh crore. They control 28.9% of the total wealth on the list.

At the other end, 1,157 individuals in the Rs 1,000 crore to Rs 5,000 crore wealth bracket account for 14.2% of the total wealth.

Self-made entrepreneurs dominate

A record 1,266 entrepreneurs, or 70% of the list, are self-made. This compares with 1,109 last year and 55% five years ago.

Industrial products is the largest sector, with 166 entrants. Chemicals follows with 142, while pharmaceuticals has 136. Industrial products also produced the highest number of new entrants, at 44.

Aditya Kumar Halwasiya of Cupid was the fastest wealth creator, with his wealth rising 859% to Rs 18,800 crore. He also recorded the biggest rise in ranking, moving up 939 places.

The youngest entrant was 23-year-old Kaivalya Vohra of Zepto. His co-founder, 24-year-old Aadit Palicha, was the second youngest.

Women and overseas Indians

The list includes 131 women, compared with 100 last year. Thirty-three women on the list are dollar billionaires.

Roshni Nadar Malhotra and family remain India’s richest woman, with wealth of Rs 2.79 lakh crore. She ranks fifth overall.

Jayshree Ullal of Arista Networks is the richest self-made woman, with wealth of Rs 77,400 crore. She is also the richest professional manager on the list.

Renuka Jagtiani of Dubai-based Landmark Group was the highest-ranked new entrant. She debuted at 36th with wealth of Rs 70,500 crore.

The number of listers living outside India increased to 156. This includes 90 in the United States and 31 in the UAE.

Rajiv Jain of GQG Partners, based in Fort Lauderdale, was among the highest-ranked overseas new entrants. He debuted at 125th with wealth of Rs 27,100 crore.

The list also recorded 816 people whose wealth increased, while 653 saw their wealth decline. Another 219 individuals dropped out of the list.

The average age of the individuals on the list is 64. The average age of the women is 66.