Sun Pharmaceutical's Dilip Shanghvi tops global rich list of drugmakers with net worth of $17.2 billion

Dilip Shanghvi, founder and MD of Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, tops the global rich list of individuals whose fortunes are based on the healthcare business, with a net worth of $17.2 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaire’s Index.

The unassuming Shanghvi, 58, is ahead of Ernesto Bertarelli (48 years old, who sold Serono to Merck KGaA in 2007), Hansjorg Wyss (who sold Synthes to Johnson & Johnson in 2012) and Stefano Pessina (73, executive chairman, Alliance Boots).

Shanghvi is currently in the midst of getting clearances for his company’s $4-billion acquisition of Ranbaxy Laboratories. In the overall list, Shanghvi ranks at 45, behind Mukesh Ambani, who’s at No. 32 with a net worth of $22.8 billion, and ahead of Pallonji Mistry at 49 ($16.9 billion).

Shanghvi’s Wealth has grown 37%

Shanghvi’s wealth has grown 37.1%, or $4.7 billion, to $17.2 billion in the year to date. Of this, $16.7 billion is accounted for by his 64% holding in Sun Pharma while $439.1 million is from Sun Pharma Advanced Research.

The rest is in the form of cash, besides holdings in Natco Pharma and Bio Light Israeli Life Science. Sun Pharma is one of India’s fastest-growing pharmaceutical companies with revenue and profit having risen at a compounded annual growth rate of 27% and 18%, respectively, in the five years ended FY13. Its margins are also among the highest in the segment.

The company’s share of India’s domestic formulations market will almost double to 9.2% from 5.4% after it takes over Ranbaxy, making it the segment leader and overtaking Abbott India, now at 6.5%. Sun also has one of the most robust balance sheets among Indian drugmakers with about Rs 10,000 crore of cash on its books.