Top 10 Wealthiest Indian Entrepreneurs in 2012


1. Mukesh Ambani

$21 billion

Source: Oil & gas

Age: 55. Married, 3 children

Residence: Mumbai

Ambani is the richest Indian for the fifth straight year regardless of his fortune falling for the third year in a row. Still his Reliance Industries remains India’s most valuable company despite continuing battles with federal oil ministry over KG-D6, country’s largest offshore gas field, where output has sharply declined and which has been subject of inquiry by a federal auditor. In August, after a two-year deadlock, it got provisional consent for its drilling plans but not its much lobbied-for price increase for gas. Final approval is pending another federal audit. 

Fast facts

Wife Nita, who oversees Reliance Foundation, launched country’s first Braille newspaper in Hindi in March and has pledged to donate her eyes upon her death.

More: What Start-Ups can learn from Ambani?