Did India Add More Than One Billionaire Every Week in 2025?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- India added over one billionaire every week in 2025.
- The total number of billionaires reached 350.
- Wealth creation is increasingly driven by startups.
- The top 10 billionaires hold 28 percent of the total wealth.
- Mumbai dominates the billionaire list with 451 individuals.
New Delhi, Oct 1 (NationPress) The billionaire landscape in India is expanding at an astonishing rate, as revealed by a recent report. This year, the nation has welcomed over one billionaire each week, showcasing a remarkable trend.
The M3M Hurun India Rich List 2025 indicates that India now boasts 350 billionaires, a staggering sixfold increase since the inaugural list was published 13 years ago.
The 14th iteration of the Hurun list features 1,687 individuals whose wealth exceeds Rs 1,000 crore.
This year, there are 284 new faces, with the total rising by 148 compared to the previous year and by 859 over the last five years.
According to the report, collectively, the individuals on the list have increased their wealth at the rate of Rs 1,991 crore daily.
The total wealth represented by those on the list amounts to Rs 167 lakh crore, reflecting a 5 percent increase from last year.
For context, this sum surpasses the GDP of Spain and is nearly equivalent to half of India’s GDP.
Despite this growth, the average wealth per individual has slightly decreased to Rs 9,850 crore from Rs 10,320 crore last year, affected by global tariff challenges and geopolitical issues.
The top 10 wealthiest individuals in India are becoming both richer and younger. The threshold for entry into this elite group has risen to Rs 1.83 lakh crore, compared to Rs 1.63 lakh crore last year, while their average age has fallen to 69, three years younger than prior.
Remarkably, the top 10 alone control 28 percent of the total wealth on the list.
Startups are emerging as a significant force in wealth generation, with 97 founders making it onto the 2025 list.
Among these, 46 are new entrants, including 12 from publicly traded startups. Notably, 74 percent of the new additions this year are self-made entrepreneurs, highlighting India's growing inclination towards wealth creation beyond traditional sectors.
The pharmaceuticals sector leads with 137 individuals, followed closely by industrial products with 132, and chemicals & petrochemicals with 125.
Demographically, Mumbai remains the frontrunner with 451 individuals on the list, followed by New Delhi with 223 and Bengaluru with 116.
Women have also made their presence felt, with 101 entrants this year, including 26 billionaires.
The average age of individuals on the list is 65, consistent across genders. Interestingly, 20 individuals born in the 1990s have now joined this elite group.