The Indian billionaire class of 2009

Forbes magazine estimates that India is now home to 52 billionaires, up from 27 last year. The combined fortune of India's 100 richest is $276 billion, almost one-fourth the country's GDP, it says. Although China has more billionaires—79 vs. India's 52--India's wealthiest are worth over $100 billion more than the $170 billion total net worth of their Chinese counterparts, says Forbes. Methodology: “For people with publicly traded fortunes, net worths were calculated using stock prices and exchange rates as of October 16. Privately held fortunes were valued at book value or by coupling estimates of revenues, profits or book value to prevailing ratios for similar publicly traded companies,” according to Forbes.

Mukesh D. Ambani is the chairman and managing director of Reliance Industries Ltd. He has topped the Forbes list of richest Indians. Net worth estimated at $32 billion. He is a chemical engineer from University Institute of Chemical Technology (earlier University Department of Chemical Technology), University of Mumbai (earlier University of Bombay). He has pursued MBA from Stanford University, USA. The Reliance Group, founded by Dhirubhai H. Ambani (1932-2002), is India's largest private sector enterprise, with businesses in the energy and materials value chain. (PTI photo)

Lakshmi Mittal is the chairman and CEO of ArcelorMittal. Net worth: $30 billion. ArcelorMittal is the world's number one steel company, with presence in more than 60 countries.

Anil Ambani is the chairman of Reliance ADA Group. Net worth estimated at $17.5 billion. He is an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. The Reliance – Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group is among India's leading private sector business houses.

Azim Premji is the chairman of Wipro. Net worth estimated at $14.9 billion. Premji completed his initial education at St. Mary's School in Mumbai. He was pursuing his studies in electrical engineering from Stanford University, California, USA at the age of 21 when he was forced to drop out and take over the family business due to the sudden death of his father in 1966. Wipro is the provider of integrated business, technology and process solutions on a global delivery platform. (AP photo)

Shashi Ruia is the chairman of Essar Group and Ravi Ruia is the vice chairman of Essar Group. Net worth estimated at $13.6 billion. Essar's promoters: Sitting: Shashi Ruia, (r) Ravi Ruia, (l) Standing: (l) to (r): Rewant Ruia, Anshuman Ruia, Smiti Kanodia and Prashant Ruia. The Essar Group is a diversified business corporation with a balanced portfolio of assets in the manufacturing and services sectors of steel, energy, power, communications, shipping ports & logistics, and projects. Essar has a presence in more than 15 countries worldwide.

KP Singh is the chairman and CEO of DLF Universal. Net worth estimated at $13.5 billion. The DLF Group was founded in 1946. They developed some of the first residential colonies in Delhi such as Krishna Nagar in East Delhi, which was completed in 1949. Since then, they have been responsible for the development of many of Delhi's other well known urban colonies, including South Extension, Greater Kailash, Kailash Colony and Hauz Khas.

Savitri Jindal is the chairperson of Jindal Steel. Net worth estimated at $12 billion. She is the wife of late OP Jindal. She took over the chairmanship of the company in 2005 after her husband died in a copter crash. Jindal Organization, set up in 1970 by the OP Jindal, has grown from an indigenous single-unit steel plant in Hisar, Haryana, to the present multi-billion, multi-locational and multiproduct steel conglomerate.

Sunil Mittal is the chairman and CEO of Bharti Airtel. Net worth estimated at $8.2 billion. Bharti Enterprises is one of India's leading business groups with interests in telecom, retail, manufacturing, agri business and financial services. Bharti Airtel is Asia's leading integrated telecom services provider with operations in India and Sri Lanka. (Photo: NYT)

Kumar Birla is the chairman of the Aditya Birla Group. Net worth estimated at $7.8 billion. A $29.2 billion corporation, the Aditya Birla Group operates in 25 countries.

Gautam Adani is the chairman of Adani Group. Net worth estimated at $6.4 billion. Its flagship company Adani Enterprises (formerly known as Adani Exports Ltd.), was established by Mr. Gautam S Adani in 1988 as a partnership firm with a seed capital of Rs 5 lakh.

Anil Agarwal is the chairman of Vedanta Resources. Net worth estimated at $6.3 billion. Vedanta Resources is a London-based FTSE 100 metals and mining group with interests in aluminium, copper, zinc and lead and with operations in India, Zambia and Australia.

Adi Godrej is the chairman of Godrej Group. Net worth estimated at $5.4 billion. The group has varied interests, from engineering to personal care products.

Dilip Shanghvi is the chairman and managing director of Sun Pharma. Net worth estimated at $4.1 billion. He founded the company as a startup with just five products in 1983. Since then it has crossed several milestones to emerge as a leading pharma company in India.

Shiv Nadar is the chairman of HCL Technologies, and founder of HCL. Net worth estimated at $3.7 billion. At a time when India had a total of 250 computers, Shiv Nadar led a young team which passionately believed in and bet on the growth of the IT industry. That vision in 1976 has resulted three decades later in a $5 billion global technology enterprise today.

Uday Kotak, is the executive vice chairman & managing director of Kotak Mahindra Bank. Net worth estimated at $3.3 billion. Kotak Mahindra is one of India's leading financial organizations, offering a wide range of financial services, from commercial banking, stock broking, mutual funds, life insurance, to investment banking.

GM Rao is the founder chairman of GMR Group. Net worth estimated at $3.2 billion. GMR Group has interests in airports, energy, highways and urban infrastructure. Employing the Public Private Partnership model, the group has successfully implemented several infrastructure projects in India.

Malvinder Mohan Singh(left)is group chairman of Religare and Fortis Healthcare. Prior to this, Malvinder was the chairman, managing director and CEO of Ranbaxy Laboratories. Shivinder Mohan Singh is the managing director of Fortis Healthcare and Escorts Heart Institute & Research Centre. Net worth of the brothers estimated at $3 billion.

Subhash Chandra is the promoter of Essel Group. Net worth estimated at $2.8 billion. His businesses include television networks and film entertainment, cable systems, satellite communications, theme parks, flexible packaging, family entertainment centers and online gaming.

Indu Jain is the chairperson of Times Group. Net worth estimated at $2.4 billion. Times Group has a heritage of over 150 years and is one of India's leading media groups.

Kalanithi Maran (left) is the chairman and managing director of Sun TV Network. Net worth estimated at $2.3 billion. Sun TV Network had its humble beginnings in 'Poomalai' - a monthly video magazine. Today, it is one of India's largest television networks, with twenty TV channels and forty-six FM radio stations.

Anand Burman is the chairman of Dabur India. Net worth estimated at $2.25 billion. Dabur India is among the largest FMCG companies in India with revenues of over Rs 2,800 crore.

Brijmohan Lall Munjal is the chairman of Hero Group. Net worth estimated at $2.2 billion. Brijmohan Lall Munjal was born in 1923, in what is now Pakistan. After partition, the Munjal brothers started a small business of manufacturing bicycle components in Ludhiana. Lall led a smalltime manufacturer of 60 cycles a day that become a manufacturing giant.

Sudhir Mehta (right) is the chairman of the Torrent Group while Samir Mehta is its vice chairman. Net worth estimated at $2.1 billion. Torrent is a leading player in the Indian pharma sector, with also a significant presence in the power sector.

Cyrus Poonawalla is the chairman & MD of Serum Institute of India. Net worth estimated at $2 billion. Serum Institute of India has established itself as the world's largest producer of measles and DTP group of vaccines. It is estimated that two out of every three children immunized in the world is vaccinated by a vaccine manufactured by Serum Institute.

Ramesh Chandra (image not available)is the founder of Unitech, India's second largest property firm. Net worth estimated at $1.95 billion.

Micky Jagtiani,(sitting in centre)chairman of Landmark Group. Net worth estimated at $1.9 billion. The Landmark Group, founded in 1973 with a single store in Bahrain, has grown into one of the largest retail conglomerates in the Middle East and is expanding rapidly in India. It currently operates over 900 stores. In addition to its retail sector, the group has also diversified into leisure, food, hotels and electronics.

YK Hamied is the chairman & managing director of Cipla. Net worth estimated at $1.89 billion. Cipla under the guidance of Dr Hamied is now ranked as a leader in the domestic pharmaceutical industry. Hamied has pioneered and led the global fight against HIV and AIDS. Cipla was the first to offer the triple drug cocktail, Triomune, that can transform the life of an HIV positive patient at a fraction of the international cost.

Pravin Kumar Tayal is the head of Tayal Group. Net worth: $1.88 billion. Jaybharat Textiles and Real Estate, a Tayal Group company, is a diversified company with a presence in textiles and realty sector.

Jaiprakash Gaur is the the founding father of Jaiprakash Associates. Net worth estimated at $1.87 billion. After acquiring a Diploma in Civil Engineering in 1950 from the University of Roorkee, he had a stint with Govt of UP and then branched off on his own to start as a civil contractor in 1958.

Rajan Raheja (image not available)has interests in many businesses including automotive and industrial batteries, petrochemicals, cement, ceramic tiles, retailing and media. Net worth estimated at $1.85 billion. Rajan Raheja Group made its beginning in the construction business. After building a presence in the realty market, the group diversified laterally into manufacturing, financial services and media.

Venugopal Dhoot is the chairman of Vidoecon group. Net worth estimated at $1.8 billion. The group operates in four key sectors: consumer electronics and home appliances; display industry and its components; colour picture tube glass; and oil & gas.

Rahul Bajaj is the head of Bajaj Group of Companies. Net worth estimated at $1.75 billion. Rajul Bajaj was appointed CEO of Bajaj Auto in 1968 and later took over as head of Bajaj Group of Companies. Bajaj Group’s footprint stretches over a wide range of industries, including automobiles (two-wheelers and three-wheelers), insurance, and finance.

Tulsi R Tanti is the CMD of Suzlon. Net worth estimated at $1.7 billion. Conceived in 1995 with just 20 people, Suzlon is now a leading wind power company with over 14,000 people in 21 countries and with a fully integrated supply chain.

Lagadapati Madhusudhan Rao is the executive chairman of Lanco Infratech. Net worth estimated at $1.67 billion. Under his leadership, Lanco has emerged as one of India’s fastest growing business conglomerates across a span of verticals.

Baba Kalyani is the chairman & managing director of Bharat Forge, the flagship company of the Kalyani Group. Net worth estimated at $1.63 billion. Bharat Forge is a leading global ‘full service supplier’ of forged and machined - engine & chassis components. It is the largest exporter of auto components from India and leading chassis component manufacturer in the world.

Rakesh Wadhawan (image not available)is the promoter and executive chairman of HDIL. Net worth estimated at $1.6 billion. HDIL is a real estate development company, with significant operations in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

Chandru Raheja is the chairman of K Raheja Group. Net worth estimated at $1.55 billion. K Raheja Corp has been engaged in real estate development for more than four decades.

NR Narayana Murthy is the chairman of the board and chief mentor of Infosys Technologies. Net worth estimated at $1.5 billion. He founded Infosys in 1981 along with six other software professionals and served as the CEO of Infosys for 21 years till March 2002.

Gautam Thapar is the chairman of Avantha Group. Net worth estimated at $1.4 billion. The group has business interests in diverse areas, including pulp and paper, power transmission and distribution equipments and services, food processing, farm forestry, chemicals, energy, infrastructure, information technology (IT) and IT-enabled services.

Rama Prasad Goenka is the chairman emeritus of RPG Enterprises. Net worth estimated at $1.35 billion. RPG Enterprises is one of India's largest industrial conglomerates. With over 20 companies in its fold, the group has a strong presence in eighty business sectors. These include power, tyre, transmission, it, retail, entertainment, carbon black, and speciality.

Niranjan Hiranandani is the founder of Hirco and co-founder of the Hiranandani Group. Net worth estimated at $1.32 billion. Hirco group is one of India’s largest residential builders and leading developer of mixed-used townships.

Desh Bandhu Gupta is the chairperson of Lupin. Net worth estimated at $1.3 billion. Lupin produces a wide range of generic and branded formulations and APIs for the developed and developing markets of the world.

Nandan Nilekani is the chairperson of Unique Identification Authority of India. Net worth estimated at $1.25 billion. Nilekani had been the CEO of Infosys Technologies since March 2002 and prior to that, he was the COO and served as a director on the company's board since its inception in 1981. In 2009, Nandan was appointed the Chairperson of Unique Identification Authority of India, and consequent to that, he relinquished the positions of co-chairman, member of the board and employee of Infosys, effective July 9, 2009.

Pankaj Patel is the chairman of the Zydus Cadila Group. Net worth estimated at $1.21 billion. The group’s operations range from API to formulations, animal health products and cosmeceuticals. The group has global operations in four continents spread across USA, Europe, Japan, Brazil, South Africa and 25 other emerging markets.

Vikas Oberoi (image not availale)is the managing director of Oberoi Constructions. Net worth estimated at $1.2 billion. Oberoi Constructions was established in early 1980s and since its inception, it has evolved into a leading real estate developers in Mumbai.

Senapathy Gopalakrishnan is the CEO and MD of Infosys Technologies. Net worth estimated at $1.15 billion. Gopalakrishnan (Kris to his colleagues) is one of the founders of Infosys Technologies Limited. On June 22, 2007, Kris took over from Nandan M Nilekani as the CEO and Managing Director of Infosys Technologies Limited. Kris holds a master's degree in Physics and Computer Science from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras.

GV Krishna Reddy is the chairman of the GVK Group. Net worth estimated at $1.07 billion. GVK is a diversified business entity with a predominant focus on infrastructure projects. It also has a significant presence in the hospitality, services and manufacturing sectors.

Ajay Piramal is the chairman of the Piramal Group. Net worth estimated at $1.06 billion. The Piramal Group has interests in a broad spectrum of industries and formats (healthcare, diagnostics, original drug discovery, glass manufacturing, real estate etc.

Vinod Goenka is the chairman of Dynamix Balwas Group. Net worth estimated at $1.05 billion. The Dynamix Balwas Group is promoted by two families, the Goenka Family and Balwa Family. The Goenka Family has been in the real estate business since the last 25 years and is headed by KM Goenka who continues to be the mentor of the group.

Shahid Balwa is the managing director of Dynamix Balwas Group. Net worth estimated at $1.02 billion. The Balwa Family has been in the hospitality and real estate business since the last 98 years, headed by Usman Balwa who is assisted by Shahid Balwa.

Virendra Mhaiskar is the chairman and managing director of IRB Infrastructure. Net worth estimated at $1.01 billion. Mhaiskar holds a diploma in civil engineering from Shriram Polytechnic, Navi Mumbai. As a civil engineer, he has hands on experience of more than 17 years in the construction and infrastructure industry.

Anand Jain is the director of Jai Corp. Net worth estimated at $1 billion. He is a highly successful entrepreneur with 25 years' of experience in various businesses, with a expertise in real estate, finance and capital markets. A graduate from the University of Mumbai, he has also done a course in risk management from London Business School.