Forbes has officially released the 2025 World Billionaires List, offering a comprehensive view of the world’s wealthiest individuals. This year’s rankings highlight the continued dominance of tech and retail tycoons, with notable movements across global and regional lists.
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, and X, tops the global billionaire list with an estimated net worth of $342 billion. Mark Zuckerberg, head of Meta, climbs to second place with $216 billion, overtaking Jeff Bezos of Amazon, who now ranks third with $215 billion. Oracle’s Larry Ellison follows at fourth with $192 billion, and French luxury magnate Bernard Arnault & family of LVMH round out the top five with $178 billion.
India’s Billionaire Lineup in 2025
$1 Billion = Rs. 8,529 cr.
India remains a major presence in the billionaire ecosystem. Mukesh Ambani, Chairman of Reliance Industries, leads the Indian contingent with a net worth of $92.5 billion, placing him 18th globally. He is followed by:
• Gautam Adani – $56.3 billion
• Savitri Jindal & family – $35.5 billion
• Shiv Nadar (HCL Technologies) – $34.5 billion
• Dilip Shanghvi (Sun Pharma) – $24.9 billion
• Cyrus Poonawalla (Serum Institute of India) – $23.1 billion
India’s billionaire landscape spans technology, infrastructure, pharmaceuticals, and consumer sectors, reflecting the country's dynamic and diversified economy.
Malayalee Business Tycoons on the Global Stage
$1 Billion = Rs. 8,529 cr.
Among Indians, M.A. Yusuffali, Chairman of Lulu Group remains the richest Malayalee billionaire, with a net worth of $5.5 billion (Rs. 47,000 cr. approx). With expansive retail and mall operations across the Middle East and India, Yusuffali ranks 32nd among Indians and 639th in the world.
Following is the full list of Malayalee business leaders to have secured their place on the Forbes list:
1. M.A. Yusuffali (Lulu Group) – $5.5 billion
2. Sunny Varkey (GEMS Education) – $3.9 billion
3. Kris Gopalakrishnan (Infosys Co-founder) – $3.8 billion
4. Ravi Pillai (RP Group) – $3.7 billion
5. Joy Alukkas (Joy Alukkas Group) – $3.3 billion
6. T.S. Kalyanaraman (Kalyan Jewellers) – $3.1 billion
7. Dr. Shamsheer Vayalil (VPS Healthcare) – $2 billion
8. S.D. Shibulal (Infosys Co-founder) – $2 billion
9. George Muthoot family (Muthoot Group) –$1.9 billion each (Alexander, Jacob, Thomas & Sara)
10. Kochouseph Chittilappilly (V-Guard, Wonderla) – $1.3 billion
These entrepreneurs represent a broad cross-section of industries including healthcare, education, IT, retail, finance, jewelry, and consumer electronics—demonstrating the significant economic footprint of the Malayalee business community across the globe.
