Sunil Mittal bucks the trend: Only billionaire to grow richer in 2025 Forbes India list — see his net worth
India’s richest billionaires saw a decline in their total net worth last year, except for one telecom tycoon who is defying all trends.
Sunil Mittal, founder and chairman of Indian telecom giant Bharti Airtel, has risen to the top of Forbes’ India’s 10 Richest List, which was announced earlier this week. This comes despite a weaker rupee and a 3% decline in the benchmark Sensex last year, leading to a 9% erosion in total wealth to $1 trillion.
According to Forbes India’s Richest 2025 list, Sunil Mittal became the fourth richest person in India after Mukesh Ambani, Gautam Adani and Savitri Jindal.
What is Sunil Mittal’s current net worth?
Forbes India’s Richest 2025 list shows Bharti Airtel’s Sunil Mittal’s net worth is $34.2 billion. The telecommunications tycoon increased his wealth by $3.5 billion.
As a result, Mittal jumped three places on the list to fourth place, the position he held in 2008.
Why did Sunil Mittal’s wealth increase?
The increase in Sunil Mittal’s net worth was due to his massive share purchase in 2024. Bharti Enterprises, the company of Bharti Airtel chairman, has acquired 24.5 percent stake in UK telecommunications giant BT Group. Mittal joined the company’s board of directors in September 2025.
Who is Sunil Mittal?
Sunil Mittal is the founder and chairman of Indian telecommunications giant Bharti Enterprises, which owns Bharti Airtel. He is the recipient of the Padma Bhushan, one of India’s highest civilian awards.
The telecommunications magnate was born in Punjab in 1957 and did his schooling in Mussoorie and Gwalior. He graduated from Panjab University, Chandigarh, in 1976 with a bachelor’s degree in economics and political science.
Sunil Mittal got his first job dealing with crankshafts of local bicycles, when he was just 18 years old, right after graduating from university. ₹$20,000 borrowed from his father.
Mittal pioneered the mobile revolution in India. At a time when mobile telecom was considered inaccessible to the masses, Bharti Airtel revolutionized its business model to offer affordable voice and data services.
Billionaires’ wealth will decrease in 2025
Other billionaires in India saw a decline in their net worth last year, although Sunil Mittal was an exception, according to Forbes.
India’s richest person, Mukesh Ambani, continued to be the ‘centiblyoner’ with a net worth of $105 billion. However, the Reliance Industries chairman’s wealth decreased by 12 percent last year to $14.5 billion.
The fortune of Gautam Adani, who lost the number 1 crown to Ambani, reached 92 billion dollars.
HCL Tech’s Shiv Nadar has fallen to No. 5 on the Forbes list at a time when the country’s IT companies have been hit by US President Donald Trump’s decision to impose a $100,000 fee on new H1-B visas.
