The UK’s richest family worth £38bn – owns a 25-bedroom home and companies in 48 countries | UK | News
Brothers Sanjay and Dheeraj Hinduja have topped the Sunday Times rich list for the fifth year in a row, with a combined fortune of £38bn. The brothers run the growing Hinduja Group, a global conglomerate with operations in oil, gas, banking and transportation in 48 countries.
Inheriting the family empire from their father, Gopichand (Gopi) Hinduja, the Hinduja brothers have transformed it into one of the most diverse and successful business networks in the world. Today, the group’s reach covers everything from energy projects and automotive ventures to finance and technology. The brothers live a luxurious life, owning a 25-bedroom mansion, but are known for keeping a low public profile despite their wealth. They rarely give interviews and maintain a relatively private lifestyle, letting their business success speak for themselves.
The multinational empire was founded by Parmanand Deepchand Hinduja in 1914. In 1919 the business moved to Iran, focusing on commercial banking and trading. Gopi, along with his brothers, transformed this by moving base to London in 1979 and expanding into oil, automotive (Ashok Leyland), banking (IndusInd Bank) and real estate. Gopi took over as chairman following the death of his brother Srichand in 2023 and grew the trading business into a global conglomerate before his death in November 2025.
Hinduja Group operates in 48 countries, also in sectors such as IT, cybersecurity, healthcare, infrastructure development and even media and entertainment. Sanjay, 61, heads Gulf Oil International, while Dheeraj, 54, runs automotive giant Ashok Leyland. In the UK, the family is known for transforming the Old War Office (OWO) into a lavish 120-room hotel and 85 luxury flats; this project took eight years and cost £1.4 billion. They now want to repeat the initiative elsewhere in the UK.
While conflict in the Middle East has increased demand for the Hindujas’ coal businesses, the family fears a protracted conflict that could plunge the global economy into recession.
The family owns a 25-bedroom property, originally consisting of four separate houses, on Carlton House Terrace, a street in the St James area of Westminster. The Grade I listed property covers 67,000 square meters and was once valued at around £400 million.
While some foreign-born billionaires are leaving the UK following the end of non-resident tax status, the brothers have vowed to stay: “We’ve lived in London for 47 years,” Sanjay said. “Where else do we go? This is our home.”
It ranks second Sunday Times’ Rich List 2026 It is the family of David and Simon Reuben, currently worth £27.9bn. These India-born British billionaires, based in London, have built vast fortunes through their philanthropic Reuben Foundation as well as global real estate, data centers and private equity firm Reuben Brothers. They are among London’s largest landlords, owning iconic properties such as Millbank Tower, Burlington Arcade and Admiralty Arch. They also own a 14% stake in Newcastle United FC.
