Gautam Adani Reclaims Top Spot on M3M Hurun India Rich List 2026 as AI Debuts as New Wealth Sector

Key facts

• Gautam Adani and family topped the M3M Hurun India Rich List 2026 with wealth rising 13% to ₹9.23 lakh crore, overtaking Mukesh Ambani and family whose wealth declined 10% to ₹8.63 lakh crore.
• The M3M Hurun India Rich List 2026, released on September 23, covers 1,810 individuals with wealth of at least ₹1,000 crore, whose combined wealth rose 12.8% year-on-year to ₹187.5 lakh crore ($1.96 trillion).
• India has a record 391 dollar billionaires, including 27 added over the past year, compared with 237 five years ago.
• LN Mittal and family of ArcelorMittal moved up eight places to third with wealth rising 93% to ₹3.39 lakh crore.
• Artificial intelligence debuted as a standalone sector in the list with 19 entrants collectively worth ₹3.07 lakh crore, of whom 15 are new entrants adding ₹1.82 lakh crore in wealth.
• Industrial Products remained the largest sector with 166 entrants, followed by Chemicals with 142 and Pharmaceuticals with 136.
• Mumbai leads with 465 rich listers, followed by New Delhi with 236 and Bengaluru with 129; the list includes 131 women, up from 100 last year.
• Roshni Nadar Malhotra and family remain India's richest woman at ₹2.79 lakh crore.
• The list recorded 1,266 self-made entrepreneurs, accounting for 70% of the total.
• The number of listers living outside India rose to 156, including 90 in the US and 31 in the UAE.