Gopichand Hinduja and Family Top UK's Sunday Times Rich List Again

Gopichand Hinduja and his family have once again topped the Sunday Times Rich List 2025, with a net worth of Rs 33,67,948 crore. This significant wealth places them well ahead of the second richest, David and Simon Reuben and family, with a margin of Rs 8,042 crore. Despite a slight dip in their net worth, the Hinduja family's influence remains undeniable, particularly through their management of the multinational conglomerate, the Hinduja Group.

The Hinduja Group is a diverse enterprise that spans multiple industries, including trucks, lubricants, banking, and cable television. Gopichand Hinduja, a key figure in the family, ascended to the role of chairman in May 2023 following the death of his older brother, Srichand Hinduja. The family's wealth and influence are not limited to their business ventures; they also have significant real estate holdings in London, including the Raffles London hotel, situated in the historic Old War Office building in Whitehall.

Gopichand Hinduja's educational background is impressive. A 1959 graduate of Jai Hind College, Mumbai, he has also received an honorary Doctorate of Law from the University of Westminster and an Honorary Doctorate of Economics from Richmond College, London. The family's global presence is evident, with Gopichand living in London, his younger brother Prakash in Monaco, and their youngest sibling, Ashok, managing their interests in India from Mumbai.

Under Gopichand's leadership, the Group has made several strategic acquisitions, including Gulf Oil in 1984 and Ashok Leyland three years later. These acquisitions marked the first significant NRI-led investment in India and solidified the Hinduja Group's position in the global market.

However, the family's success has not been without challenges. In November 2022, the billionaire Hinduja brothers called a truce on a bitter power struggle that threatened the future of their business empire. The brothers agreed to halt reams of litigation across Europe, ending, for now, a feud that was tearing the once tightly knit British-Indian group apart. The dispute involved accusations of a funding squeeze, misappropriated cash, and concerns over the care of the family patriarch, Srichand Hinduja, who suffers from dementia.

The heart of the battle was a pact signed by the four brothers in 2014, which stated that “everything belongs to everyone and nothing belongs to anyone.” This arrangement was challenged by Srichand’s descendants, who claimed that his branch of the family was being sidelined. The feud was so intense that the family's dispute went so deep that Srichand was days away from being transferred to a government-run NHS hospital. The battle ended after lawyers for Gopichand Hinduja announced in June that the family had agreed to effectively tear up the arrangement.

Despite these challenges, the Hinduja family continues to be a significant force in the global business landscape, with their diverse holdings and strategic investments ensuring their continued success and influence.