Richest Indians: Mukesh Ambani continues reign at the top

Mukesh Ambani, chairman of Reliance Industries, is the country's richest man with a personal fortune of $19.3 billion.

According to the China-based research firm Hurun's inaugural India Rich List, Ambani is followed by steel magnate Lakshmi N. Mittal , who has wealth of $16.9 billion.

"The India Rich List tells the story of business in modern India," Hurun head Rupert Hoogewerf said.

Among others in the top 10 are Wipro's Azim Premji ($12.3 billion), Dilip Shanghvi of Sun Pharmaceuticals ($8.5 billion), Pallonji Mistry of Shapoorji Pallonji & Co ($7.9 billion), Essar Energy's Shashi & Ravi Ruia ($7.2 billion) and Adi Godrej of Godrej Group with $6.9 billion).

Others who have made it to the rich list are DLF chairman Kushal Pal Singh with wealth of $6.3 billion, Aditya Birla Group's Kumar Mangalam Birla ($5.8 billion), HCL Technologies' Shiv Nadar ($5.7 billion) and Bharti Airtel's Sunil Mittal ($5.7 billion).

Among women, Savitri Jindal has emerged as the wealthiest with a fortune of $5.6 billion followed by Bennett Coleman's Indu Jain ($1.7 billion) and Anu Aga of Thermax with $690 million.

Women occupy only five per cent of the rich list, dominated by Indian men.

The list is a snapshot of wealth on September 22 at an exchange rate of Rs 54/dollar.

With inputs from PTI