The Most Powerful Businesswomen in India 2024: India has achieved an impressive third position worldwide when it comes to self-made billionaires, with a remarkable count of 105 billionaires in the country.
What’s even more fascinating is the shift happening – women are now taking center stage and climbing the billionaire ladder.
In our article, we delve into the inspiring journeys of the top 10 richest women in India. These women have made significant contributions to various fields such as e-commerce, fintech, education, and more.
Most Powerful Businesswomen in India 2024 List and Info
Let’s look at the journey of the Most Powerful Businesswomen in India 2024:
| Position | Businesswomen Name | Company | Networth |
| #1 | Jindal Group | Savitri Jindal | $29.4 B |
| #2 | Anand Agencies Private Limited | Rohiqa Cyrus Mistry | $9.3 B |
| #3 | Titan Company Limited, and others | Rekha Jhunjhunwala | $8.2 B |
| #4 | Havells | Vinod Gupta | $4.5 B |
| #5 | Godrej | Smita Crishna-Godrej | $3.3 B |
| #6 | USV Pharma | Leena Tewari | $3.2 B |
| #7 | Thermax | Anu Aga | $3.1 B |
| #8 | Nayka | Falguni Nayar | $2.8 B |
| #9 | Biocon | Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw | $2.7 B |
| #10 | Zoho Corporation | Radha Vembu | $2.1 B |
#1 Savitri Jindal
At 73 years old, Savitri Jindal holds the top spot as India’s wealthiest woman. Originally from Tinsukia, Assam, she became the chairperson emeritus of the OP Jindal Group after her husband O.P. Jindal passed in 2005.
Savitri Jindal is not only a businesswoman but also a politician. She entered politics in 2005, winning a seat in the Haryana Vidhan Sabha from Hisar.
She was reelected in 2009 and later became a cabinet minister in the Haryana government in 2013.
The Jindal Group, dealing in steel, power, cement, and infrastructure, is now led by Savitri Jindal, the widow of its founder, Om Prakash Jindal.
After O.P. Jindal’s tragic death in a helicopter crash in 2005, the group’s companies were divided among his four sons, each managing them independently.
Savitri Jindal’s son, Sajjan Jindal, based in Mumbai, oversees the group’s major assets, including JSW Steel.
In September 2023, Sajjan Jindal took the group’s ports arm, JSW Infrastructure, public. Meanwhile, her younger son, Naveen, based in Delhi, manages Jindal Steel & Power. And she is one of the Most Powerful Businesswomen in India in 2024.
#2 Rohiqa Cyrus Mistry
At 56 years old, Rohiqa Cyrus Mistry, born in Mumbai, Maharashtra, has made her mark among India’s wealthiest women.
She is the daughter of the renowned lawyer Iqbal Chagla and was married to the late Cyrus Mistry, the former chairman of the Tata group and son of construction tycoon Pallonji Mistry.
Rohiqa stepped into the spotlight of India’s new female billionaires in 2024 after inheriting her late husband’s shares.
Her most significant holding is an 18.4 percent ownership in Tata Sons, the holding company of the Tata conglomerate.
Despite facing the challenges of a car crash that claimed her husband’s life at 54 in September 2022, just weeks after his father’s passing, Rohiqa has emerged as a formidable figure in the family empire.
The late Cyrus Mistry, who served as the chairman of Tata Sons for four years until his ousting in October 2016, left behind a legacy that Rohiqa is now managing. Before his tragic death, Cyrus was actively working with his brother. She is one of the Most Powerful Businesswomen in India in 2024.
#3 Rekha Jhunjhunwala
At 60 years old, Rekha Jhunjhunwala, born in Mumbai, Maharashtra, has stepped into the shoes of her late husband,
Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, following his passing in 2022. Inheriting his stock portfolio, she now stands as one of India’s wealthiest women.
Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, often called India’s Warren Buffett, left behind a remarkable legacy.
Rekha Jhunjhunwala manages a diversified portfolio across 29 companies, including big names like Titan, Tata Motors, and Crisil.
The most valuable listed holding in the portfolio is Titan, a renowned watch and jewelry maker affiliated with the Tata conglomerate.
Rakesh Jhunjhunwala’s strategic investments in companies like Star Health Allied Insurance and Metro Brands paid off when both entities went public in 2021. Additionally,
he was an early investor in the new low-cost airline, Akasa Air, which took off in August 2022, just before his passing at the age of 62.
Rekha Jhunjhunwala’s journey now involves navigating and building upon the financial legacy left by her late husband, showcasing her prowess in the world of investments. And she is one of the Most Powerful Businesswomen in India in 2024.
#4 Vinod Gupta
At 79 years old, Vinod Gupta, born in Patiala, Punjab, along with her son Anil Rai Gupta, leads Havells India, a major player in the electrical equipment industry.
The company, founded by Vinod’s late husband Qimat Rai Gupta in 1958, is now a global presence, operating in over 50 countries with 14 manufacturing facilities.
Havells India, managed by Anil (pictured), is known for producing a wide range of products, from electrical and lighting fixtures to fans, refrigerators, and washing machines.
The family’s fortune comes from their majority holding in the flagship company.
With 15 manufacturing units and a presence in more than 70 countries, Havells has become a household name.
The company’s brand ambassadors include former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly and the Bollywood power couple, Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh.
Vinod and Anil Rai Gupta’s journey is a testament to the success of Havells India and their commitment to innovation and quality in the electrical equipment industry. And she is one of the Most Powerful Businesswomen in India 2024
#5 Smita Crishna-Godrej
At 73 years old, Smita Crishna-Godrej, born in Mumbai, India, is a notable member of the esteemed Godrej family.
She holds a substantial 20 percent stake in the family’s assets, making her a significant player in the family’s legacy.
Smita made headlines when she acquired Mehrangir, the former residence of nuclear physicist Homi Bhabha in South Mumbai, for Rs372 crore.
The Godrej family, known for controlling the $5.2 billion Godrej Group, a consumer-goods giant with a 126-year history, is a prominent force in the business world.
Smita’s brother, Jamshyd, manages the consumer goods firm Godrej & Boyce. Her husband, Vijay Crishna, a well-known theatre actor, and her daughter, Nyrika Holkar, are also actively involved in the group.
The Godrej family’s influence and success in the consumer-goods industry underscore Smita Crishna-Godrej. And she is one of the Most Powerful Businesswomen in India 2024
#6 Leena Tewari
At 66 years old, Leena Gandhi Tewari, born in suburban Mumbai, holds the position of Chairman at USV, a global pharmaceutical and biotech company.
The company, founded by her father Vithal Gandhi in collaboration with Revlon in 1961, specializes in diabetic and cardiovascular drugs, offering a range of biosimilar drugs, injectables, and active pharmaceutical ingredients.
Leena, the media-shy heir of the pharma fortune, leads privately held USV India. In 2018, the company made a significant move by acquiring the German generics firm, Juta Pharma.
Beyond her role in the pharmaceutical industry, Leena is also an author, having written ‘Beyond Pipes and Dreams,’ a biography of her grandfather Vithal Balkrishna Gandhi.
The $511 million revenue company is currently managed by her husband, Prashant, an Indian Institute of Technology graduate and a mechanical engineer from Cornell.
Adding to the family legacy, Leena’s daughter, Aneesha Gandhi Tewari, holds a Ph.D. in molecular biology from MIT and joined USV’s board in August 2022. And she is one of the Most Powerful Businesswomen in India 2024
#7 Anu Aga
At 81 years old, born in Mumbai, India, Anu Aga has a fascinating journey with Thermax, an engineering company.
She joined the company in the 1980s, working alongside her husband. However, tragedy struck when her husband passed away in 1996, and Anu took over the reins of Thermax.
Under her leadership, Thermax prospered, and she held the position of chairman until 2004. At that point, she handed over the leadership to her daughter Meher Pudumjee, a UK-trained chemical engineer.
This transition allowed hired executives to manage the company while maintaining family involvement. She will be the Most Powerful businesswoman in India in 2024.
Anu Aga’s wealth primarily comes from a majority stake in the listed engineering firm Thermax. She returned to India’s Richest List in 2022, having previously been on the list in 2014.
Apart from her business endeavors, Anu Aga has made significant contributions to society. She served as a Parliament member after being nominated to the Rajya Sabha in 2012 and co-founded the non-profit organization Teach for India.
In recent developments, Thermax has partnered with Australian billionaire Andrew Forrest’s Fortescue Future Industries to set up a green hydrogen venture in India.
#8 Falguni Nayar
At 60 years old, born in Mumbai, India, Falguni Nayar, once an investment banker, is now a successful entrepreneur who experienced a remarkable 963% surge in her wealth in 2021 after the successful initial public offering (IPO) of Nykaa, a beauty products retailer she founded in 2012.
This extraordinary achievement propelled her to become one of the richest women in India and one of the few self-made female billionaires in the country.
Before venturing into entrepreneurship, Falguni Nayar served as the managing director at Kotak Mahindra Capital.
Her journey from investment banking to founding Nykaa is a tale of entrepreneurial triumph and financial success.
Nykaa, meaning ‘one in the spotlight,’ has gained popularity as a beauty retail brand, selling thousands of products online and through 124 stores across India.
Notable investors in Nykaa include U.S. private equity giant TPG Growth, as well as billionaires Harsh Mariwala and Harry Banga.
Falguni Nayar took Nykaa public in November 2021, making her India’s richest self-made female entrepreneur.
#9 Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw
At 70 years old, born in Bangalore, Karnataka, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw is a trailblazing entrepreneur and the founder of Biocon, a biopharmaceuticals company.
Her journey began in 1978 when she started Biocon from her garage, making her a first-generation entrepreneur. Over the years, Biocon has become a major player, boasting Asia’s largest insulin factory in Malaysia’s Johor region.
Kiran’s wealth soared after the successful IPO of Biocon, establishing her as one of India’s richest self-made women. The company expanded its footprint by venturing into the lucrative U.S. market.
In a significant move, Biocon Biologics, a subsidiary, acquired the biosimilars business of Viatris in the U.S. for $3.3 billion in February 2022.
Despite facing challenges, including the arrest of a Biocon Biologics executive and others in an alleged bribery case (in which the company denied any wrongdoing), Biocon continued to make strides.
In April 2023, the Serum Institute of Life Sciences, headed by vaccine billionaire Cyrus Poonawalla, doubled its investment in Biocon Biologics to $300 million, reflecting confidence in its future.
#10 Radha Vembu
At 51 years old, born in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, Radha Vembu plays a crucial role as the co-founder and product manager of Zoho, a technology company based in Chennai.
Her leadership has been instrumental in the global success of Zoho Mail since 2007, earning her a place among India’s wealthiest women.
Zoho’s remarkable journey witnessed a surge in revenues, crossing $1 billion in 2021, resulting in a significant 127% increase in Radha Vembu’s wealth.
Her contributions extend beyond Zoho Mail; she also oversees Zoho Workplace and is actively involved in managing over 45 products offered by Zoho Corporation.
Radha Vembu’s wealth comes from her stake in privately held Zoho Corp, co-founded by her older brother Sridhar Vembu in 1996.
A graduate of industrial management from IIT Madras, Radha serves as the product manager for the email service, Zoho Mail.
In response to the changing work landscape, Zoho launched Zoho Remotely in 2020, a remote work toolkit aimed at helping businesses transition to work-from-home.
Zoho’s commitment to innovation is evident in the 25 patents the company has received in the last three years. And she will be one of the Most Powerful Businesswomen in India in 2024
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Conclusion:
In India’s evolving business landscape, the rise of self-made billionaires is notable, with 105 billionaires making the country third globally.
The spotlight, however, shines on women, showcasing inspiring journeys of the Top 10 Most Powerful Businesswomen in India 2024 contributing to diverse sectors.
Their resilience and accomplishments underscore the transformative shift in gender dynamics and entrepreneurial success.
