Anant Ambani is the son of Indian tycoon Mukesh Ambani, who is Asia’s richest man, according to Forbes India.
His marriage to Radhika Merchant last year came to be known as India’s “wedding of the year” due to its opulence and star presence.
The pre-wedding festivities gained global attention, with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Microsoft founder Bill Gates rubbing shoulders while Rihanna performed her biggest hits. A local airport in Gujarat was granted temporary international status to accommodate the guests. On top of that, the events included a $900 million cruise sailing between Palermo and Portofino in Italy.
Subscribe to MoneyWeek
Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE
Sign up to Money Morning
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
The couple tied the knot in July 2024, and the wedding’s star-studded guest list included some of the richest people in the world, such as Kim Kardashian, David Beckham, as well as former British prime ministers Tony Blair and Boris Johnson.
The events gave the world a sneak peek into the magnificent lifestyle of the Ambani family. We look at how Anant Ambani built his fortune, his father’s investments and the factors contributing to their net worths.
How rich is Anant Ambani?
Anant Ambani’s net worth is close to $40 billion (£31 billion), according to DNA India. He is the youngest son of the Reliance Industries chairman, Mukesh Ambani and Nita Ambani.
Most of Anant’s fortune comes from inheriting Mukesh’s dizzying wealth and his booming Indian empire. It makes Anant, 30, one of the most prominent businessmen of his generation and one of the wealthiest young people in the world.
Following in the footsteps of his older siblings, Isha and Akash, Anant went to college in the US and earned his degree from Brown University.
Since 2020, Anant has been making a fortune with his roles in the Reliance empire, by being a director of Reliance’s energy business and spearheading its green energy operations with an aim to become a net carbon-zero company by 2035.
According to Reliance’s FY2025 results, the company has made $9.5 billion profit after tax, which is just a teaser to the family fortune.
He is also the director of the multinational tech company Jio Platforms Limited. The company is believed to be in the process of filing for an initial public offering. According to Business Standard, it could result in Jio Platforms becoming the world’s sixth largest telecommunications company. Its enterprise value lies in the range of $136 billion to $154 billion.
Other factors contributing to Anant Ambani’s net worth include owning the Indian Premier League team Mumbai Indians, one of the most successful cricket teams in the league.
Radhika Merchant, who is married to Anant, is a businesswoman and the daughter of tycoon Viren Merchant, CEO of private pharmaceutical company Encore Healthcare, and his wife Shaila Merchant. Radhika is a board member of the company. Her family’s estimated net worth is $90 million, according to the Times of India.
What is Mukesh Ambani’s net worth?
Mukesh Ambani is an Indian billionaire and the face of Reliance Industries, which he is the chairman and managing director of. His net worth stands at $106.7 billion, according to Forbes. Bloomberg Billionaires Index puts his wealth at a slightly lower figure of $103 billion.
His father, Dhirubhai Ambani, founded the company in 1958, when it was originally set up as a small venture firm trading commodities like spices and polyester yarn.
Now, the conglomerate’s operations include energy, clothing and retail, and telecommunications, making it India’s largest public company by market capitalisation. The company’s website claims it owns the largest oil refining complex in the world.
The majority of Mukesh Ambani’s wealth comes from his stake in Reliance Industries. He is already the wealthiest man in India by a large margin, but his extensive fortune also makes him Asia’s richest person.
Inside the Ambani family’s expansive fortune
Each member of the Ambani family holds a stake in Reliance.
Both Mukesh and Nita Ambani, along with the three siblings, own 0.12% each. Kokilaben Ambani, the mother of Mukesh and his siblings, owns the highest stake of 0.24%.
The family’s wealth does not end there. The Ambanis live at Antilia, the second most expensive private residence in the world after Buckingham Palace. It is a 27-storey tower that cost around £1.6 billion to build, which has famously been called the world’s first billion-dollar home.
While you may be thinking that last year’s wedding celebrations were a one-off, they certainly weren’t the only events hosted by the Ambanis to create a lot of press. The Ambani siblings have had their fair share of opportunities to bring together some of the world’s biggest pop icons and global personalities.
In 2018, Anant Ambani’s sister Isha married billionaire Ajay Piramal’s son Anand. Beyoncé performed at their pre-wedding bash in Udaipur, India. Chris Martin of Coldplay and The Chainsmokers performed at Akash Ambani and Shloka Mehta’s pre-wedding party in Switzerland in 2019.
The family’s wealth and influence extend far beyond mere financial success. Mukesh Ambani’s wife Nita Ambani is more focused on the non-profit side of the business. She launched the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre in Mumbai in 2023, and is the chairperson and founder of Reliance Foundation, one of India’s largest non-profits.
What UK business do the Ambanis own?
The family business includes various big-name ventures that you may be familiar with. In 2019, Reliance bought toy retailer Hamleys and, in 2021, it bought the historic British private sporting estate, Stoke Park, for £57 million. Meanwhile, Reliance’s retail subsidiary is now an exclusive partner with fashion e-tailer ASOS, successfully bringing the e-tailer to India.
Reliance also attempted to acquire one of Britain’s largest pharmacy retailers, Boots, submitting a bid of around $7.2 billion. However, it was unsuccessful as Walgreens, which owns a majority stake in Boots, withdrew its sale offer, stating that none of the bids received adequately reflected the high potential value of the company.
In February 2025, Mukesh Ambani reintroduced Shein to Indian markets through his retail platform Ajio, after the fast fashion brand’s four-and-a-half-year absence in the country.
-
Trouble brews in B&M as bargain shops take a hitOpinion Once a stock market darling, B&M's share price has slumped. What has gone wrong for bargain shops?
-
US and China reach a ceasefire in their trade war after talks in LondonThe US and China's trading relationship – the most important one in the global economy – is back on track. Will the truce last?
