Mukesh Dhirubhai Ambani (born April 19, 1957) is an Indian billionaire businessman and the Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) India’s most valuable company by market capitalization and one of the country’s largest private sector enterprises. He is consistently ranked among the world’s most influential business leaders and is widely regarded for transforming Reliance from a petrochemicals and textiles company into a diversified conglomerate spanning energy, retail, digital services, and telecommunications.
Early Life and Education
Mukesh Ambani was born in Aden, Yemen, to Dhirubhai Ambani, the legendary founder of Reliance, and Kokilaben Ambani. The family returned to India in 1958, and Mukesh grew up in Mumbai. He attended Hill Grange High School and later pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT), Mumbai.
He briefly enrolled in the MBA program at Stanford University, but returned to India in 1981 to assist his father in expanding Reliance, marking the beginning of his journey in the business world.
Career and Business Expansion
Mukesh Ambani joined Reliance Industries in 1981 and was instrumental in setting up the company’s petrochemicals and refining operations, notably leading the creation of the world-class Jamnagar Refinery in Gujarat one of the largest in the world with a capacity exceeding 1.2 million barrels per day.
Under his leadership, Reliance diversified into telecommunications, retail, and digital services, significantly altering India’s business and consumer landscape.
Reliance Jio
In 2016, Mukesh Ambani launched Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited, which disrupted India’s telecom sector by offering affordable 4G data and free voice calls. Within a few years, Jio became the largest mobile network operator in India and among the top globally, revolutionizing digital connectivity for millions of Indians.
Reliance Retail
Through Reliance Retail, Mukesh Ambani built India’s largest retail network with thousands of stores across formats, covering groceries, fashion, electronics, and e-commerce. It has attracted investments from global giants including Facebook (now Meta), Google, and Silver Lake.
Strategic Investments and Global Recognition
In recent years, Ambani has steered Reliance toward a clean energy future, investing billions in green hydrogen, solar energy, and renewable technologies. He has raised substantial foreign capital through stake sales in Jio Platforms and Reliance Retail, securing partnerships with tech giants like Meta, Google, and Microsoft.
Net Worth and Recognition
As of 2025, Mukesh Ambani’s net worth is estimated to be over $90 billion, making him the richest person in Asia and consistently among the top 10 wealthiest individuals in the world, according to Forbes and Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
He has received numerous accolades, including:
- Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year (2000)
- NDTV Business Leader of the Year
- Ranked on Forbes’ and Fortune’s lists of powerful business leaders
- Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People
Personal Life
Mukesh Ambani is married to Nita Ambani, a philanthropist and founder of the Reliance Foundation, which works across education, healthcare, rural transformation, and arts. The couple has three children: Akash, Isha, and Anant Ambani, all of whom are involved in various businesses under the Reliance Group.
The Ambani family resides in Antilia, a 27-story private residence in Mumbai, known for being one of the most expensive private homes in the world.
Philanthropy
Mukesh Ambani is deeply involved in philanthropy through the Reliance Foundation, which has contributed significantly to disaster relief, education, sports development, women’s empowerment, and healthcare. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Foundation provided large-scale aid including medical infrastructure and food support across India.
Legacy and Impact
Mukesh Ambani is widely credited with transforming India’s industrial and digital landscape. From building the world’s largest grassroots refinery to democratizing mobile data access through Jio, his influence spans across sectors and socioeconomic classes. As he transitions Reliance toward a future driven by technology and sustainability, Ambani’s legacy continues to shape the economic and digital fabric of modern India.
