Gautam Adani Surpasses Mukesh Ambani to Become Asia's Wealthiest Person

In a significant shift in wealth rankings, Gautam Adani has overtaken Mukesh Ambani to become Asia's richest individual, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Adani's net worth surged to $126.6 billion, while Ambani's wealth fell to $125.8 billion. This change reflects the ongoing volatility in global markets and geopolitical tensions. Notably, Adani Group stocks have seen a substantial rise, contributing to this increase in wealth. The article also highlights the broader trends among billionaires, with many experiencing declines in their fortunes, particularly in the industrial and retail sectors. Discover more about the latest developments in the world of billionaires and the factors influencing these changes.

By Narendra Chaudhary Apr 17, 2026, 12:05 IST

Gautam Adani Takes the Lead

File image of Gautam Adani(Photo: @AmirBiggie/.X)

New Delhi, April 17: Gautam Adani, the Chairman of the Adani Group, has ascended to the position of Asia's richest person, surpassing Mukesh Ambani, the head of Reliance Industries, as reported by the latest Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

Adani's wealth has surged to $126.6 billion, placing him at 19th in the global rankings, while Ambani has dropped to 20th with a net worth of $125.8 billion.

This shift at the top underscores the fluctuating nature of global wealth rankings in 2026, influenced by increasing geopolitical tensions and market volatility.

During Thursday's trading session, stocks of the Adani Group experienced a significant uptick, outperforming major indices, which contributed to an increase of approximately $3.56 billion in Adani's net worth within a single day.

Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, remains the wealthiest individual worldwide with a net worth of $246 billion, followed closely by Larry Page, co-founder of Google, at $139 billion.

The top 10 list also features notable figures such as Jeff Bezos from Amazon, Mark Zuckerberg of Meta, Larry Ellison from Oracle, Michael Dell of Dell Technologies, Jensen Huang from Nvidia, and Bernard Arnault, CEO of LVMH.

Interestingly, seven of the top 20 richest individuals globally have seen their wealth decline in 2026, with Arnault experiencing the most significant loss, shedding $30 billion during this timeframe.

Other billionaires facing substantial reductions in their fortunes include Steve Ballmer, Larry Ellison, Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, and Amancio Ortega.

A closer look at the index reveals that technology entrepreneurs continue to dominate the wealth rankings, while those in industrials, energy, and retail sectors have encountered greater fluctuations in their net worth.

Among Indian billionaires, Lakshmi Mittal is ranked 62nd globally with a net worth of $31.9 billion, while HCL founder Shiv Nadar is in 70th place with $25.5 billion. Shapoor Mistry and family follow closely at 71st with $24.2 billion, and Savitri Jindal, chairperson emeritus of the OP Jindal Group, is ranked 73rd with $23.7 billion.

Other notable Indian names on the list include Sunil Mittal and family, Azim Premji, Kumar Mangalam Birla, and Radhakishan Damani.

On Friday, stocks of Adani Group, including Adani Total Gas, Adani Ports, and Adani Power, surged by up to 3 percent during intra-day trading.