Tech major HCL Technologies chief Roshni Nadar Malhotra continues to be the wealthiest woman in India with a net worth of ₹84,330 crore, according to the 'Leading Wealthy Women 2021' report published by Hurun India with Kotak Private Banking. The total wealth of Malhotra, 40, who has topped the list for the second year in a row, rose by 54% in 2021.
Under her leadership, HCL backed the purchase of seven IBM products worth ₹13,740 crore, which was the largest in the history for the New Delhi-based tech services major.
The cumulative wealth of the top 100 of India’s wealthiest women surged by 53% to ₹4,16,970 crore from ₹2,72,540 crore in 2020, according to the Kotak Private Banking Hurun Leading Wealthy Women List 2021.
Malhotra is followed by Falguni Nayar, Nykaa founder and CEO, with a net worth of ₹57,520 crore. Also, she is India's richest self-made woman and the world's 10th richest self-made woman.
Notably, Falguni Nayar had worked with the Kotak Mahindra Group for nearly two decades before she started Nykaa. Her company's IPO was launched in October 2021, and the shares were listed at an 82% premium to the issue price. Falguni Nayar & family's net worth jumped 963% in 2021 to ₹57,520 crore.
The third on the list is Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, the founder and CEO of Biocon. Her wealth is estimated to be ₹29,030 crore, which however declined 21% in 2021. Her company Biocon Biologics announced the acquisition of the U.S.-based Viatris' biosimilar business for $3 billion (Rs 22, 350 crore) in February 2022.
Fourth on the list is Nilima Motaparthi Of Divi's Laboratories, whose net worth is estimated at ₹28,180 crore. She has been overseeing Divi Laboratories' material sourcing and procurement, corporate finance and investor relation wings.
Radha Vembu, 69, sister of Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu, ranks fifth on the Kotak Private Banking Hurun Leading Wealthy Women list, with an estimated net worth of ₹26,260 crore. She leads the company as the product manager of Zoho Mail.
Leena Gandhi Tewari, 65, of USV, a global pharmaceutical and biotech corporation based in Mumbai, ranks sixth on the list, with an estimated wealth of ₹24,280 crore. Leena is the list's most charitable woman, who has donated about ₹24 crore, primarily to the cause of healthcare.
Almost one-fourth of the list constitutes new entrants. The cumulative wealth of the women wealth creators contributes to 2% of India’s nominal GDP. The cut-off for the new list is ₹300 crore, as against ₹100 crore in the last list (2020).
Anu Aga (79) and Meher Pudumjee (56) of Thermax, an energy and environment firm rank seventh on the list. After reaching the age of 76, Anu stepped down from the Thermax board of directors in 2018. Meher, Anu's daughter, was named chairperson of Thermax in 2003.
Eighth on the list is Neha Narkhede, the co-founder of Confluent, a data streaming company. Her net worth stands at ₹13,380 crore. In June 2021, Confluent rose 25% on the NASDAQ, reaching a market valuation of $11.4 billion. Neha, 38, had worked as a software engineer at LinkedIn before launching Confluent.
Ninth on the list is Vandana Lal, executive director of Dr Lal PathLabs, with a wealth of ₹6,810 crore. She is the new entrant to the top 10 list. Lal, 65, handles the company's R&D department.
Renu Munjal, 67, current MD of Hero FinCorp, ranks 10th on the list with an estimated net worth of ₹6,620 crore. She handles philanthropy efforts of the group.
This is the third annual list of India’s wealthiest women, entrepreneurs, and professional managers. The wealth calculations are based on a snapshot taken on December 31, 2021.
