Gopi Hinduja and his family, proprietors of the Hinduja Group, a global conglomerate, have clinched the top spot on the 2024 Sunday Times Rich List, as reported by the Daily Express.
The family’s fortune has witnessed a significant rise, reaching a staggering £37.196 billion, marking an increase of £2.196 billion from the previous year. This growth amounts to an average daily gain of over £6 million, underscoring the rapid expansion of their wealth.
The Hinduja Group operates in 48 countries and has diversified interests across multiple sectors, including oil, speciality chemicals, IT, cybersecurity, automotive, healthcare, trading, infrastructure, media, real estate, and power.
At 84, Gopi Hinduja, often referred to by his initials “GP,” remains a central figure in the group’s management alongside his brothers Srichand, Prakash P., and Ashok Hinduja. Sadly, the family faced a loss last year when Srichand Hinduja passed away at the age of 87.
The Hinduja Group’s origins trace back to the early 20th century when Parmanand Deepchand Hinduja initiated trade in Sindh. Following his passing, his sons relocated the business to London in 1979, marking the beginning of significant expansion and the transformation into a global conglomerate.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the Hinduja brothers ventured into new industries such as IT, trucking, and banking.
More recently, Gopi and Srichand Hinduja made a notable acquisition, purchasing Winston Churchill’s WWII headquarters in central London for £350 million. Last year, they transformed this historic site into the luxurious Raffles Hotel, featuring 120 rooms with rates ranging from £1,000 to £25,000 per night.