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India: The Leading Source of Immigrant Billionaires in the U.S.

  • arjunveersingh
  • Aug 28
  • 2 min read

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According to Forbes’ 2025 list of America’s Richest Immigrants, India has overtaken Israel to become the top country of origin for billionaire immigrants to the U.S., with 12 Indian-born individuals making the list this year.


In total, there are 125 foreign-born billionaires living in the U.S.—up significantly from 92 in 2022. These individuals represent 14% of all U.S. billionaires and collectively hold a staggering $1.3 trillion in wealth, which amounts to roughly 18% of America's total billionaire wealth. Notably, 93% of these immigrant billionaires are self-made, with the majority having built their fortunes in technology and finance.


Meet the Indian-Origin Billionaires (Top 12)


India's representation in the U.S. billionaire roster isn’t just noteworthy in numbers—it’s also defined by innovation and leadership across industries. Here are some standout figures from Forbes' 2025 list:

Rank

Name

Net Worth

Source of Wealth

1

Jay Chaudhry

$17.9B

Founder & CEO, Zscaler (cybersecurity)

2

Vinod Khosla

$9.2B

Co-founder, Sun Microsystems; Khosla Ventures (VC)

3

Rakesh Gangwal

$6.6B

Co-founder, IndiGo Airlines (aviation)

4

Romesh T. Wadhwani

$5.0B

Founder, SymphonyAI (software/AI)

5

Rajiv Jain

$4.8B

Founder, GQG Partners (finance)

6

Kavitark Ram Shriram

$3.0B

Early Google investor; VC

7

Raj Sardana

$2.0B

Enterprise technology services

8

David Paul

$1.5B

Medical devices (Globus Medical)

9

Nikesh Arora

$1.4B

CEO, Palo Alto Networks (cybersecurity)

10

Sundar Pichai

$1.1B

CEO, Alphabet (tech)

11

Satya Nadella

$1.1B

CEO, Microsoft (tech)

12

Neerja Sethi

$1.0B

IT consulting (Syntel)

These entrepreneurs span industries from cybersecurity and software to aviation, finance, healthcare, and AI. Their rise underscores the significant influence of Indian talent in shaping U.S. innovation and enterprise.


Why This Matters


  • Global Economic Contributions: These twelve Indian-origin billionaires alone account for a vast share of wealth among America's immigrant elite.


  • Diverse Pathways to Success: Their backgrounds range from tech founders to VCs, showcasing multiple routes to building massive enterprises.


  • Narrative of Aspiration and Innovation: Often hailing from humble beginnings, many—like Jay Chaudhry—embody the classic “came for education, stayed for opportunity” narrative. Chaudhry, for example, was born in a remote village in Himachal Pradesh and built a cybersecurity empire in the U.S.


  • Reflecting a Larger Trend: This data point reflects a broader growth story: Indian immigrants are statistically more likely than many other groups to succeed in high-tech and high-education fields, contributing to the American economy in outsized ways.


Closing Thoughts


India becoming the largest source of immigrant billionaires in the U.S. is more than just a headline—it’s a reflection of global aspiration meeting opportunity. These individuals illustrate how talent, resilience, and innovation can reshape industries and economies on both sides of the world.

 
 
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