Mukesh Ambani

Mukesh Ambani
Ambani in 2007
Mukesh Ambani
Born	Mukesh Dhirubhai Ambani 19 4, 1957
Birthplace	Aden, Aden Colony (now Yemen)
Nationality	Indian
Occupation	Businessman, industrialist
Title	Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance Industries
Known for	Chairman and managing director of Reliance Industries
Spouse(s)	Nita Ambani
Children	3

Mukesh Dhirubhai Ambani (born 19 April 1957) is an Indian businessman and industrialist who serves as the chairman and managing director of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), the largest public company in India by market capitalisation. Born in Aden (now Yemen) to Reliance founder Dhirubhai Ambani and Kokilaben Ambani, Mukesh Ambani grew up witnessing the transformation of a modest trading enterprise into one of India's largest conglomerates. He joined Reliance Industries in the early 1980s after leaving Stanford University's MBA programme to help his father expand the company's operations, and over subsequent decades steered Reliance's evolution from a textiles and petrochemicals firm into a diversified conglomerate spanning energy, telecommunications, retail, media, finance, healthcare, and sports. As of late 2025, he is the richest person in Asia and among the wealthiest individuals in the world. Under his leadership, Reliance Industries has undertaken some of India's largest industrial projects, including the construction of the world's largest petroleum refinery complex at Jamnagar in Gujarat, and the launch of Jio, a telecommunications venture that reshaped India's digital landscape. In recent years, Ambani has directed significant investments into artificial intelligence, data centres, and consumer technology, positioning Reliance as a major player in India's technology sector.

Early Life

Mukesh Dhirubhai Ambani was born on 19 April 1957 in Aden, then part of the British Aden Colony (now Yemen). His father, Dhirubhai Ambani, had moved to Aden as a young man to work as a clerk with a trading company. His mother, Kokilaben Ambani, accompanied Dhirubhai during his time in Aden. Mukesh has a younger brother, Anil Ambani, who would later also become a prominent Indian businessman, and two sisters.

The family relocated to India, where Dhirubhai Ambani founded Reliance Commercial Corporation in the 1960s, initially as a small trading firm dealing in spices and textiles. The Ambanis lived modestly in the early years; the family resided in a two-bedroom apartment in Mumbai (then Bombay) as Dhirubhai built his business. Mukesh Ambani grew up in Mumbai, where he attended school and was exposed from a young age to his father's entrepreneurial activities and the workings of the textile and petrochemical industries.

Dhirubhai Ambani's business expanded rapidly through the 1970s and 1980s, evolving from textile manufacturing into petrochemicals, and the young Mukesh observed his father's approach to building large-scale industrial enterprises. The family's trajectory — from a modest background in Gujarat to the upper echelons of Indian industry — shaped Mukesh Ambani's understanding of business and his ambitions for the company's future growth.

Education

Mukesh Ambani completed his schooling in Mumbai and subsequently attended St. Xavier's College, Mumbai, where he earned a degree in chemical engineering. He then pursued further studies at the Institute of Chemical Technology (formerly the University Department of Chemical Technology, or UDCT) in Mumbai.

Following his studies in India, Ambani enrolled in the Master of Business Administration (MBA) programme at Stanford University in California, United States. However, he did not complete the programme. In 1980, he dropped out of Stanford to return to India and join Reliance Industries, at the urging of his father, who wanted Mukesh to help manage the company's rapidly expanding operations. Ambani has noted in various interviews that his father believed real-world business experience would be more valuable than a graduate degree at that stage of the company's growth.

Career

Early Years at Reliance Industries

Mukesh Ambani joined Reliance Industries in 1981, initially working to help the company expand its textile and polyester operations. Throughout the 1980s, under the leadership of Dhirubhai Ambani, Reliance Industries grew from a textiles firm into a major petrochemicals producer. Mukesh took on increasing responsibilities within the organisation, particularly in the areas of manufacturing and project execution.

In the late 1980s, Dhirubhai Ambani suffered a stroke, which limited his ability to manage the company's day-to-day operations. This event accelerated the transfer of managerial responsibilities to his sons, with Mukesh taking the lead on strategic and operational decisions. Mukesh Ambani directed the company's backward integration strategy, moving from textiles and polyester into the production of raw materials such as petrochemicals and, eventually, petroleum refining.

Jamnagar Refinery

One of Mukesh Ambani's most significant early achievements was overseeing the construction of the Reliance petroleum refinery at Jamnagar in Gujarat. The refinery, which began operations in 1999, became one of the largest petroleum refineries in the world. The project was a landmark in Indian industrial history, both for its scale and for the speed with which it was completed. Ambani directed the planning and execution of the refinery, which was designed to process a wide range of crude oils and produce refined petroleum products for both domestic consumption and export.

The Jamnagar refinery complex was later expanded further, and by the time of its full build-out it held the distinction of being the world's largest single-location refinery complex. The success of the Jamnagar project cemented Mukesh Ambani's reputation as a large-scale project executor and was a turning point in Reliance's transformation into a global energy company.

Succession and Division of Reliance

Dhirubhai Ambani died on 6 July 2002 without leaving a publicly known will, precipitating a widely reported dispute between Mukesh Ambani and his younger brother, Anil Ambani, over control of the Reliance group of companies. The brothers' disagreements about the direction and management of the conglomerate became a matter of intense public interest in India.

In 2005, their mother, Kokilaben Ambani, mediated a settlement that divided the Reliance empire between the two brothers. Under the terms of the split, Mukesh Ambani retained control of the flagship Reliance Industries Limited, including the petrochemicals, refining, and oil and gas exploration businesses. Anil Ambani received control of the newer ventures, including Reliance Communications, Reliance Capital, Reliance Energy (now Reliance Infrastructure), and Reliance Entertainment. The split was formalised through a non-compete agreement between the two brothers, which was later annulled in 2010, allowing both to enter each other's business domains.

Expansion into Telecommunications: Jio

Perhaps the most transformative business initiative led by Mukesh Ambani was the launch of Jio, a telecommunications venture that debuted in September 2016. Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited (commonly known as Jio) entered the Indian telecommunications market with an aggressive pricing strategy, offering free voice calls and extremely low data tariffs that disrupted the existing market structure.

Ambani had signalled his intentions to enter the telecommunications sector as early as 2013 and 2014, when Reliance Industries began acquiring broadband spectrum and building a nationwide 4G LTE network. The investment in Jio was estimated in the tens of billions of dollars and represented one of the largest private investments in Indian history.

Jio's entry into the market had far-reaching consequences for India's telecommunications industry. Several incumbent operators were forced to consolidate or exit the market due to the intense price competition. Jio rapidly acquired hundreds of millions of subscribers and became one of the largest mobile network operators in India and the world. The availability of low-cost mobile data is credited with accelerating internet adoption across India, bringing hundreds of millions of people online for the first time.

Jio Platforms, the technology subsidiary of Reliance Industries that houses Jio and related digital ventures, attracted significant foreign investment in 2020, with stakes purchased by major investors including Facebook (now Meta Platforms), Google, and several global private equity firms. These investments valued Jio Platforms at over $65 billion.

Retail and Other Ventures

Under Mukesh Ambani's leadership, Reliance Industries also expanded into organised retail through Reliance Retail, which grew to become one of the largest retail chains in India, operating thousands of stores across multiple formats including grocery, electronics, fashion, and pharmacy. Reliance Retail became a significant competitor to both domestic retailers and international e-commerce companies operating in India.

Ambani also diversified into media, with Reliance acquiring a controlling stake in Network18, one of India's largest media conglomerates, giving the group influence over a portfolio of television news channels, entertainment channels, and digital media properties.

In the sports sector, the Ambani family became involved in the Indian Premier League (IPL) through the ownership of the Mumbai Indians cricket franchise, one of the most successful teams in the league's history. Ambani's wife, Nita Ambani, has been closely associated with the management of the franchise. The family also invested in football (soccer), with efforts to promote the sport in India through the Indian Super League.

Artificial Intelligence and Technology Initiatives

In the mid-2020s, Mukesh Ambani directed Reliance Industries toward substantial investments in artificial intelligence and data infrastructure. In February 2026, reports indicated that Ambani had unveiled plans for a $110 billion investment in data centres, positioning Reliance as a major participant in India's AI infrastructure buildout. The investment plan was announced in the context of growing global demand for AI computing capacity and India's ambitions to become a hub for AI development.

At the India AI Summit in February 2026, Ambani was among the prominent business leaders who discussed the opportunities and challenges of the AI transition for India.

Additionally, Jio Platforms announced plans to enter the consumer AI hardware market, revealing products including Jio Frames — budget-friendly AI-powered smart glasses priced under ₹10,000 — and humanoid robots. These products were positioned as affordable alternatives to offerings from companies such as Meta Platforms and Tesla.

Corporate Appointments

Beyond Reliance Industries, Mukesh Ambani has held positions at other major corporations. He was appointed as a director of Bank of America, serving on the board of one of the world's largest financial institutions.

Personal Life

Mukesh Ambani is married to Nita Ambani (née Dalal). The couple have three children: Akash Ambani, Isha Ambani, and Anant Ambani. Nita Ambani is a businesswoman and philanthropist in her own right, and has been active in the management of several Reliance-affiliated ventures, including the Mumbai Indians cricket franchise and the Reliance Foundation, a philanthropic organisation.

The Ambani family's primary residence is Antilia, a 27-storey private residence located in Mumbai. The building, which was completed around 2010, attracted significant media attention for its scale and reported cost, which various sources have estimated at approximately $1 billion, making it one of the most expensive private residences in the world. The residence includes amenities such as multiple floors of gardens, a private cinema, a health centre, and multi-level parking.

Mukesh Ambani's younger brother, Anil Ambani, heads the Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group. His sister-in-law, Tina Ambani, is an actress and businesswoman. The Ambani family is one of the most prominent business families in India.

Recognition

Mukesh Ambani has been consistently ranked among the wealthiest individuals in the world by Forbes and other wealth-tracking publications. He has appeared on the Forbes list of the world's most powerful people. As of 2025, Forbes listed him as the richest person in Asia.

In 2018, Mukesh Ambani overtook Jack Ma to become the richest person in Asia, a position he has held for much of the period since. His ranking on global wealth lists has fluctuated with the market capitalisation of Reliance Industries and movements in the Indian stock market, but he has remained consistently in the upper tiers of global billionaire rankings for over a decade.

The Ambani family's philanthropic activities have been conducted primarily through the Reliance Foundation, which operates in areas including education, healthcare, rural development, and disaster relief. Reports have noted that the Ambanis are among India's largest philanthropists.

Legacy

Mukesh Ambani's career has been defined by the transformation of Reliance Industries from a petrochemicals and refining company into a diversified conglomerate with major presences in telecommunications, retail, media, and technology. The launch of Jio, in particular, is considered a pivotal event in the development of India's digital economy, as it dramatically lowered the cost of mobile data and brought internet access to hundreds of millions of Indians who had previously been offline.

The Jamnagar refinery, built under Ambani's direction, remains one of the world's largest and most complex petroleum refining facilities, and is a major contributor to India's refined petroleum exports. Reliance Retail, meanwhile, has grown into one of the largest retail enterprises in India, competing with both traditional retailers and global e-commerce companies.

Ambani's more recent push into artificial intelligence infrastructure and consumer AI hardware — including the planned $110 billion data centre investment and the launch of Jio Frames smart glasses and humanoid robots — signals an effort to position Reliance Industries at the centre of India's AI economy.

At the same time, Ambani and Reliance Industries have attracted criticism. Reports have raised concerns about market manipulation, political influence, cronyism, and the concentration of media ownership under the Reliance umbrella. Critics have described Ambani as a plutocrat whose business empire benefits from close ties to India's political establishment. These criticisms have been a persistent feature of public discourse about Reliance Industries and its chairman.

Regardless, the scale and scope of Mukesh Ambani's business activities have made him one of the defining figures of Indian industry in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. His transition of the family business from textiles and petrochemicals into telecommunications, digital services, and artificial intelligence reflects broader shifts in the Indian and global economies.