Kumar Birla

Net worth over time

Biography

• Commodities king Kumar Birla is the fourth generation head of the storied, $67 billion (revenue) Aditya Birla Group. Nearly half is generated outside India, where it has a presence in 40 countries.
• The group's interests span cement, textiles and aluminium to telecom, financial services and paints. It has recently entered new sectors such as branded jewellery and hospitality.
• Birla, who is a chartered accountant and graduated from London Business School, inherited the family empire at age 28 when his father Aditya Birla died in 1995.
• In 2021, he stepped down as chairman of debt-strapped telecom firm Vodafone Idea, formed by the 2018 merger between his Idea Cellular and Vodafone India.
• In 2023, his daughter Ananya and son Aryaman joined the boards of Grasim and Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail.
• The Birla empire's roots go back to 1857 in cotton trading in Rajasthan state.
• Daughter Ananya has founded a micro finance firm and an online venture to sell luxury, handmade products.
• In 2023, he was conferred the Padma Bhushan, one of India's highest civilian honours.

Financial assets