Net Worth 2018: $8.8 billion
Mittal comes from a strong political background in Ludhiana. His father Sat Paul Mittal, a Congress leader, served as a Member of Rajya Sabha (Upper House) for two terms. Mittal could have followed his father’s footsteps, but he chose to become an entrepreneur.
He founded a small bicycle-parts manufacturing business, Bharti, in 1976 when he was 18. Gradually, he expanded and switched business from selling bicycle parts to wool blankets to importing stainless steel, brass, plastics and zip fasteners.
“I started with capital of about $1,500 (₹20,000) , a princely sum for a student coming out of college, an amount I borrowed from my father,” he told the Financial Times.