How much wealth did Dhirubhai Ambani leave behind for Mukesh Ambani and Anil Ambani? Here's what led to division of Reliance business empire
December 28, marks the birth anniversary of Dhirubhai Ambani, the legendary founder of Reliance Industries, India's largest company. Born into a modest family in Gujarat, Dhirubhai's journey to the top of India's business world was anything but easy. Due to financial hardships, he had to discontinue his studies after matriculation. At a young age, he moved to Yemen where he worked at a petrol pump.
After returning to India, he began the Reliance journey from a rented house in Mumbai, initially venturing into the textile business. With vision and persistence, he gradually expanded into petrochemicals, refining, telecom, and several other industries, transforming Reliance into a massive conglomerate.
But the question that often arises is — how much wealth did Dhirubhai Ambani leave behind when he passed away in 2002?
At the time of his death, Dhirubhai did not leave behind a formal will. His wealth, however, was immense — though exact numbers are not officially disclosed, estimates suggest that Reliance was worth several thousand crores. The lack of a clear succession plan eventually led to a division of the Reliance empire between his sons — Mukesh and Anil Ambani — in 2005, mediated by their mother, Kokilaben Ambani.
Mukesh Ambani took control of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), which included oil, gas, petrochemicals, and later, telecom, while Anil Ambani got Reliance Communications, Reliance Capital, Reliance Power, and others.
Today, Mukesh Ambani is among the richest people in the world, with a net worth of 9,790 crores USD, while Anil's financial journey has seen ups and downs. Key facts about Dhirubhai Ambani's life Born on December 28, 1932, in Chorwad village, Gujarat, Dhirubhai Ambani came from a humble background.
He began his career working at a petrol pump in Yemen and returned to India in 1958 to start his own business.
In 1966, he founded Reliance Commercial Corporation, which eventually grew into Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) — one of India's largest business empires.
Dhirubhai played a pioneering role in shaping India's capital markets. His efforts helped popularize equity investing among the Indian middle class.
In 1977, Reliance became the first Indian private company to be listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange.
What started as a textile business soon expanded into petrochemicals, refining, oil & gas, telecom, and many other sectors — transforming Reliance into a diversified conglomerate.
A true believer in entrepreneurship, Dhirubhai encouraged ordinary Indians to participate in the country's economic growth by investing in stocks.
His strategic thinking, ability to raise capital, and vision made him a game-changer in Indian business history.
Despite facing criticism and controversies, his influence, success, and wealth cemented his status as one of India's most iconic and impactful business figures.
Even today, Dhirubhai's journey continues to inspire entrepreneurs across the nation, proving that strong vision and relentless grit can overcome any odds. How much wealth did Dhirubhai Ambani leave behind?
Dhirubhai Ambani was one of India's wealthiest businessmen of his time. When he passed away in 2002, he wasn't just a household name—he was a global figure in the world of business. According to Forbes, at the time of his death, Dhirubhai Ambani ranked as the 138th richest man in the world, with a personal net worth of USD 2.9 billion.
If we adjust that amount to today's value in Indian currency, it would be worth more than Rs. 24,000 crore. But the wealth he left behind was more than just money. It was a legacy.
Dhirubhai was the founder of Reliance Industries, a company he started in the late 1950s from a small room in Mumbai. At the time of his death, Reliance was already valued at around Rs. 60,000 crore—a massive figure back then. Today, Reliance Industries is worth over Rs. 17.5 lakh crore, making it India's most valuable company.
He came from humble beginnings, born in a small village in Gujarat. He didn't inherit wealth or business empires, he built everything from scratch. He once worked at a petrol pump in Yemen before returning to India to start something of his own. From trading textiles to setting up one of the largest petrochemical and telecom giants in the world, Dhirubhai's journey is the stuff of legend.
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