India is now home to the record number of rich people — it had 142 billionaires at last count — but they’re also giving away record amounts of their money to charity.
HCL founder Shiv Nadar has retained his position as the most generous Indian in FY23, giving away Rs. 2,042 crore to charity. As many as 119 Indians gave away more than Rs. 5 crore last year, which amounted to a total of Rs. 8,445 crore. These Indians were also donating larger amounts than before — while only 2 people had donated more than Rs. 100 crore in 2018, this number has risen to 14 now. As per Hurun’s list, these were India’s top philanthropists in FY23.
1.Shiv Nadar
Rs. 2,042 crore donated
HCL founder Shiv Nadar is currently India’s fourth-richest person, but he topped the list of Indians who gave the most to charity. Nadar gave away Rs 2,042 crore this year, up from the Rs. 1,161 crore he had donated the previous year. Nadar’s contribution amounted to a stunning Rs 6 crore per day which went to philanthropic activities. Most of Nadar’s charity went towards the cause of education.
2.Azim Premji
Rs. 1,770 crore donated
Wipro’s Azim Premji had been India’s most philanthropic person until FY21, but fell to the second spot in FY22. He continues to be in the second spot in FY23 with donations of Rs. 1,770 crore this year. Premji’s donation however rose by three times compared to last year.
3. Mukesh Ambani
Rs. 376 crore donated
Mukesh Ambani is currently India’s richest man, and is its third most generous. Ambani gave away Rs. 376 crore in donations, down slightly from the Rs. 411 crore he had donated last year.
4. Kumar Mangalam Birla
Rs. 287 crore
Kumar Mangalam Birla was fourth on the list of the most philanthropic Indians. He donated Rs. 287 crore this year, up from the Rs. 242 crore he had donated last year.
5. Gautam Adani
Rs. 285 crore
Gautam Adani is India’s second richest man, and is its fifth most generous. Adani donated Rs. 285 crore last year, which was 50% higher than his donation last year. He has jumped to the fifth spot on the list of most philanthropic Indians in FY23, up from the seventh spot last year.
6. Bajaj family
Rs. 260 crore donated
The Bajaj family entered the list of top 10 most philanthropic Indians in FY23. Their donations tripled to Rs. 260 crore this year, and earned them the sixth spot.
7. Anil Agarwal and family
Rs. 240 crore
Vedanta Chairman Anil Agarwal was in the seventh spot in the list of most philanthropic Indians this year. He donated Rs. 240 crore, which was around 50% more than his donation of Rs. 165 crore last year. He moved from the 8th spot last year to the 7th spot this year.
8. Cyrus and Adar Poonawalla
Rs. 179 crore donated
Serum Institute’s Cyrus and Adar Poonawalla had seen their fortunes skyrocket when their vaccine was prominently used during the coronavirus pandemic. The duo hadn’t made it to the list of the top 10 philanthropic Indians last year, but entered the list at the 8th spot in FY23. They donated Rs. 179 crore this year.
9. Rohini Nilekani
Rs. 170 crore donated
Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani’s wife Rohini Nilekani was India’s most philanthropic woman, donating Rs. 170 crore this year. Rohini Nilekani is a writer and the Chairperson at Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies