Composing a national anthem for women’s empowerment, Roshni Nadar Malhotra has become the first Indian woman to enter the world’s top 10 richest women, with a net worth of Rs 3.5 lakh crore ($40 billion). She inspires every Indian woman who dares to dream beyond boundaries by holding the fifth position among the world’s richest women.
According to the Hurun Global Rich List 2025, she is the first Indian woman to break into the global top 10 of female billionaires, following a 47 per cent stake transfer from her father, Shiv Nadar, the founder of HCL Technologies. “She is the only woman from India in the top ten richest globally,” said the Hurun Research Institute. At 43, she is also the youngest among India’s top 10 wealthiest individuals overall.
About Roshni Nadar Malhotra
She is the current chairperson of the information technology giant HCL. She inherited a 47% stake from her father, allowing her to hold the reins of Vama Sundari Investments (Vama Delhi) and HCL Corp, both are key entities supporting HCL Technologies. Consequently, she now guides all significant strategic choices for this $12 billion technology company.
Following this transfer, Roshni possesses voting rights for 44.17% of Vama Delhi’s stake and 0.17% of HCL Corp’s stake in HCL Technologies. She also controls voting rights for Vama Delhi’s 12.94% stake and HCL Corp’s 49.94% stake in HCL Infosystems.
Roshni Nadar Malhotra took the helm of chairmanship of HCL Technologies in July 2020. Besides her position at HCL, she serves as a trustee of the Shiv Nadar Foundation, which has founded several distinguished educational institutions in India.
Her Education
Roshni Nadar earned a bachelor’s degree in Communications from Northwestern University and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management. She serves on several global advisory boards, including the Dean’s Advisory Council at MIT and the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum. She is also a board member of The Nature Conservancy, exhibiting her commitment to environmental sustainability.
Image Credit: NorthEast Now
Her Personal Life
Roshni Nadar is the daughter of HCL’s founder, Shiv Nadar, and is married to Shikhar Malhotra, Vice Chairman of HCL Healthcare. Before transferring 47% to her daughter, Shiv Nadar held 51% of both Vama Delhi and HCL Corp, while Roshni owned 10.33% in both entities.
Top Image – Roshni’s father: Shiv Nadar
Bottom Image – Roshni’s Husband ‘Shikhar Malhotra’ [Image credit: Channeliam.com]
A Symphony of Success: Indian Women take the Centre Stage
This year’s list includes 22 Indian women, collectively holding a wealth of Rs 9 trillion, with an average net worth exceeding Rs 40,000 crore.
Indian women dominate the inherited wealth segment, with succession transfers playing a significant role in their rise. Roshni Nadar’s stake transfer from her father positioned her ahead of fellow Indian businesswomen like Smita Crishna-Godrej and Savitri Jindal in terms of net worth.
| Name | Photo | Company | Wealth |
| Roshni Nadar | Image: EY  | HCL Technologies | Rs 3.5 trillion |
| Savitri Jindal |  | OP Jindal Group | Rs 1.2 trillion |
| Smita Crishna-Godrej |  | Godrej Group | Rs 37,000 crore |
| Leena Tewari |  | USV Pharma | Rs 25,000 crore |
| Vinod Rai Gupta |  | Havells India | Rs 21,000 crore |
| Rekha Jhunjhunwala |  | Investments, RJ legacy | Rs 20,000 crore |
| Radha Vembu |  | Zoho | Rs 19,000 crore |
| Falguni Nayar |  | Nykaa | Rs 13,000 crore |
| Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw |  | Biocon | Rs 12,000 crore |
Top 10 richest women in the world
- Alice Walton – Walmart, US: $102 billion
- Francoise Bettencourt Meyers – L-Oréal France: $67 billion
- Julia Koch & family – Koch industries, US: $60 billion
- Jacqueline Mars – Mars, US: $53 billion
- Roshni Nadar & Family – HCL, India: $40 billion
- MacKenzie Scott – Amazon, US: $35.9 billion
- Miriam Adelson & family – Las Vegas Sands, US: $34.2 billion
- Abigail Johnson – Fidelity, US: $35.6 billion
- Marilyn Simons & family – Renaissance, US: $31.4 billion
- Linda Stephens & family – Endeavor Energy Resources, US: $29 billion
As the global spotlight shines on the world’s wealthiest women, the numbers reveal both progress and persistent gaps. India stands at a crossroads of change, with Indian women making up just 7% of its billionaire ranks; a figure that lags behind China’s 22% and the United States’ 15%. Yet, the inclusion of Indian leaders like Roshni Nadar Malhotra on the Hurun Global Rich List signals a wave of transformation, as women increasingly break through traditional barriers to claim their place among the world’s most influential.
Globally, 561 women have claimed billionaire status, with 224 of them self-made, proving that entrepreneurial spirit and determination are rewriting the rules of wealth creation. While China, the US, and India lead in sheer numbers, the journey toward true gender parity remains unfinished.
The rise of women billionaires is more than a statistic, but it’s a call to action. Their success is a beacon for future generations, exemplifying what can be achieved through opportunity and ambition. As they reach new heights of wealth and influence, they reshape economies and inspire a global movement for empowerment and equality.
