shiv nadar’s net worth is estimated at $25.1 billion as of june 2026 . earlier in the year, the forbes billionaires list put his wealth at $30.9 billion . his real-time net worth was around $26.4 billion in july 2026 . his wealth comes primarily from his stake in HCL Technologies, the IT services giant he co-founded in 1976 .
from a garage in 1976 to india’s it giant
shiv nadar cofounded hcl in 1976. the starting point was a garage in delhi. he had five friends with him. they made calculators and microprocessors .
today, hcl technologies is among india’s largest software services providers. revenue stands at $13.8 billion . the company has a market capitalisation of ₹4.22 lakh crore . promoters hold 60.81% of the company .
the net worth: $30.9 billion and ranking
forbes lists shiv nadar’s net worth at $30.9 billion as of march 2026 . other sources put it at $29.7 billion . the variation depends on the date of calculation and market movements.
what is consistent is his position among india’s wealthiest. he is fifth on the list, behind ambani ($99.7 billion), adani ($63.8 billion), jindal ($39.1 billion), and mittal ($31 billion) .
the nadar family earned ₹9,906 crore from hcl technologies in fy25. that is up from ₹8,585 crore the previous year .
the succession plan: a 47% gift deed
on 6 march 2025, shiv nadar executed a gift deed. he transferred 47% of his shareholding in two promoter entities — vama sundari investments and hcl corporation — to his daughter roshni nadar malhotra .
the transfer was done through a private family arrangement. the stated purpose: “to streamline succession, which would ensure continuity of ownership and control by shiv nadar family and would provide desired stability to the company” .
the numbers tell the story. before the transfer, shiv nadar held 51% in both promoter entities. roshni held 10.33%. after the transfer, roshni’s stake rose to 57.33%. shiv nadar’s stake dropped to 4% .
these two promoter entities together hold 44.34% of hcl technologies . through them, roshni now controls 44.17% of the company .
sebi granted roshni an exemption from making an open offer. this facilitated a smooth succession .
roshni nadar malhotra: from chairperson to india’s richest woman
roshni nadar malhotra took over as hcl technologies chairperson in july 2020. she had been involved in the business long before that. she became ceo of the holding company in 2009, handling treasury and investment decisions .
after the gift deed, her net worth surged. she is now india’s richest woman and the third-richest individual overall, behind mukesh ambani and gautam adani . she also ranks fifth globally among women on the hurun global rich list 2025 .
her educational background includes an undergraduate degree from northwestern university and an mba from kellogg school of management .
the philanthropy: india’s most generous
shiv nadar is not just about building wealth. he is also about giving it away.
in 2025, the nadar family donated ₹2,708 crore, topping the edelgive hurun philanthropy list . in 2022, he had donated ₹1,161 crore, reclaiming the title of “india’s most generous” .
he has sold stakes in hcl technologies to fund philanthropic investments in india’s education sector . the shiv nadar foundation has established some of india’s top colleges and schools .
what retail investors can learn
shiv nadar’s journey offers several lessons.
first, think long-term. hcl was founded in 1976. that is 50 years ago. he did not build this overnight.
second, build a strong foundation. the company’s financials are solid. revenue is growing. profits are consistent. that creates value for shareholders.
third, plan for succession. the gift deed was not an afterthought. it was a carefully planned transfer. it ensures the company remains in the family’s control.
fourth, give back. nadar’s philanthropy is not an afterthought. it is integrated into his life and business. he has sold stakes specifically to fund education.
fifth, understand promoter holding. the promoter group holds 60.81% of hcl technologies . that gives the family significant control. for retail investors, promoter holding is a key metric to watch.
shiv nadar is 80 years old . he has stepped down as chairman and managing director. he is now chairman emeritus .
roshni nadar malhotra is in charge. she has been preparing for this for over a decade. the transition appears smooth.
for retail investors, hcl technologies remains a significant player in the it services sector. the succession plan has been executed without disrupting the business. the company’s financials are strong. the family remains in control.
the question is not whether the succession worked. it did. the question is what comes next.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. what is shiv nadar’s net worth in 2026?
shiv nadar’s net worth is estimated at $30.9 billion (₹2.6 lakh crore) as of march 2026, according to forbes. he ranks fifth among indian billionaires .
2. how did shiv nadar build his wealth?
he cofounded hcl in 1976 from a garage with five friends. the company started with calculators and microprocessors and grew into a $13.8 billion revenue it services giant .
3. what is the succession plan at hcl?
in march 2025, shiv nadar transferred 47% of his stake in the promoter entities (vama sundari investments and hcl corporation) to his daughter roshni nadar malhotra through a gift deed. she is now the majority shareholder with 57.33% in these entities .
4. who is roshni nadar malhotra?
she is shiv nadar’s daughter and the chairperson of hcl technologies since 2020. after the succession transfer, she became india’s richest woman and the third-richest individual overall .
5. what is shiv nadar’s philanthropic record?
he donated ₹2,708 crore in 2025, topping the edelgive hurun philanthropy list. he has also sold stakes in hcl to fund education sector investments .
