WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — For the first time, India ranks No. 1 in the number of foreign-born billionaires in the United States. This marks a historic shift, as Indian-origin entrepreneurs now outnumber those from Israel and Taiwan on Forbes’ 2025 list of America’s Richest Immigrants.
Twelve Indian-origin billionaires made the list, more than any other country. Israel and Taiwan followed with 11 each. These Indian Americans are leading the way in sectors like technology, finance, cybersecurity, and medical innovation.
The 2025 Forbes list highlights a growing trend: immigrants are building major companies and driving innovation across the U.S. economy. The list includes 125 foreign-born billionaires from 43 countries. That number is up from 92 in 2022. Together, they hold a combined net worth of $1.3 trillion. This accounts for 18% of the total U.S. billionaire wealth, now estimated at $7.2 trillion.
Indian Americans stand out in this year’s rankings. Their growing presence reflects decades of hard work, education, and entrepreneurship. Many of them came to the U.S. with modest means but went on to launch groundbreaking companies.
Jay Chaudhry, founder of the cybersecurity company Zscaler, tops the Indian-origin list. His net worth has reached $17.9 billion. Born in a small village in Himachal Pradesh, India, Chaudhry’s journey began with humble roots. He studied under a tree before moving to the U.S. in 1980. He later earned multiple master’s degrees from the University of Cincinnati and went on to start several tech firms. In 2007, he founded Zscaler, which now trades on the Nasdaq.
Other prominent Indian American billionaires on the list include Vinod Khosla, co-founder of Sun Microsystems and a leading venture capitalist, with $9.2 billion. Rakesh Gangwal, co-founder of IndiGo Airlines, holds $6.6 billion. Software magnate Romesh T. Wadhwani has $5.0 billion, and finance executive Rajiv Jain follows with $4.8 billion. Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet (Google), and Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, are also featured. Both have net worths of $1.1 billion, according to Forbes.
Technology and finance remain the top sectors for immigrant billionaires. Of the 125 names on the list, 53 built their fortunes in tech. Another 28 made their wealth in finance. This pattern reflects the high demand for innovation and leadership in these fields. Among the Indian-origin billionaires, many began their careers in tech startups or consulting firms. Their success often came after years of building companies from the ground up.
According to Forbes, 93% of immigrant billionaires in the U.S. are self-made. They did not inherit their wealth but earned it through entrepreneurship and innovation. By contrast, about 25% of U.S.-born billionaires inherited their fortunes.
Elon Musk, born in South Africa, remains the richest immigrant billionaire with a net worth of $393.1 billion. He is followed by Sergey Brin of Russia with $139.7 billion and Nvidia’s Jensen Huang of Taiwan with $137.9 billion. These names top the overall immigrant billionaire list and reflect the global nature of business leadership in the U.S.
The rising number of Indian American billionaires shows how immigration continues to shape the U.S. economy. It highlights the key role immigrants play in technology, finance, and innovation. As America looks toward the future, Indian-origin entrepreneurs are helping lead the way. Their success stories are inspiring a new generation of business leaders and reaffirming the value of hard work, education, and opportunity in the United States.
