Dhirubhai Ambani Family Tree: How One Man Built India’s Richest Empire

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The Ambani family is one of the most powerful and influential dynasties in modern India — a symbol of ambition, innovation and entrepreneurship. From Gujarat to being one of the largest conglomerates in the world, the Ambanis have redefined India’s business landscape across energy, petrochemicals, telecom, retail and green technology.

Ambani family tree starts with Dhirubhai Hirachand Ambani, a visionary who built an empire from scratch. His journey from a small-time yarn trader to the founder of Reliance Industries is the quintessential “rags-to-riches” story of Indian entrepreneurship.

After his passing in 2002, his sons Mukesh Ambani and Anil Ambani inherited not just his wealth but also his spirit of growth and innovation. Under their leadership, the Reliance empire expanded into new areas — from refining and petrochemicals to telecom, retail and digital services and became one of the most diversified business groups in the world.

This article delves into the Dhirubhai Ambani family tree — tracing their rise, contributions, and the evolution of their multi-generational business empire.

Ambani Family Tree

Dhirubhai Ambani Family Tree

Dhirubhai Ambani Family Tree Chart
Ambani Family Tree Chart

Dhirubhai Ambani: The Visionary Founder

Dhirubhai Ambani Family Tree

Dhirubhai Hirachand Ambani (1932–2002) is considered one of India’s most iconic industrialists. Born in the small town of Chorwad in Gujarat, he started his career in Yemen with A. Besse & Co., where he learned about international trade, shipping and finance. In 1958, he returned to India with a dream to start his own business—Reliance Commercial Corporation, a small trading company in Mumbai dealing in polyester yarn and spices.

In 1966, he incorporated a firm called Reliance Textiles, the foundation of what would later become Reliance Industries (RIL). His company’s brand “Vimal” became the symbol of quality textiles by 1980. By the 1990s, Reliance had vertically integrated its operations into petrochemicals, refining and power — and became India’s first private company to feature in Fortune 500.

Dhirubhai passed away in 2002. At that time Reliance Industries’ market capitalisation was INR 38,600 crore and had over 13,000 employees. His leadership legacy continues to guide India’s corporate world — of taking risks, innovating and inclusivity.

Kokilaben Ambani: Unifying Force of Ambani Family Tree

kokilaben ambani

Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani, wife of the late Dhirubhai Ambani, is the glue that holds the Ambani family together. After her husband’s passing, she played a key role in keeping the family united during the high-stakes division of Reliance assets between her two sons, Mukesh and Anil Ambani, in 2005.

As a believer in family values and cultural heritage, Kokilaben is actively involved in social causes and philanthropy. She is the Chairperson of the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai — one of India’s top multi-speciality hospitals, established in 2009. The hospital has over 750 beds and 15 Centres of Excellence and is known for its technology and outcomes.

Mukesh Ambani Family Tree

mukesh ambani Family Tree

Mukesh Ambani (born 19 April 1957), the elder son of Dhirubhai, serves as the Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance Industries (RIL). Under his leadership, RIL transformed from a manufacturing-driven company into a tech-enabled global conglomerate.

In 2016, he launched Reliance Jio, which disrupted India’s telecom industry by offering free voice calls and affordable data, leading to a 4G revolution that added over 45 crore subscribers within five years.

Reliance’s diversification under Mukesh Ambani includes ventures in retail, digital services, new energy, and green hydrogen. As of September 2025, Reliance Industries reported a market capitalisation exceeding INR 20 lakh crore, making it India’s most valuable company.

Globally, Mukesh Ambani ranks among the top 10 richest individuals, with a net worth of over USD 115 billion (~INR 10.28 lakh crore) (Forbes 2025). His leadership style emphasises integration, technology adoption, and a long-term national vision — reflected in Reliance’s mission to make India self-reliant in clean energy by 2040.

Mukesh Ambani family tree includes his wife, Nita Ambani, and their three children, Akash Ambani, Isha Ambani, and Anant Ambani. Mukesh Ambani family extends to their spouses and grandchildren, including Akash’s wife, Shloka Mehta and their children, Isha’s husband Anand Piramal and their twins, and Anant’s wife, Radhika Merchant.

Mukesh Ambani Family Pic
Mukesh Ambani Family Picture

Nita Ambani

nita ambani

Nita Ambani (born 1 November 1963) is India’s most influential woman leader. A trained classical dancer turned businesswoman, she has shaped Reliance’s social and cultural impact.

She is the Founder and Chairperson of Reliance Foundation, India’s largest corporate social initiative, which has impacted over 6.9 crore people across 54,200 villages and 6,400 urban areas (as per Reliance Foundation’s 2024 report). Her work spans education, healthcare, rural transformation, disaster response, and women empowerment.

Nita also chairs the Dhirubhai Ambani International School (DAIS) — ranked among India’s top private schools — and serves on the Board of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York), highlighting her role as a global cultural ambassador. She is also the owner of the Mumbai Indians.

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Akash Ambani: The Digital Visionary

Akash Ambani

Akash Mukesh Ambani (born 23 October 1991), the eldest son of Mukesh and Nita Ambani, represents the digital-first generation of the Reliance empire. Educated at Brown University (USA) with a major in Economics, Akash joined Reliance Jio Infocomm early in its conceptual phase, working closely on product development and network design.

In June 2022, Akash was appointed Chairman of Reliance Jio, marking the formal generational shift within the group’s leadership. Under his stewardship, Jio consolidated its leadership in India’s telecom sector, commanding over 50.64 crore subscribers as of 2025, with an estimated market share of ~41.6%.

Isha Ambani Piramal

Isha Ambani

Isha Mukesh Ambani (born 23 October 1991) — Akash’s twin sister — is a director at Reliance Retail Ventures (RRVL) and Reliance Jio Infocomm. Educated at Yale University and later an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business, Isha brings a global perspective to the family’s retail and digital operations.

Appointed Head of Reliance Retail in August 2022, Reliance Retail recorded revenues exceeding INR 2.71 lakh crore in FY 2025, making it India’s largest retailer by revenue. Under Isha’s leadership, the company expanded into premium and e-commerce segments through AJIO, JioMart, and collaborations with brands such as Jimmy Choo, Burberry, Balenciaga, and Tiffany & Co. Isha married Anand Piramal, Executive Director of the Piramal Group, in 2018 — marking the union of two major Indian business families.

Anant Ambani

Anant Ambani

Anant Mukesh Ambani (born 10 April 1995), the youngest Ambani sibling, is leading the group’s ambitious transition toward clean and renewable energy. Educated at Brown University, Anant was inducted into the Reliance board in 2023 as a Director of Reliance New Energy (RNEL) and Reliance Retail Ventures.

He is overseeing the Reliance New Energy Giga Complex in Jamnagar, a USD 10-billion project focused on solar PV cells, hydrogen fuel, and energy storage systems.

Anant also plays a key role in the Reliance Animal Welfare Project and has expressed a strong interest in wildlife conservation and environmental sustainability. At public events, Mukesh Ambani has described Anant as “the group’s conscience for sustainable development.”

Anil Ambani Family

Anil Ambani

Anil Dhirubhai Ambani (born 4 June 1959), the younger son of Dhirubhai Ambani, initially mirrored his father’s charisma and appetite for bold ventures. Following the 2005 Reliance split, he became the Chairman of the Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG), which included companies like Reliance Communications, Reliance Capital, Reliance Power, and Reliance Infrastructure.

In the early 2000s, Anil Ambani was among India’s most high-profile industrialists. At its peak, the Reliance ADA Group had a market capitalisation exceeding INR 2.5 lakh crore and holdings in telecom, power, and financial services. However, mounting debts, regulatory hurdles, and intense competition from Reliance Jio led to a steep decline.

By 2019, Reliance Communications had filed for bankruptcy, and other group companies were struggling with debt restructuring. Anil Ambani declared himself to be “worth zero” in a London court during a debt dispute case with Chinese banks — a dramatic contrast to his earlier position as one of the world’s richest men (net worth USD 45 billion in 2008, Forbes).

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Deepti Salgaocar

Deepti Salgaocar

Deepti Dhirubhai Ambani Salgaocar (born 23 January 1962) is the youngest daughter of the late Dhirubhai Ambani and Kokilaben Ambani, and sister to Mukesh and Anil Ambani. She is best known for choosing a life away from the high-profile business world.

Deepti’s story is one of a love marriage, being the first in the Ambani family to marry her husband, Dattaraj (Raj) Salgaocar, a businessman from Goa, whom she met when their families lived in the same Mumbai building.

She currently resides in Goa and serves as the Vice-Chairperson and a member of the Advisory Board for Sunaparanta – Goa Centre for the Arts, a non-profit organisation established by her husband. Through this role, she actively contributes to the preservation and promotion of Goan art and culture.

Nina Kothari

Nina Kothari

Nina Dhirubhai Ambani Kothari (born 21 July 1962) is the elder daughter of the late Dhirubhai Ambani and Kokilaben Ambani, and sister to Mukesh and Anil Ambani. Nina married industrialist Bhadrashyam (Shyam) Kothari in 1986. Following her husband’s untimely demise in 2015, she took charge of the H C Kothari Group’s family business.

She currently serves as the Chairperson of Kothari Sugars and Chemicals, the flagship company of the group. Under her leadership, the group has diversified and expanded to include businesses like Kothari Petrochemicals and Kothari Safe Deposits. She first showed her entrepreneurial spirit in 2003 by launching ‘Javagreen’, a coffee and food chain.

Tina Ambani

Tina Ambani

Tina Ambani (born 11 February 1957) — formerly a celebrated Bollywood actress — became a prominent businesswoman and philanthropist after her marriage to Anil Dhirubhai Ambani in 1991.

Tina serves as the Chairperson of the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital & Medical Research Institute (KDAH) in Mumbai, which was inaugurated in 2009. The hospital, one of India’s most advanced private healthcare facilities, has been featured in the prestigious ‘World’s Best Hospitals 2025’ global ranking by Newsweek and Statista. According to hospital records, KDAH has successfully performed numerous high-end procedures, including over 21,000 complex cancer surgeries and over 3,600 robotic surgeries.

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Jai Anmol Ambani

Jai Anmol Ambani

Jai Anmol Ambani (born 12 December 1991) is the elder son of Anil and Tina Ambani. Educated at Warwick Business School (UK), he joined Reliance Capital in 2014 and was appointed Executive Director in 2016.

During his tenure, Anmol played a pivotal role in restructuring Reliance Capital’s insurance and asset management divisions, particularly in negotiating stake sales to Nippon Life Insurance of Japan.

In 2022, he married Khrisha Shah, a social entrepreneur and founder of LoveNotFear, a platform advocating mental health awareness and social inclusion. The couple represents a modern, purpose-driven generation of the Ambani lineage — blending business with social responsibility.

Jai Anshul Ambani

Jai Anshul Ambani

Jai Anshul Ambani (born in 1996), the younger son of Anil and Tina Ambani, represents the newest generation of the family’s entrepreneurial spirit. Educated at University College London (UCL), he has kept a relatively low public profile compared to his elder brother.

Anshul joined the Reliance Group as a Director on the board of Reliance Infrastructure and Reliance Capital in 2019. His focus areas reportedly include digital innovation, defence infrastructure, and green power solutions — sectors aligned with India’s evolving economic priorities.

Dhirubhai Ambani Family Tree: Group Split

The division of Reliance Industries in 2005 marked one of the most high-profile business separations in Indian corporate history. Following the death of Dhirubhai Ambani in 2002, the absence of a formal succession plan led to tensions between his sons, Mukesh and Anil Ambani.

To prevent further discord, Kokilaben Ambani intervened, resulting in an amicable division of assets:

  • Mukesh Ambani retained Reliance Industries and IPCL (Indian Petrochemicals Corporation), covering refining, petrochemicals, and oil & gas exploration.
  • Anil Ambani received control of Reliance Capital, Reliance Communications, Reliance Infrastructure, and Reliance Power, under the newly formed Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG).

At the time of the split, RIL had a market capitalisation of around INR 90,000 crore, while the combined value of Anil’s listed companies stood at approximately INR 70,000 crore. The media portrayed it as the “great Indian corporate partition.”

Despite this divergence, both branches of the Dhirubhai Ambani family tree remain linked by a shared heritage — one built on the vision of self-reliant industrialisation. The Ambani Family tree, in essence, represents both the promise and peril of Indian capitalism — innovation balanced with risk, ambition tempered by circumstance.

The Ambani Family story is a narrative of resilience, reinvention, and relentless pursuit of progress. From textiles to telecommunications, from petrochemicals to philanthropy, every chapter of their history reflects India’s own evolution — from a developing nation to a global economic force.

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