Key points – A large portion of India’s total wealth is held by a handful of people. According to experts, even if you have a net worth of just ₹1.52 crore, you can be among the top 1% of the country’s richest people.
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The deep wealth inequality in India is clearly visible. According to tax expert Nitin Kaushik, you don’t have to be a millionaire to be among the top 1% of the country’s richest. In fact, you can join this rich club by owning assets worth more than ₹1.52 crore. However, the real picture is shocking. This 1% of the population owns and owns 40% of India’s total wealth. On the other hand, half of the country’s population owns only 6% of the total wealth.
Where do rich Indians invest their money?
India’s rich invest in things that increase in value over time. Real estate is the most important of these, especially in metro cities. Apart from this, gold has always been a reliable means of protection against inflation and volatility. The rich also prefer to invest in stocks, startups and family businesses. On the other hand, the middle class mostly keeps its money in fixed deposits and low-return accounts, waiting for the right opportunity. This makes it difficult for them to join the rich class quickly.
Growth in the number of millionaires
India is now emerging as the fourth largest high net worth individual (HNWI) hub in the world. According to a report in 2025, there are 85,698 HNWIs in India, i.e. those with a net worth of more than Rs 1 crore. In 2025 alone, the number of millionaires in India increased from 165 to 191, i.e. 26 new millionaires have joined the rich class. Indian billionaires currently have assets worth about 0.95 trillion US dollars, or about 8,500 crore rupees in Indian rupees, which is more than France, Germany, and the UK combined.
