INTERNATIONAL: Forbes’ 2025: Indian Billionaires Reshape U.S. Wealth Landscape
Forbes’ 2025 Richest Immigrants List
Forbes’ 2025 list of America’s Richest Immigrants highlights 125 foreign-born billionaires from 43 countries, collectively holding $1.3 trillion in wealth. India leads with 12 billionaires, surpassing Israel and Taiwan, each with 11. This underscores the Indian diaspora’s pivotal role in driving U.S. economic prosperity.
Indian Tycoons Dominate
The list features prominent Indian-origin billionaires, with cybersecurity mogul Jay Chaudhry topping the cohort at $17.9 billion. New entrants include Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, and Palo Alto Networks’ Nikesh Arora. Their inclusion reflects India’s growing influence in global tech leadership.
Jay Chaudhry’s Remarkable Journey
Jay Chaudhry, 65, epitomizes the self-made success story, rising from a Himalayan village without electricity or running water to founding Zscaler in 2008. Owning 40% of the Nasdaq-listed firm, his $17.9 billion fortune ranks him eighth overall. His ascent highlights the transformative power of education and entrepreneurship.
Global Titans Lead the Pack
South Africa-born Elon Musk, with a staggering $393.1 billion, reigns as the world’s richest immigrant, followed by Google co-founder Sergey Brin ($139.7 billion) from Russia. Nvidia’s Jensen Huang, a Taiwan native, secures third place with $137.9 billion, bolstering Taiwan’s 11 billionaires on the list.
Self-Made Fortunes Prevail
Unlike a quarter of U.S. billionaires who inherited wealth, 93% of immigrant billionaires are self-made, with 53 in technology and 28 in finance. This trend underscores the entrepreneurial drive of immigrants, particularly from India, Israel, Taiwan, Canada, and China, which account for a third of the list.
New Entrants Signal Tech Prowess
Sundar Pichai and Satya Nadella, leading Alphabet and Microsoft respectively, mark their debut with $1.1 billion each, while Nikesh Arora’s $1.4 billion fortune stems from cybersecurity innovation. Their rise reflects the tech sector’s dominance among immigrant billionaires, shaping America’s economic landscape.
India’s Ascendancy Over Israel
India’s 12 billionaire immigrants, up from seven in 2022, have overtaken Israel, with five new additions in three years. This shift highlights the increasing prominence of Indian professionals in U.S. boardrooms, particularly in technology and finance, sectors driving global innovation.
Methodology and Scope
Forbes compiled the list based on foreign-born U.S. citizens with a net worth exceeding $1 billion as of July 7, 2025. Excluding non-citizens and expatriates living abroad, the list captures the wealth of 14% of America’s nearly 900 billionaires, emphasizing immigrants’ outsized economic impact.