Britain’s Richest Man Dies at 85: Uncovering the Untold Secrets Behind His Final Years
So, the UK’s richest man, Gopichand Hinduja, has slipped away at the age of 85, leaving behind not just a colossal business empire but “a deep hole at the heart” of his family—a phrase that hits harder than you’d expect. Here’s a bloke who wasn’t just stacking cash; he was quietly steering the Hinduja Group across 11 sectors—from finance to oil—while remaining as elusive as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs. Picture this: Ashok Leyland, Gulf Oil, Quaker-Houghton—all under one vast umbrella, led by a man known simply as GP, who topped the Sunday Times Rich List not once, but four times. With around 200,000 employees worldwide, this family’s reach was global and potent, yet they managed to dodge the limelight—a rare feat in today’s selfie-driven world. Makes you wonder, doesn’t it? In a universe obsessed with flashing wealth in the public eye, how does one build such quietly immense influence?
The UK’s richest man has passed away at the age of 85, leaving ‘a deep hole at the heart’ of his family, a statement read.
Gopichand Hinduja was the head of the conglomerate Hinduja Group, which has business in 11 sectors across the board, such as finance, media, and oil.
Some of the companies under the multi-billion company include Ashok Leyland, Gulf Oil, and Quaker-Houghton among several others.
Known as GP, Hinduja headed up the group as they topped the Sunday Times Rich List for the fourth time earlier this year, with a net worth tens of billions.
Employing about 200,000 staff around the world, the family empire has quietly become one of the most powerful in the world while staying out of the public eye.
Gopi Hinduja (left) sadly passed away, his family confirmed (David M Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images)
Who is Gopi Hinduja?
Gopichand Parmanand Hinduja was born on 29 January 1940, in Iran, as the son of Hinduja Group founder Parmanand Hinduja.
Along with his brother Srichand, he began his career in their father’s textile and trading businesses in Bombay, India, and Tehran, Iran, as early businesses involved the sale of food commodities and iron ore from India to Iran.
The Hinduja Group itself was founded in 1914, and initially operated in modern day Pakistan in addition to Bombay.
The company would later move its international headquarters to Iran, before moving it to Europe following the nation’s Islamic Revolution.
What is Gopi Hinduja’s net worth?
Hinduja and his family topped the most recent Sunday Times Rich List with a net worth of £35.3bn, while also ranking 11th on the Forbes list of India’s 100 richest businesspeople in 2024.
He was the second eldest of four brothers who were responsible for controlling the business for decades, with the eldest, Srichand, dying at the age of 87 back in 2023.
While it is unknown who will now take over the conglomerate, youngest brother Ashok continus to run its operations across India, while the company operates in 48 nations across the world.
He was the richest man in Britain but just the 11th richest in India (Sanjay Borade/Mint via Getty Images)
Why was Gopi Hinduja so rich?
While The Hinduja Group has companies across 11 sectors, it’s said that they have control over 25 companies, though the exact number isn’t fixed.
The family itself owns a chunk of real estate in London, such as a number of large homes near St James’s Park and Winston Churchill’s Old War Office in Whitehall.
Hinduja died in London on Tuesday, according to a spokesman for the tycoon.
Following Hinduja’s death, his family said in a statement: “He will leave a deep hole at the heart of our family. He will also be remembered for his formidable work.”
Featured Image Credit: Sanjay Borade/Mint via Getty Images
Topics: Business, Money, UK News
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