Sunil Mittal
-
Age57
-
Earnings$ 7.8 Billion
-
Source of earningsTelecom
-
Marital StatusMarried
-
Children3
-
ResidenceDelhi
#10 India Rich List 2014
#10 India Rich List Rank 2013
The telecom tycoon's Bharti Airtel, the world's fourth-largest mobile telephony firm by number of subscribers, crossed the milestone of 300 million customers. In a February government auction, Airtel bought additional telecom spectrum worth close to $3 billion. But it is awaiting approval for its $113 million purchase of rival Loop Mobile, which will make it the largest operator in Mumbai. To pare its $9.6 billion debt, Airtel sold some of its African telecom towers for $1.2 billion, and is reportedly in negotiations with American Tower Corporation for a further sale. Son Kavin's messaging service Hike, a local WhatsApp clone developed in a joint venture with SoftBank, has notched up 20 million customers.
Fast Fact: His Bharti Foundation has pledged $16 million to building toilets in rural areas of Punjab from where he hails.
