Sunil Bharti Mittal, founder of Bharti Airtel, has emerged as India’s biggest wealth gainer in 2025, adding over ₹84,000 crore to his fortune. Ranked the fourth-richest Indian with a net worth of ₹3.15 lakh crore, Mittal’s success reflects Airtel’s strong performance and bold moves.
Airtel today serves over 556 million customers across India and Africa, with industry-leading average revenue per user (ARPU) at ₹245. Its focus on premium services, partnerships like Apple TV+ and Apple Music, and rapid 5G adoption has strengthened its market position.
But the journey wasn’t easy. After Reliance Jio’s disruptive entry in 2016, Airtel struggled with losses. Guided by determination and government backing, Mittal fought back, reducing debt and regaining growth. Airtel also became India’s first first-generation business to cross $100 billion in market value.
Mittal is now eyeing global leadership through space communications, with major stakes in satellite firm Eutelsat OneWeb and British Telecom. From selling bicycle parts to building one of the world’s top telecom empires, Mittal’s story proves that resilience and foresight can turn setbacks into billion-dollar opportunities.
