Two in top 10 richest Malayali's have an Infosys connection. Here are 10 wealthiest list from Kerala

Kerala has once again made its mark on the global wealth map with several prominent business leaders featuring in Forbes’ Real-Time Billionaires List. The rankings highlight entrepreneurs and industrialists who have built vast business empires across diverse sectors, ranging from jewellery and retail to education and technology. Notably, two of the top ten Malayalis in the list have strong ties to India’s tech giant, Infosys.

Joy Alukkas Tops the Wealth Chart

Joy Alukkas, chairman of the Joyalukkas Group, is currently the wealthiest Malayali in the world. His net worth has surged to $6.7 billion (approximately ₹59,000 crore), placing him at rank 566 globally. This marks a significant rise compared to last year when his wealth was estimated at $4.4 billion.

In second position among Malayalis is M A Yusuff Ali, chairman of Lulu Group, with a fortune of $5.4 billion. Despite his global retail presence, his net worth saw a decline from $7.6 billion in 2024. He is ranked 748 worldwide.

Education, Jewellery and Retail Magnates

Other well-known names in the top 10 Malayalis include Sunny Varkey, chairman of GEMS Education, with $4.0 billion, and B Ravi Pillai of RP Group, valued at $3.9 billion. T S Kalyanaraman, managing director of Kalyan Jewellers, follows with $3.6 billion. Collectively, these business leaders dominate industries such as education, jewellery and construction, contributing significantly to Kerala’s presence in the billionaire’s club.

Infosys Connection: Gopalakrishnan and Shibulal
Among the list, two notable names stand out for their contributions to India’s IT revolution through Infosys.

S Gopalakrishnan, widely known as Kris, co-founded Infosys and later served as its CEO and vice chairman between 2007 and 2014. Today, his wealth is estimated at $3.5 billion, earning him a global rank of 1168. Apart from his business ventures, he is actively involved in philanthropic efforts, research initiatives, and promoting start-ups through Axilor Ventures and other platforms. He was also conferred the Padma Bhushan in 2011 by the Government of India for his contributions to trade and industry.

S D Shibulal, another co-founder of Infosys, also features on the list with a fortune of $1.9 billion (ranked 2038). He served as the CEO and MD of Infosys from 2011 to 2014 and played a key role in the company’s global expansion. His engagements extend to academic and global business forums, reflecting his influence beyond the corporate world.

Other Billionaires from Kerala
The list also features Ramesh Kunhikannan of Kaynes Technology at $3.0 billion, the Muthoot Finance promoters with a combined wealth of $2.5 billion each, Shamsheer Vayalil of Burjeel Holdings at $1.9 billion, and Kochouseph Chittilappilly of V-Guard Industries at $1.4 billion.

The billionaires from Kerala represent a broad spectrum of industries — from gold retail and finance to education, healthcare, and information technology. This diversity reflects the global reach of Malayali entrepreneurs, who have expanded their businesses far beyond India.

Full List of Richest Malayalis on Forbes (as of Sept 12, 2025)

• Joy Alukkas (Joyalukkas Group): $6.7 billion (566)
• M A Yusuff Ali (Lulu Group): $5.4 billion (748)
• Sunny Varkey (GEMS Education): $4.0 billion (1001)
• B Ravi Pillai (RP Group): $3.9 billion (1016)
• T S Kalyanaraman (Kalyan Jewellers): $3.6 billion (1108)
• S Gopalakrishnan (Infosys co-founder): $3.5 billion (1168)
• Ramesh Kunhikannan (Kaynes Technology): $3.0 billion (1323)
• Muthoot Finance promoters: $2.5 billion each (1574)
• Shamsheer Vayalil (Burjeel Holdings): $1.9 billion (2001)
• S D Shibulal (Infosys co-founder): $1.9 billion (2038)
• Kochouseph Chittilappilly (V-Guard Industries): $1.4 billion (2555)