The UK's richest family worth £38bn - owns a 25-bedroom home and companies in 48 countries

For the fifth consecutive year, brothers Sanjay and Dheeraj Hinduja have claimed the top spot on the Sunday Times' rich list, with a combined fortune of £38billion. The siblings oversee the sprawling Hinduja Group, a global conglomerate with interests spanning oil, gas, banking and transport across an incredible 48 countries.

The Hinduja brothers, who inherited the family empire from their father, Gopichand (Gopi) Hinduja, have expanded it into one of the most diverse and successful business networks in the world. Today, the group's reach spans everything from energy projects and automotive ventures to finance and technology. The brothers lead a life of luxury, owning a 25-bedroom mansion, but are known for keeping a low public profile despite their wealth. They rarely give interviews and maintain a relatively private lifestyle, letting their business achievements speak for themselves.

The multinational empire was founded by Parmanand Deepchand Hinduja in 1914. In 1919, the business moved to Iran, focusing on merchant banking and trading. Gopi, alongside his brothers, transformed this, moving the base to London in 1979 and expanding into oil, automotive (Ashok Leyland), banking (IndusInd Bank) and real estate. Gopi took over as chairman after his brother Srichand's death in 2023, expanding the trading business into a global conglomerate before his death in November 2025.

The Hinduja Group operates in 48 countries, also in sectors such as IT, cybersecurity, healthcare, infrastructure development and even media and entertainment. Sanjay, 61, chairs Gulf Oil International while Dheeraj, 54, oversees the automotive giant Ashok Leyland. In the UK, the family are best known for transforming the Old War Office (OWO) into a 120-room opulent hotel and 85 luxury apartments, a project that took eight years and cost £1.4billion. They are now looking to repeat the undertaking elsewhere in the UK.

While the conflict in the Middle East has boosted demand for the Hindujas' coal businesses, the family is concerned about a prolonged conflict that could push the global economy into recession.

The family have a 25-bedroom property, originally four separate houses, on Carlton House Terrace, a street in the St James's district of the City of Westminster. The Grade I-listed property covers 67,000 square feet and was once valued at approximately £400million.

While some overseas-born billionaires are leaving the UK following the end of non-domiciled tax status, the brothers have pledged to stay put: "We've been living in London for 47 years," Sanjay said. "Where else do we go? This is our home."

Taking second place in the Sunday Times' 2026 Rich List is the family of David and Simon Reuben, who is currently worth £27.9billion. These Indian-born British billionaires, based in London, have built a massive fortune through global real estate, data centres, and the Reuben Brothers private equity firm, alongside the philanthropic Reuben Foundation. They are among London's largest landlords, owning iconic properties such as Millbank Tower, Burlington Arcade and Admiralty Arch. They also hold a 14% stake in Newcastle United FC.