COMPANIES LED BY GLOBAL INDIANS ARE WORTH US$15 TN, UP 53% SINCE THE INAUGURAL 2024 LIST
GLOBAL INDIAN-LED COMPANIES EMPLOY 5.3 MILLION PEOPLE AND GENERATE US$2.5 TN IN REVENUE
Mumbai, 12 November 2026 ( TGN): HSBC India and Hurun India today released the HSBC Hurun Global Indians List 2026, ranking the 200 most valuable companies in the world led by leaders of Indian origin. Companies were ranked by value, defined as market capitalisation for listed companies and Hurun Research valuations for unlisted companies, with a cut-off date of 25 June 2026. This is the second edition of the list, which highlights the role played by the Indian diaspora in the global economy. The list recognises 236 CEOs, MDs, Chairpersons and Founders across 200 companies, all headquartered outside India.
The combined value of the companies on the list stands at US$15 Tn, up 53% from US$9.9 Tn in the inaugural 2024 edition, while the entry cut-off has more than doubled from US$1.2 Bn to US$2.5 Bn. San Francisco tops the list of preferred cities of residence with 40 individuals. Software & Services and Financial Services together account for 84 of the 200 companies. The average age of the entrants is 55 years, and the list features 16 women.
76 companies enter the list for the first time this year. Of the 200 companies featured, 127 are listed, and 73 are privately held. Together, they employ nearly 5.3 million people, generated revenue of US$2.5 Tn in 2025 and reported combined net profit of US$416 Bn.
Sandeep Batra, Head, International Wealth and Premier Banking, HSBC India, said, “Global India is a story of ambition beyond borders of people and enterprise connecting India with the world. It is not simply about success overseas, but about the opportunities these connections can create in both directions. At HSBC, we are helping clients bring their international ambitions to life, while staying connected to what matters at home.”
Anas Rahman Junaid, Founder and Chief Researcher, Hurun India, said, “The reach of Global Indians is something most people experience without realising it. Whether you search on Google, watch a video on YouTube, send a message on WhatsApp, work on Microsoft Windows, ship a parcel with FedEx or use a Procter & Gamble product at home, the company behind it is led by someone of Indian origin. These are not companies we only read about; they are companies we use every day.”
“More than 70% of the value on this list sits in companies driven by AI. From Sundar Pichai at Alphabet and Satya Nadella at Microsoft to Aravind Srinivas at Perplexity and Aman Sanger at Cursor, Indian-origin leaders are shaping the technology that will define the next 20 years. The diaspora is not just taking part in the AI revolution; it is leading it.”
“The most striking finding of this year’s list is not the US$15 trillion; it is who chose these leaders. 125 of the 236 Global Indians did not found their companies; they were selected by global boards to lead some of the world’s most valuable businesses, from Google and Microsoft to Novartis and Chanel. Founding a company shows ambition, but being chosen to lead one shows the world’s trust.”
“58% of the leaders on this list completed their undergraduate studies in India, with IIT Delhi, the University of Mumbai and IIT Madras producing the most. Before they ran Alphabet, Cadence or Procter & Gamble, they sat in Indian classrooms. These leaders were made in India before they were made global.”
“The pipeline of Global Indian leadership is getting stronger, not thinner. 89 new names joined the list in just two years, even as the entry bar more than doubled to US$2.5 billion. The youngest, Adarsh Hiremath and Surya Midha of Mercor, are just 23, which tells us that the best of this story is still ahead.”
“For decades, we called it a brain drain. This list shows it has become a brain bridge, with leaders of Indian origin running companies worth US$15 trillion across five continents. India’s opportunity now is to make that bridge carry ideas, capital and partnerships back home.”
“The 16 women on this list lead companies worth nearly US$700 billion, from Jayshree V. Ullal at Arista Networks and Reshma Kewalramani at Vertex Pharmaceuticals to Leena Nair at Chanel. The number has grown from 12 two years ago, and it is progress, but it should be far higher. I hope to see this figure double by our next edition.”
“The Global Indian story is no longer only a Silicon Valley story. Dubai is now home to 15 entrants, including Yuvraj Narayan of DP World and Amit Jain of Emaar, and London, Singapore and now Africa, through Dangote Group, all feature on the list. Wherever the global economy is being built, you will find a leader of Indian origin.”
“Global Indians are not only leading consumer brands; they are running the systems the world depends on. Micron makes the memory chips that power AI, Palo Alto Networks and Zscaler protect corporate networks, and DP World and FedEx keep trade flowing. Influence is greatest where the world cannot easily replace you, and that is exactly where we find leaders of Indian origin,” concluded Anas Rahman Junaid.
