HEAD OF UK’S RICHEST FAMILY, GOPICHAND HINDUJA, DIES AGED 85
Industrialist Who Transformed Family Business into Global Conglomerate Leaves Behind a Fortune Valued at £35.3 Billion
Gopichand ‘GP’ Hinduja, the patriarch of Britain’s wealthiest family, has passed away at the age of 85. As the co-chairman of the sprawling Indian conglomerate, the Hinduja Group, Mr. Hinduja was a central figure in building a global empire that spans finance, media, oil, and truck manufacturing.
The Hinduja family confirmed his death in a statement, mourning the loss of a man who would “leave a deep hole at the heart of our family” and be “remembered for his formidable work.”
Mr. Hinduja was instrumental in transforming his father’s modest textile and trading business into one of India’s largest companies, a multinational giant with operations in 48 countries and a workforce of approximately 200,000 people. Under his leadership, the family recently topped the Sunday Times Rich List with a net worth of £35.3 billion.
Lord Karan Bilimoria, founder of Cobra Beer, paid tribute, stating that GP “personified” the strong ties between India and the UK. “Whether it was in banking, whether it was in manufacturing, whether it was in property, they were always putting the UK and India together,” he said, adding that Mr. Hinduja was “a great champion for our two countries.”
The passing of Gopichand, the second eldest of four brothers, follows the death of the eldest sibling, Srichand, in 2023. This leaves the future leadership of the vast conglomerate, whose Indian operations are run by the youngest brother, Ashok, an open question.
While largely staying out of the public eye, Mr. Hinduja was not without controversy. He was at the center of the “Hinduja affair” in 2001, which led to the resignation of UK government minister Peter Mandelson. More recently, his brother Prakash, along with other family members, was jailed by a Swiss court in 2024 for exploiting domestic staff at their Geneva home.
The family’s significant holdings include landmark London real estate, such as properties near St James’s Park and the recently refurbished Old War Office in Whitehall.
Source:NKONKONSA.com
