Ankur Jain tops Indian-origin names, Kamath anchors India-based wealth
New York: The surge in technology and artificial intelligence has lifted the number of self-made billionaires aged 39 and under back to record territory, equaling the high last seen in 2021. Forbes data released in December 2025 shows there are 71 self-made billionaires under 40 worldwide, with founders of Indian origin prominently represented among the global top 40.
Topping the Indian-origin cohort is Ankur Jain, who ranks 19th globally with an estimated net worth of $3.4 billion. Jain, who is based in the United States, is the founder and chief executive of New York–based Bilt Rewards, a rent-rewards startup launched in 2019 that allows tenants to earn points on rent payments. Private investors valued Bilt at $10.8 billion in July. Jain previously cofounded contact management app Humin, which was acquired by Tinder in 2016.
Also among the Indian-origin billionaires are Surya Midha and Adarsh Hiremath, ranked joint 27th globally with estimated fortunes of $2.2 billion each. The 22-year-olds are cofounders of San Francisco–based AI recruiting firm Mercor, which was valued at $10 billion in October. Founded in 2023, Mercor works with major artificial intelligence labs to recruit talent and train models. Both Midha and Hiremath were named Thiel Fellows in 2024.
Representing entrepreneurs based in India is Nikhil Kamath, ranked 20th globally with a net worth of $3.3 billion, making him the only India-based founder in the global top 40 under-40 list. Kamath cofounded Bengaluru-based discount brokerage Zerodha in 2010 with his brother Nithin Kamath. The privately held firm is valued by Forbes at nearly $8 billion.
