Britain's richest man has died. He invested in oil, property, and entertainment.

Gopichand Hinduja, an Indian entrepreneur and billionaire who was the richest man in Britain, died on Tuesday at the age of 85, the British newspaper Financial Times reported. The net worth of the businessman's family, which has shunned publicity, is estimated at £35.3 billion.

As the newspaper recalled, Hinduja and his older brother Srichand moved to London in the 1980s. From there, they managed the Hinduja Group, investing in various sectors, including banking, real estate, oil, and entertainment. The group currently employs approximately 150,000 people worldwide. Srichand died in 2023.

The family business was founded by the brothers' father, Parmanand, who began trading carpets, tea, and spices in 1914 in what was then British India, now Pakistan. He later moved the business to Iran. Hinduja himself joined the company in 1959.

The FT admitted that "it is unclear whether the group's leadership will pass to one of the two remaining Hinduja brothers." The youngest, Ashok, runs operations in India, including the flagship companies Ashok Leyland, which makes trucks and buses, and IndusInd Bank. The other brother, Prakash, is the chairman of the Hinduja Group in Europe.

The British newspaper noted that all four brothers have been embroiled in legal disputes over asset ownership and power of attorney in recent years.

Hinduja, like his siblings, was a self-proclaimed teetotaler and vegetarian. He was known for his religious beliefs and his belief in astrology.

From London Marta Zabłocka (PAP)

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