Indian immigrants are significantly contributing to America’s economic prosperity, as highlighted by Forbes’ 2025 list of America’s Richest Immigrants. For the first time, India has surpassed Israel to become the leading birthplace of billionaire immigrants in the United States, with 12 Indian-origin billionaires making the prestigious list. This milestone underscores the remarkable impact of the Indian diaspora in shaping the U.S. economy through innovation, entrepreneurship, and leadership in high-growth sectors like technology and finance.
Indian Billionaires Leading the Charge
Forbes’ 2025 list identifies 125 billionaire immigrants from 43 countries, with India contributing the highest number. Nearly two-thirds of these billionaires hail from just nine countries, including India, Israel, Taiwan, Canada, and China. The Indian contingent is led by cybersecurity mogul Jay Chaudhry, whose net worth of $17.9 billion makes him the richest Indian immigrant in the U.S. Chaudhry, the CEO of Zscaler, a Nasdaq-listed cybersecurity firm he founded in 2008, embodies the American Dream. Born in a Himalayan village in India without electricity or running water until his teens, Chaudhry moved to the U.S. in 1980 for graduate school and built a tech empire through sheer determination and innovation.
Other prominent Indian billionaires on the list include:
- Vinod Khosla ($9.2B): Co-founder of Sun Microsystems and leading venture capitalist.
- Rakesh Gangwal ($6.6B): Airline industry titan.
- Romesh T. Wadhwani ($5.0B): Software entrepreneur.
- Rajiv Jain ($4.8B): Finance mogul.
- Kavitark Ram Shriram ($3.0B): Early Google investor and venture capitalist.
- Raj Sardana ($2.0B): Technology services leader.
- David Paul ($1.5B): Medical devices innovator.
- Nikesh Arora ($1.4B): CEO of Palo Alto Networks.
- Sundar Pichai ($1.1B): CEO of Alphabet.
- Satya Nadella ($1.1B): CEO of Microsoft.
- Neerja Sethi ($1.0B): IT consulting pioneer.
Notably, tech giants Sundar Pichai and Satya Nadella, leading Alphabet and Microsoft respectively, are among the newcomers to the billionaire list, highlighting the growing influence of Indian executives in global technology. Nikesh Arora, who has steered Palo Alto Networks since 2018, further exemplifies the community’s impact in cybersecurity.
Self-Made Success and Sector Dominance
Forbes notes that 93% of immigrant billionaires are self-made, with the tech and finance sectors being the primary wealth drivers. Of the 125 billionaire immigrants, 53 amassed their fortunes in technology, while 28 did so in finance. The Indian diaspora’s dominance in tech is particularly striking, with leaders like Chaudhry, Pichai, Nadella, and Arora driving innovation at some of the world’s most valuable companies. Their stories reflect resilience and adaptability, often starting from humble beginnings and leveraging education and opportunity in the U.S. to achieve extraordinary success.
Indian Talent Shaping America’s Future
Beyond billionaires, Indian immigrants are making waves in corporate leadership and cutting-edge innovation. For instance, Sabih Khan, an Indian American executive, was recently named Apple’s Chief Operating Officer (COO), succeeding Jeff Williams. Khan, who joined Apple in 1995, has been instrumental in building the company’s global supply chain and driving sustainability initiatives. His appointment marks a proud moment for the Indian American community and underscores the strategic importance of Indian talent in navigating global challenges.
Similarly, Trapit Bansal, an Indian Non-Resident Indian (NRI) researcher, is among the 11 immigrant AI pioneers recruited by Meta’s Superintelligence Lab to advance artificial general intelligence (AGI). With a PhD from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and prior contributions to models like GPT-4 at OpenAI, Bansal’s work in reinforcement learning is shaping the future of AI. His inclusion in Meta’s elite team highlights the critical role of Indian talent in maintaining America’s edge in AI innovation.
Economic and Cultural Impact
The success of Indian immigrants extends beyond individual achievements, contributing significantly to the U.S. economy and strengthening India’s global influence. The Reserve Bank of India reports that remittances from advanced economies like the U.S. reached $135.46 billion in FY25, driven largely by white-collar NRIs in tech and finance. These inflows bolster India’s financial stability and fuel nation-building efforts. Moreover, the Indian diaspora’s contributions enhance India’s soft power, positioning the country as a global hub for STEM talent.
However, NRIs face challenges in the U.S., including a competitive job market and stricter immigration policies. Despite these hurdles, India’s cost-effective talent pool and world-class institutions like the IITs continue to produce professionals who excel globally, as evidenced by the achievements of Chaudhry, Bansal, and others.
A Bright Future for the Indian Diaspora
The prominence of Indian immigrants on Forbes’ 2025 list and in leadership roles at companies like Apple and Meta is a testament to their resilience, innovation, and global impact. As the U.S. continues to benefit from their contributions, the Indian diaspora is not only making America richer but also shaping the future of technology, finance, and beyond. For NRIs and aspiring professionals, these stories serve as inspiration to pursue excellence, upskill in high-demand fields like AI, and leverage opportunities in both the U.S. and India.
For more inspiring stories of Indian American leadership, read about Apple’s new COO Sabih Khan and Trapit Bansal’s role in Meta’s AI revolution.
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