New York: Time magazine has named four Indians—including billionaire industrialist Mukesh Ambani, his wife Nita Ambani, former Wipro chairman Azim Premji, and Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath—in its inaugural TIME100 Most Influential People in Philanthropy 2025 list.

According to the publication, the list “tells the stories of how generous donors and leaders of foundations and non-profits are directing funding into the communities that need it most.”

Ambanis among India’s biggest donors

Mukesh and Nita Ambani feature on the list for gifting Rs 407 crore (approximately USD 48 million) in 2024. “Placing them among the country's biggest donors,” Time noted.

Describing the Ambanis as “empowering millions”, the magazine highlighted that their “charitable initiatives are as varied and wide-ranging as the business empire that earned them an estimated USD 110 billion fortune.” Nita Ambani, the founder and chairperson of Reliance Foundation, is noted for leading a number of the organisation’s programmes.

Azim Premji’s education-centred philanthropy

Tech magnate Azim Premji, who was the first Indian to sign the Giving Pledge, has focused his efforts on reforming public education in India. In 2013, he endowed his foundation with over USD 29 billion in Wipro shares.

Time reported that from 2023 to 2024, USD 109 million in grants were disbursed to 940 organisations focusing on education, health, and related areas. The foundation also operates 59 field offices and 263 teacher learning centres, helping over 8 million children.

In August, the foundation committed around USD 175 million to expand school meal coverage for over 5 million children. This reflects Premji’s philosophy, shaped by Mahatma Gandhi, that wealth should be held in “trusteeship, to be used for the betterment of society.”

Nikhil Kamath and youth-driven philanthropy

Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath was recognised as the youngest Indian to sign the Giving Pledge in 2023 at age 36. Time noted, “By then, he had already donated millions to environmental and educational projects—and started his own offshoot initiative, the Young India Philanthropic Pledge (YIPP), which asks Indians under age 45 with fortunes over USD 100 million to commit to giving away at least 25 per cent of their wealth.”

Kamath’s journey—from a high school dropout working at a Bangalore call centre to becoming a billionaire within 13 years of founding Zerodha with his brother Nithin—is described by Time as “a remarkable development.”

Together, the Kamath brothers have pledged more than USD 100 million to the Rainmatter Foundation, which works on climate change solutions.

YIPP has raised USD 8 million to support projects such as upgrading 300 schools with improved computer infrastructure, career counselling and other services. Kamath remarked, “Education is the only democratising element that can close the inequality gap.”

International names also featured

The global list also includes renowned figures such as footballer David Beckham, billionaire philanthropist Warren Buffet, Melinda French Gates, and Britain’s Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales.