Kozhikode: Malayali businessman and jewellery chain chairman Joy Alukkas has claimed the top spot among Malayalis in Forbes’ real-time global billionaire rankings. Forbes’ April 2025 global billionaire list had reported his net worth at $3.3 billion. His fortune has more than doubled since then, now standing at $6.7 billion.

M. A. Yusuff Ali slips to second place

Lulu Group chairman M. A. Yusuff Ali, who had long held the top position among Malayalis, now occupies second place with a net worth of $5.4 billion.

Other notable Malayali billionaires

Forbes’ rankings (real-time) also feature several other prominent Malayalis, including:

  • Sunny Varkey, chairman of GEMS Education
  • Ravi Pillai, RP Group chairman
  • T.S. Kalyanaraman, managing director of Kalyan Jewellers
  • P.N.C. Menon, founder of Sobha Group
  • Kris Gopalakrishnan, Infosys co-founder
  • Ramesh Kunhikannan, founder of Kaynes Group
  • George Jacob Muthoot, Sara George Muthoot, George Thomas Muthoot, George Alexander Muthoot, promoters of Muthoot Finance
  • Dr. Shamsheer Vayalil, chairman of Burjeel Holdings
  • S.D. Shibulal, Infosys co-founder
  • Kochouseph Chittilappilly, founder of V-Guard Group

In the global and Indian context

Globally, Tesla and SpaceX chief Elon Musk continues to hold the top position with a staggering net worth of $463.2 billion. Among Indians, Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani remains the wealthiest, with $104 billion.