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Mukesh Ambani

Career Mukesh Ambani

Early Years at Reliance

Ambani joined Reliance in 1981. At 24, he was put in charge of the company's Patalganga petrochemical plant. He took on a growing role as his father's health declined in the late 1980s, and led Reliance's expansion into petrochemicals, oil refining and gas.

Jamnagar Refinery

He led the creation of the Jamnagar refinery in Gujarat, described as the world's largest grassroots petroleum refinery, with a capacity of about 660,000 barrels per day (2010).

Split of the Reliance Group

After Dhirubhai Ambani's death in 2002, ownership of the Reliance group was divided between Mukesh and his brother Anil, with Mukesh retaining Reliance Industries.

Jio and Digital Expansion

Reliance launched Jio's 4G services in 2016, transforming India's telecom market with low-cost data. Jio later grew to over 500 million customers. At Reliance's 48th AGM in August 2025, Ambani announced plans to list Jio and unveiled Reliance Intelligence, a new artificial-intelligence subsidiary, along with partnerships with Google and Meta. In October 2026, Jio Platforms opened its IPO (21–23 October), reported as India's biggest-ever public offering.

Other Businesses and Roles

  • Reliance Retail – chairman; India's largest retailer
  • Mumbai Indians – IPL team bought through Reliance in 2008
  • Indian Super League – founder
  • Bank of America – became its first non-American board member in 2011 (former director)
  • World Economic Forum – member of the Board of Trustees
  • Pandit Deendayal Energy University, Gandhinagar – president

In FY2025, Reliance reported consolidated revenue of ₹10,71,174 crore (about US$125 billion), the first Indian company to cross that mark.

Controversies

  • SEBI penalty: In January 2021, SEBI fined Reliance Industries and Mukesh Ambani over manipulative trades in Reliance Petroleum shares in 2007.
  • KG basin gas pricing: A 2014 FIR alleged irregularities in natural gas pricing.
  • Wealth and influence: Critics have raised concerns about the concentration of wealth and his closeness to the government; the 2024 wedding of his son Anant drew criticism over its scale.
  • Russian oil: Reliance became the largest Indian importer of Russian crude after 2022, drawing international criticism.
  • Security: A bomb scare near his home, Antilia, in 2021, and a death-threat email in 2023.
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