In a remarkable rise, Indian-origin immigrants have now emerged as the most prominent group among foreign-born billionaires in the United States, according to the 2025 Forbes list of America’s richest immigrants. With 12 self-made billionaires hailing from India—surpassing Israel and Taiwan, each with 11—India has taken the leading position in this elite category. Collectively, there are now 125 foreign-born billionaires living in the U.S., up from 92 in 2022, representing 14% of the country’s billionaire population and totaling a staggering combined net worth of $1.3 trillion.
At the forefront of this impressive cohort is Jay Chaudhry, the 66-year-old Indian-American cybersecurity pioneer and founder of Zscaler, who has been named the richest Indian-American immigrant in the United States. His net worth is estimated at $17.9 billion, placing him eighth overall on Forbes’ “America’s Richest Immigrants” list. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Chaudhry is the only Indian immigrant to secure a position in the top ten. His meteoric rise surpasses tech giants like Google’s Sundar Pichai and Microsoft’s Satya Nadella, who are ranked No. 119 and No. 120 respectively.
Chaudhry’s journey exemplifies the archetypal rags-to-riches narrative. Born in Panoh, a small village in Himachal Pradesh without electricity or running water until late in his childhood, he walked nearly 4 km daily to school under trees before pursuing higher education. He earned his bachelor’s degree at IIT (BHU) Varanasi, later moved to the U.S. to study industrial and computer engineering at the University of Cincinnati, and completed an executive program at Harvard. His entrepreneurial path began with startups like SecureIT in 1996, followed by CoreHarbor, CipherTrust, AirDefense—and finally Zscaler in 2008. Zscaler went public in March 2018, and Chaudhry and his family now control about 40% of the company.
Aside from Chaudhry, the other 11 Indian immigrants on the list are also notable self-made leaders, primarily in technology and finance, including familiar names like Vinod Khosla, Rakesh Gangwal, Romesh Wadhwani, Rajiv Jain, Kavitark Ram Shriram, Raj Sardana, David Paul, Nikesh Arora, Sundar Pichai, Satya Nadella, and Neerja Sethi. Together, their contributions reflect the dominance of two key sectors: of the 125 foreign-born billionaires, 53 amassed their wealth in tech, while 28 did so in finance. Of all immigrant billionaires, 93% are self-made, a stark contrast to the broader U.S. billionaire population, where inherited wealth is more common.
This wave of Indian-origin prosperity coincides with broader changes in global wealth distribution. The latest Hurun Global Rich List places India third worldwide in total billionaire count, behind only the U.S. and China, with 284 billionaires as of March 2025. Meanwhile, the U.S. leads with 870 billionaires and China follows with 823.
Forbes’ data, updated July 10, 2025, marks a pivotal moment in the narrative of immigrants reshaping American prosperity. Indian entrepreneurs are not just participants—they’re reshaping the landscape. With trailblazers like Chaudhry setting the standard, they illustrate the power of determination, innovation, and education. Their meteoric success stories fuel a multi-billion-dollar narrative, demonstrating how resourcefulness and grit can transform humble beginnings into global impact.
This shift isn’t just statistical; it’s symbolic. It testifies to the central role Indian-origin immigrants play in American innovation, reinforcing the U.S.’s image as a modern land of opportunity. As emerging talents and industries build on these foundations, the prominence of Indian tech and finance leaders—and their philanthropic echoes—will continue to define both the immigrants’ legacy and America’s growth story.
