Forbes’ latest list of the world’s richest self-made billionaires under 40 highlights the growing influence of Indian-origin entrepreneurs in global technology and finance. The 2025 edition features 71 self-made billionaires aged 39 or younger, with four Indian-origin tech innovators making the top 40.
Leading the group is Ankur Jain, the founder and CEO of Bilt Rewards, a New York-based platform that lets renters earn loyalty points on rent payments. Jain, based in the United States, ranks 19th globally with an estimated net worth of $3.4 billion. Bilt Rewards, valued at $10.8 billion by private investors in mid-2025, follows Jain’s earlier success with Humin, a contact management app sold to Tinder in 2016.
Close behind is Nikhil Kamath, co-founder of Bengaluru-based discount brokerage Zerodha, ranked 20th globally with a net worth of $3.3 billion. Kamath serves as Zerodha’s CFO, while his brother Nithin Kamath is CEO. Founded in 2010, Zerodha has become one of India’s largest stockbroking platforms, with a valuation estimated at nearly $8 billion. Kamath is the sole India-based entrepreneur in the global top 40 under-40 list.
The other two Indian-origin entrepreneurs are Surya Midha and Adarsh Hiremath, cofounders of San Francisco–based AI recruiting startup Mercor, each with an estimated net worth of $2.2 billion, ranking 27th globally. Founded in 2023, Mercor supports AI labs in recruiting talent and training models and was valued at $10 billion by October 2025. Both Midha and Hiremath, aged 22, are among the youngest self-made billionaires globally and were named Thiel Fellows in 2024. Midha serves as chairman, while Hiremath is the company’s CTO.
The inclusion of these Indian and Indian-origin entrepreneurs reflects the rising prominence of fintech, AI, and rewards platforms in generating next-generation wealth, highlighting India’s growing role in the global technology and innovation landscape.
