Gopichand Hinduja, the billionaire leader of one of Britain’s wealthiest families, has passed away at the age of 85. He died on Tuesday in London following a prolonged illness, as reported by a family spokesperson.
The Hinduja family, known for their low profile, was listed as the richest in the Sunday Times Rich List for 2023, with a combined net worth of £35.3 billion. Their wealth stems from a diverse range of business interests, including banking, oil, real estate, and entertainment. Gopichand, often referred to as “GP,” co-led the family business alongside his elder brother Srichand, who also died earlier in 2023.
Originally from India, the brothers relocated to London in the 1970s, where they expanded the Hinduja Group, which now employs over 150,000 people globally. Major expansions included the acquisition of the Ashok Leyland group in 1987, and the purchase of Gulf Oil from Chevron in the 1980s.
Hinduja faced controversy in 2001 when it was revealed that he sought assistance from then-government minister Peter Mandelson regarding a UK passport for his brother Prakash. Additionally, the brothers contributed £1 million to the Millennium Dome project in London, which was under Mandelson’s supervision at that time.
The family legacy began with their father, Parmanand, who started trading carpets, tea, and spices in what is now Pakistan in 1914 before moving the business to Iran. The family’s London residence is an 18th-century mansion on Carlton House Terrace, near Buckingham Palace, and their property investments include the historic Old War Office building, which has been converted into a luxury development.
Despite plans for the Old War Office to include affordable housing, Westminster city council permitted its development without such provisions, citing economic feasibility concerns. Gopichand Hinduja is survived by his wife, Sunita, their two sons, Sanjay and Dheeraj, and their daughter, Rita.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/nov/04/gopichand-hinduja-dies