Hello friends! If you have a curiosity about how much Sunil Mittal net worth is and how a self-made billionaire built his business empire, then you are in the right place. I have always loved rags-to-riches stories, and Sunil Mittal’s story is inspiring. Starting from a small loan to making a telecom giant like Airtel – this is a story of hard work, vision and never-give-up spirit.
Let’s explore the important chapters of Sunil Mittal’s life one by one
Who Is Sunil Mittal? A Quick Bio
Sunil Bharti Mittal was born on 23 October 1957 in Ludhiana (Punjab). His father, Sat Pal Mittal, was an MP from the Congress Party. Sunil studied at Wynberg Allen School in Mussoorie and Scindia School in Gwalior, and graduated in Economics & Political Science from Panjab University, Chandigarh in 1976.
The most inspiring thing is that their journey starts with humble beginnings. At the age of just 18, he borrowed ₹20,000 from his father and started making crankshafts of bicycles. This small step became the foundation of today’s billion-dollar empire.
Sunil Bharti Mittal is the founder & chairman of Bharti Enterprises – which covers insurance, real estate, education and other sectors apart from telecom.
Sunil Mittal’s Early Ventures
In the 1980s, Sunil and his brother Rakesh & Rajan started the Bharti Overseas Trading Company, which imports goods from Japan and generators. But in 1983, the government ban reversed everything.
During a Taiwan trip, Sunil saw push-button phones that were not available in India at that time. In 1984, he created Bharti Telecom Limited (BTL) and manufactured modern phones with Siemens under the “Beetel” brand.
With fax machines and cordless phones, he created his own and set the groundwork for telecom.
The Rise of Bharti Airtel: A Telecom Revolution
In 1992, Sunil Mittal applied for a telecom license. In 1995, AirTel was launched in Delhi – and by 1997 he added 20 lakh subscribers, which was a record for India.
Later he made calling affordable by downing STD/ISD rates – remember ‘IndiaOne’? Then take big steps at the global level as well:
• In 2008, he tried to acquire MTN (deal failed).
• In 2010, he bought Zain Africa telecom business for $10.7 billion.
• By 2013, Airtel also became a big name in Africa.
At the time of Jio’s competition (2016-17), Sunil Mittal revamped Airtel and took a bold move by ending roaming charges.
Today Airtel is in 18 countries, serves 399 million customers and generated $18 billion in revenue in FY2023.
Sunil Mittal Net Worth 2025
Now the part that everyone is waiting for – Sunil Mittal ki net worth.
• By October 2024, Forbes had ranked him 7th in India’s 100 richest, with a net worth of $30.7 billion.
• But now his and his family’s rank has gone even higher – 4th richest in India!
• His net worth in 2023 was $14.8 billion.
• $30.7 billion in 2024 (7th richest).
• And now he is ranked 4th in 2025.
The monthly income is estimated to be around ₹2.71 crore.
This jump has happened due to the diversification of Bharti Enterprises and the strong growth of Airtel.
Philanthropy: Bharti Foundation Ke Through Giving Back
For Sunil Mittal, business as well as social impact is equally important. Through Bharti Foundation, he has done a lot of work in rural education and sanitation.
• Satya Bharti School Program: 254 free schools, in 6 states, free education, books, uniforms and meals to 45,000 rural children.
• In 2017, the Mittal family pledged 10% (₹70 billion) of their wealth to Satya Bharti University, where deserving students will get free education.
Family Life
Sunil Mittal’s wife is Nyna Mittal. They have 3 children:
• Eeesha Bharti Pasricha – Lifestyle investor in London.
• Kavin Bharti Mittal – Founder & CEO of Hike Messenger.
• Shrvin Bharti Mittal – Founder of Unbound (London VC firm), and director of Bharti Global Ltd.
Shravin has also worked in Airtel and played a big role in the acquisition of OneWeb.
Awards & Recognition
Sunil Mittal received huge awards for his contribution:
• Padma Bhushan (2007)
• Asia Businessman of the Year (2006, Fortune)
• Philanthropist of the Year (2010, The Asian Awards)
• Business Leader of the Year (2022, ET Awards)
• Honorary KBE (2024, UK) for India-UK business ties
Challenges & Controversies
His journey was not always smooth.
• In 2013, he was summoned to the court in the case of airwave allocation, but the charges were not proved.
• MTN deal failed, Walmart tie-up is also not fully successful.
Par Sunil Mittal always made a comeback – Zain Africa acquisition and Airtel ka Jio ke against fight is proof of this.
Why Sunil Mittal Is An Inspiration For All Of Us
Sunil Mittal’s story is inspiring – a journey from a small bicycle parts shop to a $30+ billion global telecom empire. Today he is the 4th richest person in India, and is brightening the future of thousands of children through Bharti Foundation.
His journey is a lesson that with vision, risk-taking and hard work, anyone can become their dream empire.
Sunil Mittal’s story shows how vision and hard work can create billion-dollar empires. If you’re passionate about building your own business, check out our [ Business Page ] for more insights.
Sipun Pradhan is the founder & editor at Newz Express, covering the latest tech and auto news in India
