Gautam Adani, the chairman of the Adani Group and currently India’s second-richest individual, received a total remuneration of ₹10.41 crore for the financial year 2024–25, according to filings from two listed Adani Group companies. This marks a 12% increase from his ₹9.26 crore salary in the previous fiscal year.
Two Entities Account for Entire Compensation
Adani’s total compensation came from only two of the ten listed entities in the group, Adani Enterprises and Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ). From Adani Enterprises, Adani drew a salary of ₹2.26 crore and allowances worth ₹28 lakh, totaling ₹2.54 crore. Meanwhile, from Adani Ports, he earned a salary of ₹1.8 crore and a performance-based commission of ₹6.07 crore, summing up to ₹7.87 crore.
Net Worth and Global Ranking
Gautam Adani’s net worth is currently estimated at ₹5.75 lakh crore, positioning him as the 24th richest person globally. In contrast, Mukesh Ambani, Chairman of Reliance Industries and India’s richest person, holds the 16th spot worldwide.
Ambani Continues to Forgo Salary
Mukesh Ambani has not drawn any salary from Reliance Industries for the past four financial years, having waived his remuneration during the COVID-19 pandemic (FY2020–21) and continuing the practice since.
The Global Perspective: Indian-Origin CEO Tops Salary Charts
In a striking comparison, Indian-origin executive Jagdeep Singh, founder and former CEO of US-based battery startup QuantumScape, was the highest-paid employee globally, with an annual compensation of $2.3 billion (approx. ₹17,500 crore). This equates to a staggering ₹48 crore (approximately $5.8 million) per day.
Gautam Adani’s calculated salary structure signals a leadership approach rooted in performance-linked accountability and financial discipline. Drawing compensation from only two of the ten listed Adani Group entities, despite overseeing one of India’s most expansive infrastructure empire, underscores a governance model focused on strategic restraint.
In an era when corporate executives are under greater oversight, the compensation of Adani demonstrates faith in the Group’s revitalized growth momentum, investor trust, and a more general interest in linking leadership compensation to sustained value creation.
Also Read: PM Modi Inaugurates First Phase of Adani Vizhinjam Seaport
