India has seen a remarkable wealth boom in 2024 and is on its way to becoming one of the major constituents when the story of global wealth creation is put into perspective. Indian women, on the other hand, are breaking barriers and have defied all odds related to gender bias by building successful businesses across various sectors where conventional wisdom said only men could succeed. They not only created successful ventures across sectors like biotech, cosmetics, and technology but also laid down the path for upcoming female entrepreneurs after having undertaken journeys during 2024 that showcased their creativity, resilience, and vision due to which they stand as household names inspiring many others to follow their footsteps.
Following is the list of top 5 self-made women billionaires 2024, who are shattering stereotypes, creating new opportunities and achieving unheard-of success in India's entrepreneurial scenario.
Radha Vembu
With a net worth of ₹47,500 crores Radha Vembu is one of India's most successful entrepreneurs as CEO and owner of Zoho. She completed a graduate degree in Industrial Management at IIT Madras and is the sister of Sridhar Vembu (Zoho's Co-founder & CEO). She happens to be on the board of Corpus Foundation, product manager at Zoho Mail, and the largest owner at Zoho. Her leadership and strategic vision have helped in a big way to make Zoho one of the world's top IT sector players, and her achievements have put her right at the very top amongst India's self-made women billionaires. Radha Vembu is married and lives in Chennai. She was born in 1972 in Chennai and had her early education at National Higher Secondary School, Chennai.
Jayshree Ullal
Arista Networks' President & CEO – Jayshree Ullal did play a role in making this company the market leader it is today in cloud networking solutions. This has considerably added to her net worth since Arista Networks is one of the strongest IT players under her stewardship. She took the company from nowhere to multibillion-dollar levels by leading it to a landmark and successful IPO in June 2014. Previously, Jayshree had been Senior Vice President at Cisco, where she was responsible for a $10 billion data-center, switching, and services division. More than 40 years of experience earned her many awards during her career in networking. Jayshree holds an M.S. in engineering management and a B.S. in electrical engineering; additionally, she received the SFSU and SCU Distinguished Alumni Awards in 2013 and 2016.
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw
The creator and chair of Biocon, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, is a trailblazer in the biotechnology sector. She has gained international acclaim for her work in turning Biocon into one of India's top biotech companies, and she is still paving the way for innovative healthcare practices.
With more than 40 years of expertise in biotechnology, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw is a first-generation entrepreneur and prominent figure in international business. She began her biotech career in 1978 from her garage in India, driven by her enthusiasm. These days, that quest is improving people's lives all throughout the world. She is recognized as a unique thinker who has achieved several firsts. Under her direction, Biocon fulfills its commitment to providing millions of patients globally with inexpensive and easily accessible pharmaceuticals.
Falguni Nayar
As is often claimed, business flows in the blood of Gujarati’s. Falguni Nayar had a good understanding of this quality shared by her society and ancestors. She watched her father manage a bearing firm when she was a little girl. She was amazed and motivated by the business and commercial worlds. She attended the Sydenham College of Commerce and Economics to get her bachelor's degree in commerce. She later attended the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad to get her Master's degree.
Former investment banker Falguni Nayar established Nykaa, an online store with a focus on health and beauty items. Nykaa's innovative business strategy and Nayar's inspiring leadership have allowed the firm to grow into one of India's most successful online beauty stores, catapulting Nayar into the billionaire club.
Juhi Chawla
Bollywood actress Juhi Chawla has made a profitable foray into the sports industry as a co-owner of the cricket side Kolkata Knight Riders. Her fortune has increased dramatically as a result of the team's success in the Indian Premier League (IPL), making her one of the richest women in India. Juhi was born in the Chawla family on November 13, 1967, in Ludhiana, Punjab, India, as the daughter of Dr. S. Chawla, a Punjabi speaker, and Mona, a Gujarati speaker. After finishing school in Ludhiana, the Chawla family relocated to Bombay, Maharashtra, India, where Juhi attended Sydenham College. After graduation, she competed in the Miss India pageant and was named 'Miss India 1984', succeeding Miss India 1983, Rekha Hande.
