Sri Lanka (Commonwealth Union)_ Sri Lankan business titan Ishara Nanayakkara has officially reached the ranks of South Asia’s richest people, with an estimated net worth of $1.6 billion. Nanayakkara, the chairman of LOLC Holdings, has established a diverse business empire that has elevated him to the ranks of the region’s most powerful economic leaders. Nanayakkara’s business interests include financial services, microfinance, insurance, agriculture, manufacturing, and the leisure industry. He has gradually expanded enterprises in Asia and Africa through LOLC Holdings and the Browns Group, which is now present in over ten countries. Under Nanayakkara’s leadership, LOLC has developed into Africa’s largest tea grower, which is a landmark achievement for a Sri Lankan multinational company operating globally.
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Nanayakkara’s recent ascent to global billionaire status now places him ahead of Dhammika Perera, long regarded as Sri Lanka’s richest man. This achievement recognizes not just Nanayakkara’s personal accomplishment but also the expanding regional presence of Sri Lankan businesses in the global economy. With India dominating South Asia’s billionaires list, Nanayakkara’s elevation brings a rare Sri Lankan entry to a list previously dominated by Indian and Pakistani business magnates. Across South Asia, a few names continue to stand out for their wealth and global impact. Here is a look at some of the region’s top business figures for 2025.
India: Mukesh Ambani – $118 Billion
Mukesh Ambani, chairman and managing director of Reliance Industries, is the most prominent figure on the list. Ambani remains South Asia’s wealthiest man, with an estimated fortune of $118 billion. His vast economic empire includes telecoms (Jio), oil, petrochemicals, and retailing. Reliance remains one of India’s largest and most important businesses, and Ambani’s wealth ranks among the world’s richest individuals.
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Pakistan: Shahid Khan – $13.5 Billion
Shahid Khan, a Pakistani-American billionaire, is often recognized as the richest person of Pakistani descent. Khan, who was born in Lahore but now lives in the United States, amassed his fortune through his auto parts firm, Flex-N-Gate. He also owns the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League and the Fulham Football Club in the United Kingdom. His net worth is roughly $13.5 billion. Mian Muhammad Mansha is Pakistan’s richest resident businessman, leading the Nishat Group, which invests in banking, textiles, and energy. His estimated net worth is about $3 billion.
Bangladesh: Mossa Bin Shamsher – $12 Billion
Mossa Bin Shamsher is a well-known and controversial figure in Bangladesh. He is well-known for his lavish lifestyle and political ties, and he claims a net worth of more than $12 billion, mostly from overseas business companies and armaments sales. However, the worldwide financial rankings have yet to confirm these figures. Shamsher is still a well-known name in Bangladeshi business circles.
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Nepal: Binod Chaudhary – $1.6 Billion
Binod Chaudhary, Nepal’s only billionaire, is well known for his famous Wai Wai noodle company. He serves as the CEO of the Chaudhary Group, which has a diverse portfolio of industries ranging from fast-moving consumer products and hotels to electronics and real estate. Owning a fortune of over $1.6 billion, Chaudhary has effectively built a local firm into an international conglomerate, positioning his name as one of Nepal’s most powerful businessmen.
All of these billionaires have built tremendous business enterprises in their own way. However, the fortune of Mukesh Ambani is incomparable. His wealth is ten times more than that of Shahid Khan and is bigger than the total net worth of South Asia’s other billionaires outside of India. Still, the addition of tycoons like Ishara Nanayakkara signals a slow but steady rise, as other nations in the region begin to make their mark on the global economic arena.
