Deepinder Goyal Tops India’s Self-Made Entrepreneurs List

In a remarkable turn of events, Deepinder Goyal, the CEO of Zomato and District parent company Eternal, has emerged as India's top self-made entrepreneur, surpassing the well-established Radhakishan Damani, founder of DMart. This shift highlights the increasing prominence of tech-driven startups within India's entrepreneurial landscape.

The rankings were released in the third edition of the India’s Top 200 Self-made Entrepreneurs of the Millennia 2025 list by IDFC FIRST Private Banking and Hurun India. The total valuation of these entrepreneurs soared to ₹42 lakh crore, reflecting a significant increase from ₹36 lakh crore earlier. Their combined business value now stands at $469 billion, showcasing the growing influence of younger companies compared to legacy firms.

Among the top list, aviation entrepreneurs Rahul Bhatia and Rakesh Gangwal of IndiGo ranked third, with a market capitalization of ₹2.19 lakh crore. Following them was Abhay Soi of Max Healthcare at fourth place, showing the diverse sectors represented. Interestingly, the top five included founders from food delivery, healthcare, and travel, indicating a broad range of innovation.

Notably, the rise of self-made entrepreneurs is a recent phenomenon, with many companies founded within the last 25 years. Hurun List founder Anas Rahman Junaid pointed out that five companies founded after 2020 are now valued at ₹78,000 crore. This reflects a rapid evolution in the market dynamics.

Sector-wise, financial services led the rankings with 47 firms, followed by software and services with 28, and healthcare with 27. The youngest entrepreneurs on the list, Zepto’s Kaivalya Vohra and Aadit Palicha, are just 22 and 23 years old respectively, while the most experienced is 82-year-old Ashok Soota.

Eternal saw the largest valuation increase in the list, rising by ₹68,000 crore to ₹3.20 lakh crore. This indicates that newer companies are gaining ground against established players. Meanwhile, female entrepreneurs are also making their mark, with Falguni and Adwaita Nayar of Nykaa leading the self-made women entrepreneurs.

Overall, these rankings exemplify a new era in India's economic landscape, where tech-driven startups are not only thriving but also reshaping the traditional business environment.