Jay Chaudhry Crowned Richest Indian-American
Heading the list of Indian-American billionaires is Jay Chaudhry, CEO and founder of cybersecurity powerhouse Zscaler. With an estimated net worth of $17.9 billion, Chaudhry is now the richest Indian-American living in the United States. His journey is emblematic of the classic immigrant success story—born in a small village in Himachal Pradesh, India, Chaudhry moved to the US for his education and later became a major force in Silicon Valley. He founded Zscaler in 2008, and today it stands as one of the most influential cybersecurity firms globally. Chaudhry’s leadership and vision have propelled the company into the Fortune 500, reflecting his strategic prowess and the booming demand for cybersecurity in the digital age.
India Leads in Billionaire Immigrants to the US
India has emerged as the leading country of origin for immigrant billionaires in the United States, overtaking China, Israel, and Canada, according to Forbes’ “America’s Richest Immigrants 2025” list. This development marks a major milestone in global wealth trends, with Indian-origin billionaires making significant strides in the American economy. As of 2025, India accounts for 12 billionaire immigrants in the US, surpassing Israel and Taiwan, which each have 11. China, previously ahead of India, now trails with eight immigrant billionaires. In 2022, India was on par with China, each having seven. This substantial increase underlines the growing economic influence of the Indian diaspora in the United States, especially in industries like technology, finance, and healthcare.
Indian-Origin Billionaires on the Rise
Jay Chaudhry is not alone in representing Indian excellence in the American billionaire club. The Forbes list also features Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet (Google’s parent company), and Vinod Khosla, founder of Khosla Ventures and co-founder of Sun Microsystems. These tech leaders exemplify the dominance of Indian-origin individuals in America’s innovation-driven sectors. Between 2022 and 2025, the number of Indian-born billionaires in the US grew from seven to 12—a 70% increase. Their growing presence is not just a testament to their personal achievements, but also to the increasing role of Indian immigrants in shaping America’s future, particularly in the fields of technology, venture capital, and entrepreneurship.
Immigrant Billionaires Hold $1.3 Trillion in US Wealth
Forbes highlights that immigrant billionaires now represent a significant portion of the United States’ economic elite. The 2025 list includes 125 foreign-born billionaires who currently reside in the US, a sharp rise from 92 in 2022. Collectively, these individuals possess a staggering $1.3 trillion in wealth, accounting for 18% of America’s total billionaire net worth, which stands at $7.2 trillion. These billionaires come from 43 countries and make up roughly 14% of the nearly 900 billionaires in the US. Their contributions span sectors including technology, healthcare, real estate, and finance—demonstrating the breadth of immigrant impact on the US economy.
Elon Musk and Sergey Brin Top the Immigrant List
While Indian-Americans are steadily rising in billionaire ranks, the richest immigrant in the US remains Elon Musk. Born in South Africa, Musk came to the US via Canada and went on to build multiple high-impact companies, including Tesla and SpaceX. He currently holds a net worth approaching $400 billion, making him both the richest immigrant and the richest person in the world. Sergey Brin, co-founder of Google, is second on the immigrant billionaire list, with a fortune estimated at $139.7 billion. Originally from Russia, Brin’s wealth and impact also reflect the importance of immigrant entrepreneurship in the American tech industry. Notably, three of the ten richest people in America today are immigrants.
A Record-Breaking Year for Immigrant Wealth
The 2025 edition of Forbes’ list marks a record-breaking year in terms of immigrant wealth in the United States. The growing number of billionaire immigrants reflects global talent gravitating to the US for opportunity, innovation, and investment. The rise of Indian-origin billionaires, in particular, showcases the success of immigrants who leverage education and entrepreneurial drive to achieve immense financial success. This wave of wealth generation underscores the role of the US as a magnet for ambitious minds from around the world and cements the contribution of immigrants in shaping America’s economic future.
