Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) is one of the largest and most diversified business conglomerates in India, with interests in sectors such as energy, petrochemicals, telecommunications, retail, media, and digital services. The company was founded by the late Dhirubhai Ambani, who started his journey as a small trader and went on to build an empire that made him one of the richest men in the country.Today, RIL is led by his elder son, Mukesh Ambani, who is also the richest person in India and among the top 10 in the world, according to Forbes.
Mukesh Ambani and his private firms held 47.29% stake in RIL as of June 30, 2019, which increased to 48.87% after a scheme of arrangement in September 2019. According to Business Times, he personally owns 75 lakh or 0.12% of shares. His younger brother, Anil Ambani, who heads the Reliance Group, has no direct stake in RIL, as the brothers split the family business in 2005 after a bitter feud. Mukesh Ambani’s wife, Nita Ambani, is the founder and chairperson of Reliance Foundation, the philanthropic arm of RIL, and also a director on the board of Reliance Industries. She too owns 0.12% stake in RIL, as per the latest shareholding pattern.
Mukesh Ambani’s three children, Akash, Isha, and Anant, are also involved in various businesses and initiatives of RIL. Akash and Isha are the directors of Reliance Jio Infocomm, the telecom subsidiary of RIL, which has revolutionized the Indian mobile market with its affordable and high-speed data services. Anant is a director of Reliance Retail Ventures, the retail arm of RIL, which operates the largest network of stores in India. All three of them hold 0.12% stake each in RIL.

However, the Ambani family member who owns the most shares in RIL is not Mukesh, Nita, or any of the children. It is none other than Kokilaben Ambani, the widow of Dhirubhai Ambani and the mother of Mukesh and Anil, matriarch of the Ambani family. Kokilaben Ambani owns a 0.24% stake in RIL which translates to 1.57 cr shares, as per the latest shareholding pattern. This makes her the largest individual shareholder in the company, after her son Mukesh.
Although Kokilaben Ambani does not directly oversee the daily operations of the family business, her influence within the Ambani dynasty cannot be overstated. In a pivotal moment in 2005, she played a crucial role in mediating a dispute between her sons, overseeing the division of the Reliance empire alongside her close confidant, business tycoon K.V. Kamath. Beyond her involvement in business matters, Kokilaben is revered as a symbol of strength, compassion, and resilience in Indian society. Her significant contributions to business, philanthropy, and culture have earned her numerous awards and accolades, solidifying her legacy as a prominent figure in both familial and societal realms.
While Kokilaben Ambani’s net worth remains undisclosed due to her preference for a low profile and limited involvement in RIL’s business operations, it’s widely presumed to be substantial. Given the extensive wealth and business holdings of the Ambani family, some media reports suggest her net worth could be approximately Rs 18,000 crore.
Kokilaben Ambani’s legacy extends far beyond her shareholding in RIL. She is the pillar of the Ambani family, and the custodian of the values and vision of her late husband, Dhirubhai Ambani. She is also an inspiration to millions of Indians, who admire her for her grace, dignity, and generosity.
Disclaimer: The story has been curated on public demand and has inputs from various media sources.