Gopichand Hinduja, the head of Britain's richest family and leader of the global Hinduja Group conglomerate, has died in London at the age of 85. The British-Indian business magnate passed away on Tuesday, leaving behind a business empire employing around 200,000 people worldwide.
The Hinduja family ranks as Britain's wealthiest with a fortune of £35.3 billion, according to The Sunday Times rich list. The Mumbai-based Hinduja Group spans banking, finance, media, entertainment and energy, with significant London real estate holdings including properties near St James's Park and the Old War Office.
Family legacy uncertain
The family released a statement expressing their grief. «He will leave a deep hole at the heart of our family,» they said. «He will also be remembered for his formidable work.» The question of succession leadership for the Hinduja Group remains open following Gopichand's death.
Gopichand, known as "GP", was the second-eldest of four brothers who jointly controlled the conglomerate. His older brother Srichand died in 2023 at 87, while younger brother Ashok continues to run operations across India including Ashok Leyland.
The industrialist largely stayed out of the public eye but was involved in the 2001 "Hinduja Affair". The controversy centered on a UK passport application for his brother Prakash, linked to a £1 million donation from the Hinduja Foundation to the Millennium Dome. The incident led to the resignation of Lord Peter Mandelson as an MP, though Mandelson was later cleared of wrongdoing.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
