S. P. Hinduja facts for kids

Srichand Parmanand Hinduja (born November 28, 1935 – died May 17, 2023) was a very successful businessman. He was born in India and later became a British citizen. He was a big investor and also gave a lot of money to good causes.

Mr. Hinduja was the main owner and leader of the Hinduja Group of companies. This is a huge group of businesses. In 2022, he was known as one of the richest people in the UK. He was often listed among the wealthiest people in the UK and Asia.

Who Was S. P. Hinduja?

Srichand Parmanand Hinduja was born on November 28, 1935. His birthplace was Karachi, which was part of British India at the time. Today, Karachi is a big city in Pakistan.

He was the second son of Parmanand Deepchand Hinduja and Jamuna Parmanand Hinduja. He went to college in Mumbai, India. He studied at Davar's College of Commerce and R. D. National College.

S. P. Hinduja was known as a leader of the "fab four" alongside his younger brothers. These brothers were Gopichand, Prakash, and Ashok. Together, they built a very successful family business.

How Did His Business Career Begin?

S. P. Hinduja started working in his father's businesses. These businesses focused on textiles and trading. He worked in cities like Bombay (now Mumbai) in India and Tehran in Iran.

Early in his career, he had success selling food items. He sold things like onions and potatoes. He also sold iron ore from India to Iran. These early steps helped him learn a lot about business.

Growing the Hinduja Group

In the 1980s, the Hinduja Group grew much bigger. They bought two important companies. One was Ashok Leyland, which makes vehicles. The other was Gulf Oil, a large oil company.

In the 1990s, they also started banks. They opened banks in Switzerland and India. This made S. P. Hinduja one of India's most famous business leaders. He was known alongside other big business families.

In 2012, the Hinduja Group bought a US company called Houghton International. This company is a major maker of metal fluids. This purchase showed how much the group had grown.

What Was His Business Style?

S. P. Hinduja had a careful and smart way of doing business. He liked to invest in many different types of businesses. This is called being "diversified."

His businesses included many areas. These were oil and gas, banking, and technology. They also included real estate, energy, and media. This wide range of investments helped the Hinduja Group stay strong.

How Wealthy Was S. P. Hinduja?

In 2022, S. P. Hinduja was the richest person in the UK. His wealth was estimated to be around £28.5 billion. This information came from the Sunday Times Rich List.

In 2019, Forbes magazine also ranked him and his brother Gopichand. They were among the world's richest families. Their wealth was estimated at $16.9 billion. This made him one of the wealthiest people of Indian origin.

The Hinduja family home in London was also very valuable. It was located near Buckingham Palace. In 2013, it was estimated to be worth $500 million. This made it one of the most expensive private homes in the world.

S. P. Hinduja's Family Life

S. P. Hinduja was married to Madhu Srichand Hinduja. They had two daughters. He was a Sindhi Hindu, which is a group of people from the Sindh region.

One of his daughters, Vinoo Srichand Hinduja, is involved in healthcare. She is on the board of a hospital in Mumbai. This hospital is called the P.D. Hinduja National Hospital and Medical Research Centre.

S. P. Hinduja was a strict vegetarian. He was known for bringing his own vegetarian food to special events. This included banquets hosted by the Queen at Buckingham Palace.

His wife, Madhu, passed away in January 2023. S. P. Hinduja himself died in London on May 17, 2023. He was 87 years old. He had been ill for some time.