The head of Britain's richest family, Gopichand Hinduja, has died aged 85.
Known as GP, Mr. Hinduja and his family accumulated wealth through the Indian conglomerate Hinduja Group, encompassing operations in sectors such as finance, media, entertainment, and oil. The conglomerate boasts a workforce of about 200,000 globally.
The family expressed in a statement: He will leave a deep hole at the heart of our family, adding that he would be remembered for his formidable work.
Mr. Hinduja was instrumental in transforming his father's small textile and trading businesses into a global powerhouse and one of India's largest companies. His family's wealth recently placed them at the top of the Sunday Times Rich List, with a reported net worth of £35.3 billion, ranking them 11th on Forbes' list of India's 100 richest in 2024.
As the second eldest of four brothers managing the business, Mr. Hinduja's passing leaves uncertainty about future leadership, particularly after the oldest brother, Srichand, passed away in 2023 at 87. The youngest brother, Ashok, currently manages operations in India, including the truck manufacturer Ashok Leyland.
The Hinduja family holds substantial real estate assets in London, including several prestigious properties near St James's Park and the Old War Office, which is undergoing refurbishment into a hotel.
Though Mr. Hinduja maintained a low profile, he was involved in the controversial Hinduja affair in 2001, leading to the resignation of Lord Peter Mandelson as an MP after correspondence related to British citizenship for Mr. Hinduja's brother, Prakash. Subsequently, Mr. Mandelson was cleared of any wrongdoing.
Last year, Prakash and his family faced legal issues in Switzerland, being convicted for exploiting domestic staff in their Geneva residence.
