Gopichand Hinduja, the patriarch of Britain's wealthiest family, has left an indelible mark on the business world with his passing at the age of 85. The news of his demise was confirmed by a spokesperson, who revealed that he had been battling illness for some time before succumbing to his fate.
As the chief executive of the Hinduja Group, one of Britain's most successful and influential families, Gopichand played a pivotal role in building the family empire into its current form. Alongside his brother Srichand, who sadly passed away last year, he co-chaired the business, which boasts a staggering collective net worth of £35.3 billion.
The Hinduja Group's diverse portfolio spans banking, oil, real estate, and entertainment, with operations spanning across 150,000 employees worldwide. Their ascent to the top was facilitated by strategic acquisitions, including the purchase of Ashok Leyland in 1987 and Gulf Oil from Chevron in the 1980s.
However, Gopichand's tenure was not without controversy. In 2001, he faced criticism for his role in securing a UK passport for his brother Prakash, which led to heated debates about the use of influence and privilege.
On a lighter note, the Hinduja family has long been associated with philanthropy, donating £1 million to the Millennium Dome project in London, a project that was overseen by Peter Mandelson at the time. Their business interests also extend to historic buildings, including their prized property on Carlton House Terrace, an 18th-century mansion overlooking St James's Park.
Despite their immense wealth and influence, the Hinduja family remains relatively low-key, with Gopichand preferring to keep a low profile until his passing. He is survived by his wife Sunita, two sons Sanjay and Dheeraj, and daughter Rita.
As the chief executive of the Hinduja Group, one of Britain's most successful and influential families, Gopichand played a pivotal role in building the family empire into its current form. Alongside his brother Srichand, who sadly passed away last year, he co-chaired the business, which boasts a staggering collective net worth of £35.3 billion.
The Hinduja Group's diverse portfolio spans banking, oil, real estate, and entertainment, with operations spanning across 150,000 employees worldwide. Their ascent to the top was facilitated by strategic acquisitions, including the purchase of Ashok Leyland in 1987 and Gulf Oil from Chevron in the 1980s.
However, Gopichand's tenure was not without controversy. In 2001, he faced criticism for his role in securing a UK passport for his brother Prakash, which led to heated debates about the use of influence and privilege.
On a lighter note, the Hinduja family has long been associated with philanthropy, donating £1 million to the Millennium Dome project in London, a project that was overseen by Peter Mandelson at the time. Their business interests also extend to historic buildings, including their prized property on Carlton House Terrace, an 18th-century mansion overlooking St James's Park.
Despite their immense wealth and influence, the Hinduja family remains relatively low-key, with Gopichand preferring to keep a low profile until his passing. He is survived by his wife Sunita, two sons Sanjay and Dheeraj, and daughter Rita.
. Can you believe he lived to be 85? I mean, that's old-school wealth 
. My grandma was still working at the bakery when he started building his empire. Crazy to think how much power and influence comes with having a family business like that. He should've been more careful about those passport drama things 
... who knew it could spark controversy like that?
Like, on one hand, it's impressive what they've built from scratch, but on the other hand, that whole passport thing is still a bit shady. But hey, at least they're donating to good causes, right? I mean, £1 million to the Millennium Dome project is no joke! And can we talk about how they maintain their private life while being super influential in business? It's like they're living in a different world, you know? 
, always pushing boundaries & making deals that changed the game 
. people might say he got ahead through connections, but I think that's just part of doing business, right? 
his philanthropic efforts are pretty cool too - £1 million for the Millennium Dome is no joke 
. and let's not forget those historic buildings... the Hinduja family really knows how to live large 
. Love how he kept his profile low despite being part of one of Britain's wealthiest families 
. Still, it's crazy to think about his influence on building the group into what it is today 
.
I'm telling you, there's more to this story than meets the eye. And that £1 million donation to the Millennium Dome project? That's gotta be a PR stunt, right? All those cameras watching Peter Mandelson at work, what if Gopichand was manipulating him all along? 
They're not your average, loud-mouthed rich folk. Plus, their philanthropy efforts are pretty admirable - £1 million for the Millennium Dome project? That's some serious cash 
.
... so sad that the patriarch of Britain's wealthiest family has passed away at 85 
. I mean, can you believe it? £35.3 billion worth of businesses under one guy's leadership is crazy 
.
. Anyways, my condolences to the Hinduja family 
- may they find peace and keep pushing their philanthropic efforts forward 
.
. his legacy will live on through the business empire he built, though - £35 billion is no joke! 
. I do gotta say though, that whole passport controversy thing... yeah, it's wild how some of these rich guys think they can just buy their way into the system 
. I mean, donating £1 million to the Millennium Dome project? That's some next-level charity work 
. And with a collective net worth of £35.3 billion? That's just straight-up nuts 
especially with that ashok leyland deal, who would've thought the hinduja family would own one of india's biggest car makers? 
anyway, the family has always been super private so we rarely get to see behind those closed doors 
but it's clear they've made their mark on british business and beyond 
. like what's up with that passport thing? using your influence to get your bro a UK pass? not cool, not cool at all 
.
rich fam gets richer n nobody cares bout da drama they brought to da table... thinkin he's a saint just 'cause his family donates to charity? please, da man had some major skeletons in his closet 
da passport scandal still gives me life 
The Hinduja family's legacy lives on, but it's sad to see Gopichand go 
! The fact that they've kept a low profile all these years is pretty cool too 
. Sunita and the kids will definitely miss him 
. RIP Gopichand Hinduja