Gopichand Hinduja, the billionaire industrialist who helped build the Hinduja Group into one of the world’s most diversified family conglomerates, has died in London aged 85 after a long illness. His passing marks a major moment for one of the most influential business families in Europe, India, and the global diaspora.
Hinduja — popularly known as “GP” — was co-chair of the Hinduja Group, whose multibillion-pound empire cuts across banking, oil, automotive manufacturing, commercial vehicles, real estate, and technology. The family’s net worth, estimated by the Sunday Times Rich List at £35.3 billion, consistently made the Hindujas the wealthiest family in the United Kingdom.
A Self-Made Empire Rooted in Global Trade
Born into a modest trading family in India and Iran, Gopichand Hinduja joined the family business in 1959. Alongside his elder brother Srichand, he transformed the group from a regional commodities operation into a powerful global conglomerate.
The two brothers relocated to London in the 1980s, using the city as a strategic base to expand globally. Srichand, the family patriarch, died in 2023.
Under Gopichand’s leadership, the group secured iconic assets and revitalised classic brands — from the acquisition of Gulf Oil in 1984 to the turnaround of Ashok Leyland, now one of India’s largest truck and bus manufacturers.
Legacy Projects: Luxury, Influence, and Global Reach
In 2023, the Hinduja Group opened its most high-profile real estate project to date: the £1.4 billion Old War Office (OWO) luxury hotel in London’s Whitehall. The restored landmark, once used by Winston Churchill, now charges £18,000–£25,000 a night for its most premium suites.
Gopichand Hinduja described the OWO as his “greatest legacy to London.”
Known for being vegetarian, teetotal, and deeply spiritual, he nonetheless cultivated a reputation for opulence. Jennifer Lopez famously performed at his son Sanjay’s elaborate wedding in Udaipur, Rajasthan.
Tributes From India’s Business and Political Elite
Messages of condolence poured in from across India and the diaspora.
Steel magnate and Indian MP Naveen Jindal praised Hinduja’s “remarkable leadership,” while Andhra Pradesh chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu — fresh from securing $2.3bn of investment commitments from the Hinduja Group — called him a “visionary industrialist.”
Naidu said Hinduja “was instrumental in transforming the group into a truly global conglomerate.”
Challenges and Controversy
The Hinduja name has faced scrutiny in recent years. In 2024, four family members — including Gopichand’s brother Prakash, chair of the group in Europe — were convicted by a Swiss court for exploiting domestic staff. The family is appealing, and the judgment is not final until all avenues of appeal are exhausted.
Nonetheless, Gopichand Hinduja remained widely respected across business circles and the international Indian community.
What Happens Next for the Hinduja Group?
Uncertainty surrounds succession at the top of the group. The youngest brother, Ashok Hinduja, currently oversees major operations in India, including Ashok Leyland and IndusInd Bank. Whether leadership will consolidate around him or shift to the next generation remains to be seen.
GP Hinduja is survived by his wife and three children.
