Being born into the richest family in India is not just a matter of fate, but also a matter of responsibility.
The Ambani family is generally known to be glamorous but shot into the spotlight even more after the grand weddings within the family, which was attended by the who’s who of the world.
While these were family occasions to celebrate with pomp and show, in reality, each member of the Ambani family is entrusted with huge responsibilities as they shoulder the growth of one of the biggest conglomerates in the country.
Ambanis
Dhirubhai Ambani died in 2002 without leaving a clear succession plan. After the bickering between brothers Anil and Mukesh, their mother Kokilaben mediated and split the family-owned businesses between the two brothers.
Mukesh could take over the oil and chemical portion of the company and Anil could take over the electricity and telecom arm of the industries set up by their father.
This ‘sibling rivalry’, a lesson for all of posterity, is probably the main reason why roles and responsibilities of each member of the Ambani clan is clearly charted out in the current scheme of things. Surely the second generation of Ambani’s have it all better planned for the future.
Here’s a look at what responsibilities the Ambani kids handle, we’re talking about the offsprings of both Mukesh Ambani and Anil Ambani, even though one brother may be more successful than the other in the current scenario; we never know when the tide turns.
Mukesh Ambani and Nita Ambani are proud parents to three children— Isha Ambani, Akash Ambani, Anant Ambani.
India’s richest man and oil-to-telecom conglomerate Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani (R) and his wife Nita Ambani (2R) pose with their children (L-C) Akash Ambani, Anant Ambani and Isha Ambani as they arrive for the company’s 40th AGM in Mumbai on July 21, 2017. Indian oil-to-telecom conglomerate Reliance Industries’ first-quarter consolidated profit jumped 28 percent July 20, pumped up by higher margins from its core oil refining business, the group said, beating analyst estimates. / AFP PHOTO / INDRANIL MUKHERJEE (Photo credit should read INDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP via Getty Images)
Mukesh and Nita Ambani’s children
Isha Ambani
Born on 23rd October, 1991, Isha Ambani is the elder twin, hence the first born of Mukesh and Nita Ambani.
Isha completed her Masters in Business Administration from the Graduate School of Business in Stanford University and also holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and South Asian studies from Yale University.
Isha joined the family’s telecom and retail businesses — Jio and Reliance Retail — as director in 2014. She holds two board and advisory roles as Additional Director at Reliance Foundation and Director at Reliance Jio.
Her role in the conglomerate has expanded in the last two years as she was one of the lead negotiators with Facebook in its bid to acquire 9.99% stake in Jio Platforms. She and her twin Akash played a crucial role in the negotiation. It was Isha’s statement that was released by RIL when Reliance Retail Ventures acquired the retail, logistics and warehousing businesses of Future Group for Rs 24,713 crore.
She also spearheads the popular fashion portal Ajio and looks after the e-commerce venture JioMart as well. Most recently she set up the Reliance Arts Foundation.
She is married to Anand Piramal, executive director of the Piramal group.
Akash Ambani
The elder son of Mukesh Ambani, Isha’s twin, Akash Ambani is the Director and Head of Strategy and a member of the Executive Committee at Reliance Jio.
After completing his IB Diploma Programme from Dhirubhai Ambani International School (DAIS), Akash studied economics at the prestigious Brown University, in Providence, Rhode Island. Apart from the Executive Committee, Akash is part of the governing and operating body of Reliance Jio as well.
Akash and Isha were appointed to the board of directors soon after graduating college, and Akash already had some experience working for the telecom arm of Reliance in Mumbai. He was equally responsible for introducing the Jio 2 mobile phone along with Isha.
Akash’s main responsibilities include product development, messaging and chat development, and other digital services applications of Reliance Jio. Being a huge sports fan, he also handles the functioning of their cricket team in the Indian Premier League (IPL) team, the Mumbai Indians. He is also involved in the football counterpart of IPL, known as Indian Super League (ISL).
He is married to Shloka Mehta, the daughter of diamantaires Russell and Mona Mehta. Her parents own one of the world’s largest jewellery companies.
Anant Ambani
Born on April 10, 1995, the youngest son of Mukesh and Nita, Anant, is currently an Additional Director on the board of Jio Platforms. Being the youngest, his introduction into mainstream business has been more gradual as he takes on more key roles. He is being groomed to handle social roles of Reliance Industries. Like his brother Akash, Anant studied at Dhirubhai Ambani International School in Mumbai and then went on to do his graduation from Brown University in Rhode Island.
Among the three children, he has spent the most time at the company’s Jamnagar campus and has been involved in social activities with his mother.
As a child, Anant Ambani struggled with chronic asthma and due to the medication gained huge amounts of weight. He was later lauded for losing weight through a healthy lifestyle and strict diet in just 18 months. Ananth is known to be an avid animal lover and has many pets in his Antilia residence in Mumbai. In his speech at the 40th anniversary of Reliance’s listing, Anant stated that “serving the Reliance family is the most important mission of his life”.
Anil and Tina Ambani are proud parents to two sons being groomed to handle the future of the Reliance Group
Indian businessman Anil Ambani (2nd R) poses for photographs along with his wife and former Bollywood actress Tina Ambani (2nd L) and their sons, Anshul Ambani (R) and Anmol Ambani (L), as they arrive to attend the wedding ceremony of Akash Ambani, son of Indian Businessman Mukesh Ambani, in Mumbai on March 9, 2019. (Photo by SUJIT JAISWAL / AFP) (Photo by SUJIT JAISWAL/AFP via Getty Images)
Anil and Tina Ambani’s children
Jai Anmol Ambani
Born on 12 December 1991 (age 29 years), Jai Anmol is the eldest son of Anil and Tina Ambani. He studied at John Connon School in Mumbai and then moved to the UK to pursue further studies at the Warwick Business School.
He joined Reliance Group in 2014 with Reliance Mutual Fund and later joined the Reliance Capital Board in 2016. In October 2019, Jai Anmol, who already held executive director’s position at Reliance Capital, was appointed as Director of Reliance Infra along with his brother Jai Anshul.
Anmol continues to call the shots at Reliance Capital. In 2014, The Economic Times reported that Jai Anmol was actively involved in the ₹12,000-crore acquisition of Jaypee Associates’ power assets, as Reliance Capital CEO Sam Ghosh mentored him for a bigger role in the Reliance Group.
Anmol is known to love luxury cars and he has quite an impressive collection, including the Rolls-Royce Phantom to Lamborghini Gallardo, and even owns several private jets and helicopters.
He apparently shares a very close bond with his grandmother Kokilaben and and also with his cousins Isha, Akash and Anant, notwithstanding the former business rivalry of his father Anil and uncle Mukesh Ambani.
Jai Anshul Ambani
Born on September 7, 1996, Jai Anshul is the younger son of Anil and Tina Ambani and also the youngest of the Ambani clan.
He studied at the The Cathedral And John Connon School, and completed an international baccalaureate program at the American School and has a bachelor’s degree in business management from the Stern School of Business at New York University.
Not much is known about the responsibilities assigned Anshul at the moment, but he is being groomed for a life in business alongside his brother Jai Anmol.
That apart, Jai Anshul is said to be a devout Hindu with a deep sense and love of music. He also likes to collecting luxury cars and planes.