Mukesh Ambani draws zero salary for 5th year, earns over Rs 3,600 crore in dividends

Mukesh Ambani, Asia's richest man and the Chairman of Reliance Industries, has once again drawn zero salary from the company for the fifth consecutive year. 

As per Reliance’s FY25 annual report, Ambani, 68, continues to keep his promise of foregoing remuneration until the company fully recovers from the economic disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

While Ambani hasn’t taken home a rupee in salary, allowances, or retirement benefits since 2020-21, his earnings remain robust thanks to dividends. Holding 1.61 crore shares in Reliance, Ambani earned Rs 8.85 crore in personal dividend income this year. 

The promoter group firms under his control—which own over 664.5 crore shares (50.07%)—earned a staggering Rs 3,655 crore in dividend payouts, making it the primary source of income for the billionaire whose net worth is just under $100 billion.

Reliance Boardroom: Numbers and Names

Ambani’s cousins, Nikhil and Hital Meswani, received slightly lower remuneration this year, at Rs 25 crore each. Executive Director P M S Prasad’s earnings rose to Rs 19.96 crore. Ambani’s children, Isha, Akash, and Anant, received modest sitting fees and commissions, with Anant now set to draw a salary of Rs 10–20 crore annually as an executive director.

Notable non-executive board members include Arundhati Bhattacharya, K V Kamath, and Yasir Al Rumayyan, each receiving Rs 2.25 crore in commission.

Mukesh Ambani continues to set a rare example in corporate India, prioritizing moderation over opulence. While he draws no salary, the dividend stream ensures that India’s most powerful businessman remains among the world’s wealthiest, all while projecting restraint in executive compensation.