Savitri Jindal, the matriarch of India’s powerful Jindal family and the country’s richest woman, witnessed an $846 million increase in her net worth on Monday, fueled by a sharp rise in the share price of Jindal Steel & Power Ltd (JSPL). The uptick brings her real-time wealth to $37.1 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, placing her at number 40 globally.

Although she no longer manages day-to-day business operations, Savitri Jindal, now 74, remains a symbolic figurehead and a key shareholder in the sprawling conglomerate founded by her late husband, Om Prakash Jindal. The fortune she oversees is deeply interwoven with the performance of the Jindal Group’s multiple listed entities, and Monday’s surge reflects investor confidence in the group’s long-term trajectory.

The Rise of a Steel Dynasty

The Jindal empire traces its roots back to Om Prakash Jindal, an industrialist who began with a small business and grew it into one of India’s most formidable corporate families. After his untimely death in a helicopter crash in 2005, the vast business was divided among the couple’s four sons — each of whom took charge of a different branch of the conglomerate.

Today, Sajjan Jindal, the eldest and perhaps most high-profile son, leads JSW Group from Mumbai. Under his stewardship, the group has transformed into a global player with interests spanning steel, cement, energy, and paints. JSW Steel, in particular, ranks among India’s top steel manufacturers.

In a strategic move that emphasized the group’s evolving focus, Sajjan Jindal oversaw the initial public offering (IPO) of JSW Infrastructure in 2023, solidifying the company’s status in the logistics and port operations sector. Additionally, in March 2024, he entered into a joint venture with British auto manufacturer MG Motor to co-develop electric vehicles, highlighting the group’s ambition to tap into sustainable technologies and future mobility solutions.

Naveen Jindal’s Role and JSPL’s Performance

The catalyst for Monday’s spike in Savitri Jindal’s net worth was Jindal Steel & Power Ltd (JSPL), managed by her younger son Naveen Jindal. Headquartered in New Delhi, JSPL stands as India’s third-largest private steel producer by output and is the only private entity in the country to manufacture rail tracks—a key asset in a nation with expanding rail infrastructure plans.

On Monday, JSPL’s stock rose 2.47%, closing at ₹903.50 per share, driven by strong market sentiment and optimism regarding India’s infrastructure expansion under government direction. The company’s solid fundamentals further bolstered investor confidence. For the 2024 fiscal year, JSPL reported revenues of ₹501.8 billion (approximately $6.3 billion) and maintained a workforce of nearly 6,000 employees.

Adding intrigue to the business developments, Naveen Jindal recently made a political shift, leaving the Indian National Congress and joining the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in March 2025. His decision has sparked speculation that JSPL may benefit from friendlier policy winds, especially as the government pushes forward with infrastructure projects in transport, logistics, and rail development.

The Jindal Group’s Diverse Footprint

Though the original Jindal empire has been divided among the four sons, the family’s combined footprint remains vast. Their holdings span across:

• Steel production

• Thermal and renewable power generation

• Cement manufacturing

• Paints and coatings

• Port logistics and infrastructure

Each sibling operates their own corporate arm with a level of autonomy, but they all owe their initial capital, networks, and industrial know-how to the legacy created by O.P. Jindal. Even though Savitri Jindal plays no operational role, her position as chair of the Jindal Group ensures she remains an influential figure in shaping the family’s broader financial direction.

The Matriarch’s Resilience and Symbolic Power

Savitri Jindal’s influence extends beyond her balance sheet. After her husband’s death, she took on the mantle of family leadership during a period of major transition. Under her guidance, the division of business responsibilities among the sons occurred smoothly, helping prevent internal disputes that often plague large family-owned conglomerates.

Her public persona as the “quiet power” behind one of India’s richest families has earned her respect across business and political spheres. Even in retirement from active business, she retains a vital role in managing the family’s equity holdings, philanthropic activities, and strategic legacy planning.

Her fortune, closely tied to the success of the companies her sons run, continues to grow as the family businesses thrive. The nearly $850 million gain in a single trading day underscores the robustness of these enterprises and the trust investors place in the Jindal name.

A Sign of Broader Trends

Savitri Jindal’s rise on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index also reflects broader trends in Indian and global markets. Indian industrial stocks, particularly those linked to infrastructure, manufacturing, and clean energy, have attracted significant investor attention. Government policies favoring “Make in India,” electrification, and logistics development have created a fertile environment for conglomerates like the Jindal Group.

Moreover, the growing representation of women in the global billionaire rankings—especially in family-owned conglomerates—signals a slow but steady shift in how wealth and leadership are perceived in traditionally male-dominated industries. Savitri Jindal, though not an entrepreneur in the conventional sense, remains a powerful symbol of continuity, resilience, and intergenerational wealth stewardship.

Looking Ahead

With the Indian economy forecasted to grow robustly over the next decade, particularly in sectors like construction, steel, and green technology, the Jindal Group appears well-positioned to capitalize on emerging opportunities. Savitri Jindal’s soaring net worth is not just a personal milestone but a reflection of the Jindal family’s enduring relevance in India’s industrial and financial landscape.

As the group continues to diversify and expand—into everything from electric vehicles to smart infrastructure—Savitri Jindal’s role as the matriarch of one of India’s wealthiest business dynasties remains secure, even as her fortune continues to rise with every bullish turn of the market.