When discussing extremely wealthy individuals from India, we often think of prominent names like the Tatas, the Birlas, the Ambanis, or the Adanis. However, many may not be aware that none of these individuals come close to Mir Osman Ali Khan, who was the richest man in India. In fact, if we adjust his net worth during his time to account for inflation, he could be considered the country’s first billionaire.
Mir Osman Ali Khan, also known as the architect of Hyderabad, held the position of the last Nizam, or ruler, of Hyderabad. Prior to the integration of the princely state of Hyderabad into the Union of India in 1948, he was the wealthiest man in the country.
During that era, when several princely states had agreed to merge with the Union of India—such as Hyderabad, Junagadh, and Jammu and Kashmir—Hyderabad stood out as a prosperous and affluent state.
Mir Osman Ali Khan ascended the throne after his father’s death in 1911 and governed Hyderabad for 37 years until 1948. Reports suggest that his net worth was estimated to be over Rs 17.47 lakh crore (USD 230 billion) after adjusting for inflation. This figure is nearly comparable to the total net worth of Elon Musk, the founder of Tesla and the current richest person in the world, with USD 286 billion.
Here are some intriguing facts about the last Nizam of Hyderabad:
– It is believed that the Nizam possessed approximately 50 Rolls Royces.
– He was one of the seven Nizams who ruled Hyderabad until the princely state was merged with the Union of India.
Mir Osman Ali Khan was a benevolent ruler who made primary education mandatory for all citizens. Additionally, he is credited with designing India’s first airport in Hyderabad. He passed away in 1967 at the age of 80.
