Harsh Goenka On Why Ratan Tata, Azim Premji Are Celebrated Billionaires In India

Kamath said, “The US is a pure-breed capitalistic society. We are a socialist (society) pretending to be a capitalistic society. So at the heart of it, we are all socialists"

Harsh Goenka, Chairman of RPG Enterprises, recently highlighted the intricate relationship Indians have with wealth and billionaires in a tweet featuring a video of Zerodha’s founder, Nithin Kamath, discussing wealth inequality in India. Goenka noted that while Indians deeply admire respected industrialists like Ratan Tata, Azim Premji, and Anand Mahindra, they often lack the same regard for those who display their wealth obnoxiously.

“Here’s my point of view: Indians celebrate good billionaires like Ratan Tata, Azim Premji, and Anand Mahindra—they’re loved and emulated for their humility, philanthropy, and values. What we dislike are those who flaunt wealth, corrupt the system, and prioritise personal gain over societal good. Wealth isn’t the issue—how it’s used is!” Goenka wrote in his post on X (formerly Twitter).

Goenka's tweet included a video of Zerodha’s CEO sharing insights on how wealth is perceived in India compared to the United States. Kamath noted that while affluent individuals in the US often receive public admiration for their success and lavish lifestyles, newfound wealth is frequently met with scepticism in India.

Kamath said, “The US is a pure-breed capitalistic society. We are a socialist (society) pretending to be a capitalistic society. So at the heart of it, we are all socialists.”

Goenka’s sentiment resonated with many Indians. One user on X wrote, “Totally agree! Good billionaires set a great example for others to follow. Also the view is very distorted/one sided, I have lived in US for almost a decade and some people in US also dislike some wealthy folks.”

“But then you get families who take it too far, flaunting their wealth, corrupting the system, and showing zero regard for the greater good. It’s not just about dislike anymore—it’s turned into anger. People are fed up with seeing wealth prioritized over society. There’s a point where enough is enough,” added another X user.

A third user added: “Exactly! Despite of their enormous wealth, billionaires like Ratan Tata are celebrated by every Indian because of their humility and kindness. They help the needy, do a lot of service to society. The problem is the corrupt, parasitic rich people.”