Top 10 Richest Indians in New Zealand (2023)

This article will show that New Zealand is still a largely uncharted territory; yes, the list of the richest Indians in New Zealand will make it clear that there is still so much space for Indians of strong business culture, and high net worth individuals to come in and explore, so as to set up their business empires and continue the culture of business excellence for which Indians at home and abroad have been known.

Another interesting thing that this post will reveal is the love that these individuals have for their motherland; they continue to identify as Indians, even when some of them emigrated as children, and even when some were not even born in India. Perhaps India too must find a way to repay the love shown by these men and women listed below in order of their net worth.

Top 10 Richest Indians in New Zealand

1. Sir Owen Glen

Net worth: $700 million

Industry: Diversified Investments

Sir Owen George Glenn KNZM was born on 19 February 1940, in Calcutta, British India. He then emigrated to New Zealand with his family in 1952 when he was very young. He went to Balmoral Intermediate School and Mount Roskill Grammar School in Auckland. He took up New Zealand citizenship in 1961.

He is now a multimillionaire businessman and currently the richest Indian in New Zealand with diversified business interests. One of his most popular business ventures was when he invested in New Zealand Warriors rugby league team in 2000. He has since liquidated that investment.

He is known as a philanthropist who has given out at least 20 million dollars to various good causes around the world.

2. Jacob Rajan

Net Worth: $30 Million Dollars

Industry: Literary Arts

Jacob Rajan’s parents are from India but he was born in Malaysia. He came to New Zealand at the age of four. He studied acting at Toi Whakaari New Zealand Drama School. Since graduating in 1994, he has appeared in many stage and screen productions both locally and internationally.

His work has attracted high praise and accolades, and in 2002, he received the prestigious Laureate Art Award. He has his theatre company; the Indian Ink Theatre Company and most of his works are first produced there, before being toured in other theaters. 

Jacob Rajan has been honoured as a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit by the governor-general, Sir Jerry Mateparae on 23 May 2013. He is perhaps New Zealands’ richest performer.

3. Madeleine Sami

Net Worth: 20 million Dollars

Industry: Film Making, Television

Madeline Sami has Irish, Fijian and Indian ancestry. Her parents settled in New Zealand to raise her and her three siblings, although they separated soon after. She attended Onehunga High School.

Madeleine Nalini Sami discovered her talents early and went on to become an actress, director, comedian, and musician. She first excelled in theater, before progressing to television, and then moving to film. Her comedy has taken her to various stages both locally and internationally. As a film actress, she has worked with some of the biggest studios in the world, racking up big paychecks all the time.

4. Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi

Net Worth: 10 million dollars

Industry: Business/ Politics

Kanwajit Singh Bakshi was born in Delhi, India. He attended Bakshi attended Guru Harkrishan Public School, and then he proceeded to the University of Delhi, where he obtained a degree in Commerce. He worked at the family freight business for some time, before moving to New Zealand for more opportunities.

Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi one of the wealthiest Indians in New Zealand has excelled in politics; he is a member of the National Party, and he became a  Member of Parliament from 2008 to 2020. He is a very well-respected figure in New Zealand politics.

5. Rocky Khan

Net Worth: 10 million dollars

Industry: Sports 

Rocky Khan was born to Indian parents, on 6 May 1989, in Auckland, New Zealand. His father, Fared Khan who was a devoted Muslim, played football for Fiji as a goalkeeper. His mother was Rotuman. He studied at Edendale Primary School, Balmoral Intermediate, and Mount Albert Grammar School, right now he is studying at the Auckland University of Technology. Rocky played a lot of rugby in school and decided to take it up professionally.

He became the first Fijian of Indian ancestry to play for New Zealand at a Rugby sevens tournament when he made his debut for New Zealand in the 2013 Wellington Sevens. He has had a very successful career. 

6. Dipak Patel

Net worth: 10 million dollars

Industry: Sports

Dipak Narshibhai Patel was born on 25 October 1958 in Kenya. He is an Indian-New Zealander, who played professional cricket for New Zealand. He had a glorious career; he played 37 Tests and 75 One Day Internationals for the New Zealand cricket team. He retired in 1997, and coached at the top level in New Zealand, before taking up a coaching job in the Indian Premier League.

7. Dame Sukhinder Kaur Gill Turner DNZM (Former Mayor of Dunedin)

Net worth: 15 million dollars

Industry: Politics

Born as Sukhinder Kaur Gill, Dame Turner is a Sikh, and she was born in Ludhiana, the largest city in the Indian state of Punjab. Her father was a Squadron Leader in the Royal Army; Jasbir Singh Gill. She did some of her schooling in India, but also attended Bethany College, West Virginia, United States.

She married Glenn Turner, a prominent New Zealand cricket player, and thus became a naturalised New Zealander in August 1973. The couple settled in Dunedin in 1982, and Dame Sukhinder Kaur Gill Turner DNZM joined politics. She has been knighted; she is the former Mayor of Dunedin, and she is the most respected Indian politician in New Zealand.

8. Inderbir Singh “Ish” Sodhi

Net Worth: 10 million dollars

Industry: Sports 

Sodhi was born in Ludhiana, India. He moved to South Auckland, New Zealand with his family at the age of just four. He attended Papatoetoe High School. He is an accomplished cricketer who represents the New Zealand national team in all competitions.

He has recorded a rap song under his MC name of “Ice Ice Sodhi” the song has added to his fame, although it is not clear whether he intends to continue with music. 

9. Rebecca Singh

Net Worth: 10 million Dollars

Industry: Television

Rebecca Singh was born on 28 January 1975. Her parents are Indians, although she was born in Fiji. She was born in Fiji where her father worked as a communications officer at Nadi International Airport. She went to Jasper Williams High School and then got her higher education at the University of the South Pacific. She started her television career at Fiji Television, but political issues caused her to flee to New Zealand, where she is now a news reporter.

Related:

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• Top 10 Richest Indians In Australia
• Top 10 Richest Indians In UK

Conclusion:

Sports is one sector in which Indian New Zealanders have excelled. Film and television are also well represented on this list, as is politics. Sadly there is only one businessman with diversified investments, which is why we said in the introduction that New Zealand is pretty much-uncharted territory, just waiting for the bold to grab it.