What caused the bitter dispute between Mukesh and Anil Ambani that led to splitting of Dhirubhai Ambani’s Reliance business empire? The reason was…
Mukesh Ambani birthday: Mukesh Ambani, the Chairman of Reliance Industries Limited– India’s most valued domestic firm– and Asia’s richest man, turned who turned 68 today (April 19, 2025), inherited the Reliance business empire from his father, Dhirubhai Ambani. The legendary industrialist had left the business to his two sons, Mukesh Ambani and his younger sibling Anil Ambani, but a bitter feud ensued between the brothers after Dhirubhai’s passing in July 2002, resulting in the splitting of the family business empire.
Let us delve into some of the key reasons behind the sibling rivalry that devolved into a bitter dispute, ultimately leading to Reliance being split between Mukesh Ambani and Anil Ambani.
What was the reason behind the dispute between Mukesh Ambani and Anil Ambani?
When Dhirubhai Ambani, the legendary founder of Reliance, passed away in July 2002, he had not left behind any last will that would demarcate the roles of his children in his expansive business empire. Thus, after Dhirubhai’s demise, his eldest son, Mukesh Ambani, who had joined his father’s business in 1981, ascended as the chairman of Reliance Group, while younger brother Anil Ambani became the group’s Managing Director.
For a while, things seemed to have been sorted at the giant business conglomerate, but within a few years, jealousy reared its ugly head as Anil Ambani, who had joined the company in 1983, felt his role was gradually being made into a titular one as older brother, Mukesh practically made all the major decisions about the group’s direction.
The conflict between the brothers brewed for a while before ultimately reaching a tipping point, an coming to light in November 2004. Ultimately, the sibling feud led to the Reliance Group’s businesses being split among the brothers, with the division finally taking place in June 2005.
What did Mukesh Ambani and Anil Ambani get?
By 2006, the split had been completed, and Mukesh Ambani received Reliance’s petrochemicals businesses, including Reliance Industries, Indian Petroleum Chemicals Corp Ltd, Reliance Petroleum, and Reliance Industrial Infrastructure Ltd, while Anil Ambani’s share included the group’s telecom business RCOM, Reliance Capital, Reliance Energy, and Reliance Natural Resources.
Over the years, while Mukesh Ambani’s RIL has emerged as one of the successful business conglomerates in the country, Anil Ambani stares at the edge of bankruptcy, with many of his businesses either sold, bankrupt, or facing a mountain of debt.
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