Religion doesn’t teach you to run after money. Most devotional leaders advise their followers to focus on spiritual development. At the same time, there are numerous saints and babas in India who are able to garner immense wealth in their spiritual pursuits.
These religious leaders have not only touched the lives of millions but have also shown the world that preaching goodness can be lucrative.
It is fair to say that these gurus are real icons of prosperity and goddess Lakshmi has been very kind to them.
10 Richest Indian Babas and Saints in 2024
| S. No. | Name of the Saint | Net Worth |
| 1 | Swami Nithyananda | Rs. 10,000 Crore |
| 2 | Baba Ramdev | Rs. 1600 Crore |
| 3 | Mata Amritanandamayi | Rs. 1500 Crore |
| 4 | Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Insaan | Rs. 1455 Crore |
| 5 | Sri Sri Ravi Shankar | Rs. 1114 Crore |
| 6 | Asaram Bapu | Rs. 350 Crore |
| 7 | Acharya Balkrishna | Rs. 330 Crore |
| 8 | Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev | Rs. 50 Crore |
| 9 | Avdhoot Baba Shivanandji Maharaj | Rs. 46 Crore |
| 10 | Paul Dhinakaran Baba | Rs. 45 Crore |
Top 10 Wealthiest Indian Babas and Saints 2024
- Swami Nithyananda
| Real Name | Arunachalam Rajasekaran |
| Date of Birth | 1 January 1978 |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Sources of Income | Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam |
| Philosophy | Advaita Vedanta |
| Net Worth | Rs. 10,000 Crores |
Born Arunachalam Rajasekaran, Swami Nithyananda is one of the richest saints not only in India but also in the world. He is the founder of Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam. It is a trust that owns multiple temples, gurukulas, and ashrams in various countries.
Interestingly, in 2020, he announced the creation of his own island nation called Kailaasa. He even launched the Reserve Bank of Kailaasa in August 2020 with the official gold currency known as the Kailashian dollar.
- Baba Ramdev
| Real Name | Ramkishan Yadav |
| Year of Birth | 1965 |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Sources of Income | Patanjali Ayurved, Patanjali Yogpeeth, Bharat Swabhiman Trust |
| Net Worth | Rs. 1600 Crore |
One may not agree with the political ideology of Baba Ramdev but it is true that he has contributed a lot in the field of Yoga. In fact, he is often credited with popularising yoga among the general public of India.
Apart from being a Yoga teacher, he is also a renowned businessman. He is the founder of Patanjali Ayurved. It is an Indian multinational conglomerate holding company with a turnover of more than Rs. 31,000 crores. In April 2022, the Indian Express ranked Baba Ramdev 78th on the list of 100 Most Powerful Indians.
- Mata Amritanandamayi
| Real Name | Sudhamani Idamannel |
| Date of Birth | 27 September 1953 |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Sources of Income | Mātā Amritānandamayī Math, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham |
| Honours | Gandhi-King Award |
| Net Worth | Rs. 1500 Crores |
Mata Amritanandamayi also known as Amma is one of the popular saints from South India. She is also revered as “The Hugging Saint” by her followers. In 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi felicitated her for her contribution to Swachh Bharat Mission.
Most of her income comes from Amrita Schools & Vishwa Vidyapeeth Colleges. According to financial trust, Amritanandamayi Trust has an estimated worth of more than Rs. 1500 crore. Mata Amritanandamayi is also the first recipient of Vishwaratna Puraskar (Gem of the World Award) by the Hindu Parliament.
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- Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Insaan
| Real Name | Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Insan |
| Date of Birth | 15 August 1967 |
| Religion | Sikhism |
| Sources of Income | Dera Sacha Sauda (DSS) |
| Net Worth | Rs. 1455 Crore |
Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Insaan is not only a religious leader but also a social worker, actor, singer, director, and composer. He has been in trouble due to a series of events in the past few years. Still, he is immensely rich and the head of Dera Sacha Sauda (DSS). DSS has 46 ashrams not only in India but also in other countries. In 2015, Indian Express placed him in the 96th position on its list of the 100 most powerful Indians.
- Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
| Real Name | Ravi Shankar |
| Date of Birth | 13 May 1956 (age 67) |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Sources of Income | Donation, Workshops, and more |
| Honour | Padma Vibhushan |
| Net Worth | Rs. 1114 Crore |
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is one of the most famous spiritual leaders in India. He is the founder of the Art of Living Foundation. He was awarded Padma Vibhushan, India’s second highest civilian award in January 2016. Apart from this, he is also a recipient of the highest civilian honour from Colombia, Peru, and Paraguay.
Every year, he receives voluntary donations from his followers and participants of his meditation and self-development programs. These contributions play a significant role in sustaining the organisation and supporting its charitable initiatives.
- Asaram Bapu
| Real Name | Asumal Sirumalani Harpalani |
| Date of Birth | 17 April 1941 |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Sources of Income | Shree Yog Vedanta Sewa Samiti |
| Net Worth | Rs. 350 Crore |
Asumal Sirumalani Harpalani also known as Asaram Bapu is undoubtedly one of the most popular and controversial spiritual gurus in India. Currently, he is in prison yet incredibly rich with a net worth in the hundreds of crores.
He is the founder of Shri Yog Vedanta Sewa Samiti which has around 400 ashrams with 40 schools in India.
- Acharya Balkrishna
| Real Name | Acharya Balkrishna |
| Date of Birth | 4 August 1972 |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Sources of Income | Patanjali Ayurved |
| Net Worth | Rs. 330 Crore |
You might know Patanjali Ayurved for Baba Ramdev but Acharya Balkrishna is the chairman of this company. He has been able to establish and manage this huge company without a formal education. He started his journey with Ramdev in 1995 when they founded Divya Yoga Mandir Trust. According to The Wire, Balkrishna owns 94% of the company. He is also the second billionaire of Nepalese Origin.
- Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev
| Real Name | Jagadish Vasudev |
| Date of Birth | 3 September 1957 |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Sources of Income | Donations and Isha Foundation workshops |
| Net Worth | Rs. 50 Crore |
Sadhguru is the chairman and founder of the Isha Foundation. He has been teaching yoga for several decades. Apart from Yoga, he is also a famous author. Through the Isha Foundation, Sadhguru has been involved in many social activism projects including Project GreenHands (PGH), Rally for Rivers, Cauvery Calling, and Save Soil. Currently, his net worth is around Rs. 50 Crore.
- Avdhoot Baba Shivanandji Maharaj
| Real Name | Avdhoot Shivanand Ji |
| Date of Birth | 26 March 1955 |
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Sources of Income | Donations |
| Net Worth | Rs. 46 Crore |
Avadhoot Baba Shivananda ji is a Hindu saint who guides millions of people all over the world. He is one of the few masters of Advait Shree Vidya Sadhana, which is the highest level of sadhana. He is the founder of Shiv Yog.
His simple teachings have been phenomenal in changing the lives of a large number of people. Every year, he receives huge donations from his followers making him one of the richest saints in India.
- Paul Dhinakaran Baba
| Real Name | Dr. Paul Dhinakaran |
| Date of Birth | 4 September 1962 |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Sources of Income | Donations |
| Net Worth | Rs. 45 Crore |
Paul Dhinakaran is a renowned spiritual leader who is equally known for his philanthropic work. He believes that modern education is the best way to bring change to society. With a PhD degree in Management, he has been working for society for the last many decades.
He is extremely wealthy courtesy of his Karunya Institute of Technology. It is an engineering college which he founded in 1986. Currently, there are more than 8000 students studying Science and Technology, Engineering, Arts, Media, and Management courses in the institute.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is estimated to be around Rs. 1114 Crore.
Please note that net worth figures for public figures like saints and babas can vary and may not be publicly disclosed. These estimates are based on available information and are subject to change.
The wealth of saints and babas often comes from donations and businesses associated with them.
Mata Amritanandamayi, also known as Amma.
No, all saints in India are not wealthy.
