Mega-wedding of heir to Asia's richest man puts spotlight on India's unequal society | DW News

The opulent wedding of the son of India's richest man is coming to an end in Mumbai. Four days of celebrations will mark the union of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant.

Anant is the youngest son of Mukesh Ambani. The 67-year-old is the chairman of Reliance Industries, which has interests in petrochemicals, oil and gas, telecom, retail, and financial services.

With a fortune of over $123 billion (€113 billion), he is ranked as the 11th richest person in the world, according to the Forbes billionaires list.

He is also an important ally of India's right-wing Hindu nationalist leader, Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The guest list reads like a who's who of Indian and international celebrities.

Among the invitees expected to attend the event are: Former British Prime Ministers Boris Johnson and Tony Blair, former United States Secretary of State John Kerry, former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt.

Pop megastars Rihanna and Justin Bieber both performed for guests as part of the lengthy pre-wedding festivities.

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[SheldonCooper]

Great move, conducting marriage within india.most of the Money stays within india.

[pc]

If jealousy had a face... Feeling sad for western media 😂

[kunalmarathe]

Ambani has earned his money through business unlike British royals who looted Indians in past and now loot British taxpayers. So please don't cry over an Indian wedding while endorsing similiar weddings of British royal families.

[Smart_DJ_Bro]

Their money, their guest, their celebration. Ambani's run many hospitals, charity trusts, schools around the world and in India. Stop rich shaming people.
Why German billionaires spend their money on super cars/yachts when retired old German people are living under poverty as their pension is below countries minimum wage. Why don't you ask them to donate?

[abc_cba]

Average Indian spends 20%-25% of their net income on their weddings. Meanwhile, Ambani only spent 0.02% of his networth yet, our middle class is more worried for how they spend their money!

Meanwhile, they'll turn blind to the collapsing infrastructure all over the country and road accidents that are a real issue here.

[srujankurma]

This wedding has created many jobs for a variety of people, from popular artists to indigenous craftsmen. Why is it even a problem? It's their hard-earned money, and it's their choice how to spend it. If some people want them to use that money for other reasons, then those people should earn their own money and invest in other resources themselves.

[ykd]

In Germany, top 5% rich owns more than 40% of Germany's wealth, while bottom 50% (half of Germany) owns only 1.2% wealth in their country. This is insane too. Look at your own country before giving free advice to others

[raithena]

the westerner's and the west media ... they just don't get it. Wedding is a celebration in India, no matter if you are rich, ultra rich, not so rich, not affordable, it's their money and they have not asked someone or from society's pockets ... indian aunts and uncles, they will still crib, that's the beauty of Indian society. I am seeing this from the past 2 decades people do crib about Ambani's and their wealth ... they just moved ahead and grown beyond limits. Positivity.

[armyofimrankhanpti]

Yes, 10% wealth of all G7 countries should be transferred to India to combat inequalities

[ccyylll]

The richest man in Asia is not in the Middle East, not in Singapore, not in Japan, not in China, but in India...👍👍👍

[RudraSingh]

In comments there are lot of European and western Moralizers who looted Africa and India are now worried about India Poor people 😂😂😂😂

[AvinashPratapSinghaps]

west cannot be happy with anything good happening in india

[reardelt]

Their money. Their wish. India is not poor anymore.

[whitebarackobama]

Germany condition is getting worse day by day and they are reporting on fastest growing economy 😂

[CynthiaPers]

Press4Humanity: No society is equal. India has over 1.4 Billion people. Cannot be compared to the West.

[krishhuu]

Western Media is very jealous of India's Richness. Yes, we show off our Hindu culture because we have culture.

[abhishekpas]

Ambani is the reason that we as an software engineer sacled exponentially up due to his cheapest internet. Many startups survived because of him. I want to meet him once snd thank him for the service.

[Untold-Stories]

Europe has to grow out of the mindset that Europe's weddings are world's wedding.. We spend because we have. There is no greater glory than love, nor any greater punishment than jealousy. .. what is the color of your Bugatti. 🚗

[Indian_Rajput]

In India a father spends 10-20% of his whole life earning on daughters marriage I'm talking about middle class not even rich, It's ancient culture to celebrate Wedding like this but dowry practice is bad well it's also gift exchange system of ancient times 😂😂

[parvadhami]

In India, being rich and being proud of it, shall attract a lot of criticism.
Maybe that's why MK Gandhi (an upper caste, upper class, rich baron) dressed up in a white loin cloth and was successful to unite the country.