Billionaire Family Turns India’s Gold Obsession Into a Fortune
The Muthoot clan’s lending empire holds more bullion than some central banks
Customers look at necklaces inside a jewelry store during the festival of Dhanteras in Mumbai. Personal loans backed by gold surged 35% in the 12 months to June in India.
Photographer: Dhiraj Singh/BloombergGold is having a moment in the sun and the billionaire Muthoot clan of India is reaping the benefits.
Their family-run firm that’s doled out gold loans for almost nine decades is on a roll as consumers take advantage of surging bullion prices to swap jewelry for short-term cash. The boom has pushed the company’s stock to a record, boosting the Muthoots’ combined fortune above $13 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.