reliance Industries, headed by billionaire mukesh ambani -- Asia's richest individual -- is India's most valuable firm, with a market capitalization of Rs 16.55 lakh crore as of december 25, 2024. But can you guess who holds the largest stake in this oil-to-telecom powerhouse?

It’s not mukesh ambani, his wife Nita Ambani, or any of their three children -- Akash, Anant, or Isha. The biggest shareholder in reliance Industries is Kokilaben Ambani, the late Dhirubhai Ambani’s wife and the mother of mukesh and Anil Ambani, possessing an impressive 1.57 crore shares, which constitutes approximately 0.24% of the company's total equity.

In comparison, mukesh ambani owns 0.12% of the conglomerate, and together with his wife Nita Ambani and their three children, they hold merely 80 lakh shares in the organization.

Who is Kokilaben Ambani? Born into a traditional and religious family in Jamnagar, gujarat on february 24, 1934, Kokilaben married Dhirubhai Ambani in 1955 and is the mother of four children -- mukesh, Anil, Nina Kothari, and Dipti Salgaocar. After her husband's passing, Kokilaben has assumed the role of matriarch of the Ambani family and commands great respect from all relatives.

Despite the division between the brothers that led to the splitting of Dhirubhai's company, Kokilaben maintains close ties with both mukesh and Anil Ambani, their wives Nita and Tina, and all her grandchildren. Family sources have described Kokilaben as a guiding force for both her sons and grandchildren, with strong belief that no significant decisions occur without her explicit approval.

Her life alongside Dhirubhai Ambani is filled with cherished memories. In an interview, she recounted how, even though she was educated in a Gujarati-medium school, Dhirubhai encouraged her to learn english to feel comfortable when interacting with foreign business leaders and dignitaries. The devoted wife shared how Dhirubhai broadened her experiences and introduced her to diverse international cuisines, ranging from Mexican to Chinese, ensuring she felt comfortable anywhere around the globe. "He shaped me so well that I would not feel out of place anywhere. I always adapted to change."

Regarding Kokilaben’s net worth, while there are no publicly available reports detailing her wealth, estimates suggest it to be around Rs 18,000 crore, largely due to her ownership of over 1.57 crore shares in reliance Industries. At the age of 90, Kokilaben resides with her eldest son, mukesh ambani, in his Antilia mansion in Mumbai, and despite her authoritative presence, she shares a loving relationship with her daughters-in-law, Nita and Tina Ambani, as well as her grandchildren.

The distinguished matriarch of the Ambani family is also known for her fondness for luxury cars and is said to possess a high-end vehicle from every major car manufacturer in the world.