Lakshmi Mittal (born 15 June 1950) is an Indian steel magnate and executive chairman of ArcelorMittal, the world’s largest steelmaker for many years. Starting with a small mill in Indonesia, he built a global empire by turning around struggling state-owned steel plants. In 2006 he won a dramatic takeover battle for Arcelor. He is one of the world’s wealthiest people.
Quick Facts
| Full name | Lakshmi Niwas Mittal |
| Born | 15 June 1950, Sadulpur, Churu district, Rajasthan, India |
| Age | 76 |
| Position | Executive Chairman, ArcelorMittal (CEO 2006–2021) |
| Education | BCom, St. Xavier’s College, Calcutta |
| Spouse | Usha Mittal |
| Children | Aditya Mittal (ArcelorMittal CEO), Vanisha Mittal |
| Honour | Padma Vibhushan (2008) |
Early Life
Mittal was born in Sadulpur, a small town in Rajasthan, and grew up in Kolkata, where his father ran a steel business. He graduated in commerce from St. Xavier’s College in Kolkata and joined the family firm.
Career
In 1976 Mittal set up a steel mill in Indonesia. From the late 1980s he bought loss-making state-owned steel plants in places such as Trinidad and Tobago, Mexico and Kazakhstan and made them profitable. His company, eventually called Mittal Steel, became one of the world’s largest steelmakers.
In 2006, after a fierce takeover battle, Mittal Steel merged with the European steelmaker Arcelor to form ArcelorMittal. Mittal served as CEO until 2021, when his son Aditya took over and he became executive chairman. In India, ArcelorMittal and Nippon Steel jointly acquired Essar Steel in 2019.
Personal Life
Mittal is married to Usha, and they have two children, Aditya and Vanisha. For many years he was based in London, but in 2025 he moved his residence to Switzerland and Dubai amid changes to UK tax rules. He sponsored the ArcelorMittal Orbit sculpture built for the London 2012 Olympics.
Awards and Honours
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was Lakshmi Mittal born?
Lakshmi Mittal was born on 15 June 1950 in Sadulpur, Churu district, Rajasthan, India.
