Bharti Airtel owner: the Mittal family and Singtel, through Bharti Telecom’s 40.47%
Bharti Airtel is owned by the Mittal family and Singtel through Bharti Telecom (40.47%) and other entities, with promoters holding about 49% in total and public investors the rest.
Bharti Airtel is owned by its promoters, the Mittal family and Singapore’s Singtel, who together hold about 49% through Bharti Telecom and other holding entities, with the rest held by institutions and the public. Bharti Telecom, which is itself jointly owned by the Mittal family and Singtel, holds 40.47% of Airtel, according to Outlook Business. Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal has said he wants Bharti Telecom to control over 50% in the next decade. 12
Who owns Bharti Airtel? Promoter holdings
| Promoter entity | Stake in Airtel | Who is behind it |
|---|---|---|
| Bharti Telecom Ltd | 40.47% | 50.56% Bharti Enterprises (Mittal family), 49.44% Singtel group |
| Pastel Ltd | 8.32% (September 2025) | Singtel subsidiary |
| Indian Continent Investment Ltd (ICIL) | 0.92% after a November 2025 sale | Mittal family office |
| Total promoter group | 50.27% (September 2025); about 48.9% by early 2026 | Mittal family and Singtel |
Promoter ownership has fallen from 53.14% in September 2024 to 50.27% in September 2025, as the family office ICIL sold shares and Singtel reduced its holding. By the March 2026 quarter, Mittal put combined promoter holdings at 48.87%. 134
How do the Mittals and Singtel share control?
Bharti Enterprises Holding owns 50.56% of Bharti Telecom and Singtel’s group owns the other 49.44%, according to People Matters. Singtel also holds about 7% of Airtel directly. Mittal said Singtel has more shares it could sell to equalise its stake with Bharti Telecom, and that the gap would narrow to about 3.6% after a share-swap deal approved in June 2026. 25
Who is the founder and chairman?
Sunil Bharti Mittal founded Bharti Airtel and has been reappointed chairman until 30 September 2031. On the Q4 earnings call for the quarter ended March 2026 he said he plans to hand over to the next generation within about ten years. See our Bharti Airtel company page. 24
Does the Mittal family want to raise its stake?
Yes. Mittal said he wants Bharti Telecom to hold “51% or just over 50%” of Airtel, which he described as about 10% more than today, using dividends and buybacks. The promoter structure would be simplified so that ICIL, family entities and Singtel’s holdings sit within Bharti Telecom. 46
How much of Airtel do public investors own?
Public shareholders held 49.68% of Airtel in September 2025, up from 47.51% in March 2025, and employee trusts held 0.05%. Foreign and domestic institutions make up most of the public holding, with retail investors holding a smaller share. 1
How much is Sunil Mittal worth?
Sunil Mittal and family were valued at $32.9 billion on Forbes India’s 2026 list of India’s richest, with the figure tied to Airtel shares. See our guide to the top 10 richest people in India. 7
What happens next
The next shareholding pattern is due after the December 2026 quarter and should show whether Bharti Telecom’s holding has risen through buybacks and the share-swap. For other large Indian groups, read who owns the Tata Group and who owns the Aditya Birla Group.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the owner of Bharti Airtel?
Bharti Airtel is owned by its promoters, the Mittal family and Singtel, mainly through Bharti Telecom (40.47%), with institutions and the public holding the rest.
How much of Airtel does Singtel own?
Singtel owns 49.44% of Bharti Telecom, which holds 40.47% of Airtel, and also holds about 7% of Airtel directly.
Who is the founder and chairman of Bharti Airtel?
Sunil Bharti Mittal founded Airtel and was reappointed chairman until 30 September 2031.
What is Airtel's promoter holding?
Promoters held 50.27% in September 2025, and public shareholders held 49.68%.
