Kathmandu – Nepal’s only billionaire, Binod Chaudhary, has been ranked 1,982nd in the list of the world’s richest people. According to the 2026 Global Billionaires List published by the American business magazine Forbes, Chaudhary’s net worth has reached $2.1 billion.
He is the only person in the South Asian region outside of India to be on the list of billionaires. Chaudhary, who has been consistently named on the billionaires list from Nepal, has managed to maintain his presence on the list of the world’s richest people by increasing his wealth in the last year.
Wealth increased by $ 100 million in a year
According to Forbes, Chaudhary was ranked 1763rd in the list of the world’s richest people in 2025. At that time, his total wealth was stated to be about 2 billion US dollars. In 2026, his wealth increased further. Forbes has reported that Chaudhary’s wealth has increased by about $100 million to $2.1 billion in a year. Converted into Nepali rupees, this amount is more than $280 billion. This indicates that Chaudhary’s business empire is still expanding.
Chaudhary Group’s global expansion
The mainstay of Chaudhary’s wealth is Chaudhary Group (CG). This group is considered one of the largest private business groups in Nepal. CG’s business spans from the food industry to banking, hotels, real estate, energy, telecommunications and consumer goods. It is said to have a business presence in more than 30 countries around the world. In particular, CG’s popular product Wai Wai noodles has enjoyed great success in the international market. This brand has been exported not only to South Asia but also to various markets in Africa, Europe and America. Chaudhary Group has also increased its investment in the tourism and hotel sectors in recent years. International-level hotel projects are under operation and construction in countries including Nepal, India, Sri Lanka.
The only billionaire in South Asia other than India
According to the Forbes list, most of the billionaires in the South Asian region are from India. But apart from India, Binod Chaudhary is the only person from Nepal to be on the billionaire list. No one from other SAARC countries—such as Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka or the Maldives—is currently on the Forbes billionaire list. This also reflects the economic inequality and private sector development in the South Asian region.
Post-Covid wealth rebounds
Chowdhary reached 1,349th place on the Forbes list in 2019. At that time, his wealth had increased significantly. However, his wealth declined somewhat after the global COVID-19 pandemic affected many businesses. The slowdown in tourism, hotels and international trade affected various projects of the CG Group. As the global economy gradually recovered after the pandemic, Chaudhary’s business expansion also seems to have accelerated again. This has led to his wealth increasing again in recent years.
Tech entrepreneurs at the top of the world’s richest
American entrepreneur Elon Musk is at the top of the Forbes billionaire list in 2026. His net worth is said to be around $839 billion. Musk is the CEO of electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla and space technology company SpaceX. In second place is American technology entrepreneur Larry Page, who is the co-founder of the world-famous company Google. According to Forbes, a large portion of the world’s billionaires are citizens of the United States, China, and India. It is said that the number of billionaires is also high in those countries due to the rapid expansion of technology, manufacturing, financial services, and consumer industries.
An inspiration for Nepal’s private sector
Chaudhary, who has been consistently making his way to the list of international billionaires from Nepal, is seen by many as a representative figure in Nepal’s private sector.
He has made his mark on the global stage due to his business expansion, access to international markets, and strategy of investing in diverse sectors.
According to economic analysts, succeeding in making it to the list of world billionaires from a country with a small economy like Nepal is an inspiring example for the private sector. However, they say that such an achievement can have a greater impact on the national economy only if the country can expand industries, create jobs, and increase productive investment. Thus, while maintaining his place on the list of the world’s richest people, Binod Chaudhary is playing a significant role in putting Nepal on the map of international trade and investment.
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