Growing up Ambani: How Indian billionaires Mukesh and Nita raised children Akash, Isha and Anant to understand what life is like for the rest of us

Budgets, curfews and female empowerment were key to Anant, Isha and Akash Ambani’s upbringing. Dad Mukesh, one of the richest men in the world, and mum Nita, who is a powerful businesswoman, made sure their kids understood what the world was like outside their lavish mansion.

Sure, they have millions in their bank accounts and can afford luxuries like fine jewels and a custom-made lipstick for every outfit, but the Ambani kids know what it’s like to travel on a bus with everyone else and had to learn to make their cash stretch. Here’s what it was like growing up Ambani.

Ambani matriarch Nita has proven herself a mighty businesswoman outside her husband’s successes. Gender equality is an important issue to her – the girls in her family were given equal freedom growing up, and she has passed this onto her children. She made sure that her daughter Isha knew she could achieve anything she wanted and taught her sons to respect women.

Although they are one of the richest families in the world, the Ambanis still live according to a budget. Nita oversees the weekly family food budget and talks it through with her kitchen staff. She has taught her children to do the same, encouraging them to be mindful of where their money goes – down to every cent spent in their household.