Indian entrepreneurs lead global trends in luxury spending, wealth optimism and cross-border mobility: HSBC

India’s new-age entrepreneurs are not just building businesses—they are reshaping global wealth trends with a lifestyle playbook that places luxury spending, international mobility, and diversified investments at the forefront.

According to HSBC’s Global Entrepreneurial Wealth Report 2025, Indian entrepreneurs are consistently outpacing their global peers in how they spend, invest and plan for the future. From luxury real estate to global residencies, the study shows how India’s wealthy founders are deploying their wealth with optimism and ambition.

Lifestyle as an investment

The report reveals that Indian entrepreneurs are more likely than their global counterparts to spend on luxury lifestyle categories:

• 64% allocate wealth to real estate for personal use against a global average of 53%


• 61% spend on health and wellness or longevity, against 50% globally


• 59% direct funds towards luxury experiences against 50% globally

Analysts say this indicates a shift where lifestyle choices are viewed not just as indulgence but as a form of asset creation and legacy planning. For instance, luxury property and wellness investments are increasingly tied to both personal use and long-term wealth preservation.

Rising optimism about wealth

Entrepreneurs in India are overwhelmingly upbeat about their financial future. An unprecedented 95% expressed optimism about their personal wealth outlook, compared to peers in other global hubs.

• 56% expect significant gains in wealth in the coming years


• 39% anticipate moderate growth

The optimism is being driven by a combination of domestic and global factors—64% cite new investment opportunities, 56% point to strong portfolio performance, and over half (54%) credit India’s favourable economic outlook.

Business confidence mirrors this trend, with 98% of Indian entrepreneurs positive about their companies’ future, banking on technology adoption and expanding growth opportunities.

A global footprint takes centre stage

Perhaps the most striking trend is India’s surge in global mobility. The HSBC survey found that 73% of Indian entrepreneurs hold multi-residency status, well above the global average of 56%.

This global orientation is not just symbolic. Entrepreneurs are actively considering relocations, with the UK and US emerging as top destinations, followed by Switzerland, the UAE, and Singapore.

The motivations are telling:

• Better quality of life for families (78%)


• Access to new investments (75%)


• Expanding into new markets (71%)

Industry watchers point out that this growing preference for multiple residencies and cross-border investment is fuelling demand for luxury homes, healthcare-linked investments, and second citizenship programmes.

Building diversified portfolios

Wealthy entrepreneurs in India are also displaying sophistication in portfolio allocation:

• 73% prioritise life insurance


• 58% invest in property, including commercial real estate


• 53% hold listed equities


• 51% invest in private assets


• 42% donate to philanthropy

This balanced approach signals both a desire to protect wealth and to actively pursue high-growth avenues, with philanthropy becoming an integral part of their identity.

Challenges in global expansion

Despite optimism, cross-border wealth management is not without hurdles. Half of Indian entrepreneurs highlighted challenges in managing business operations from abroad, while 49% cited visa and residency hurdles and 48% flagged difficulties in overseas property purchases.

Succession planning is another concern, with 64% worried about structuring effective wealth and business transfers—a theme gaining importance as first-generation wealth creators begin legacy planning.

Commenting on the findings, Sandeep Batra, Head of International Wealth and Premier Banking, HSBC India, said: “Indian entrepreneurs are redefining the global playbook with their optimism, ambition, and growth mindset. Their investments in luxury lifestyles, global mobility, and diversified portfolios signal not just confidence in their wealth trajectory but also their readiness to capitalise on the next wave of global opportunities and deepening international wealth corridors as globalisation enters a new phase.”

This HSBC report underscores how India’s entrepreneurial class is no longer playing catch-up. Instead, they are setting the tone globally—blending ambition with lifestyle, and optimism with cross-border strategy—making India a focal point in the evolving map of global wealth.