Net Worth Ranker
What Is Arun Nayar’s Net Worth?
Arun Nayar, an Indian textile heir and entrepreneur, has an estimated net worth of $200 million. This substantial wealth is primarily attributed to a computer firm he established in the late 1990s and his inheritance from the family-owned textile business, Tijarat Impex.
Early Life, Education, and Career Beginnings
Arun Nayar was born in Leeds, UK, in December 1964 to Vinod Nayar, a Punjabi, and Gunnar Nayar, who is German. Shortly after the birth of his younger brother, Nikhil, the family relocated to India. Following his parents’ divorce, Arun and his brother were raised by their mother in Mumbai. He began his education at the Cathedral and John Connon School in Mumbai. At the age of 16, he returned to England to attend Millfield Boarding School. He later earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from Oxford University and a Master’s degree in Physics from Imperial College London. After completing his education, Nayar joined Tijarat Impex, his family’s textile business. Gunnar Nayar founded the enormously successful textiles firm in Mumbai that boomed in the 1970s.
Entrepreneurial Ventures and Direction Software Solutions
In the late 1990s, Arun Nayar ventured into the technology sector by founding Direction Software Solutions, an IT consulting and software services company. As CEO and Chairman, Nayar spearheaded the company’s growth, expanding its operations internationally and establishing it as a notable figure in the tech industry. Direction Software Solutions provides software solutions bringing ‘simplicity to growing complexity’. The leadership team at Direction Software LLP includes Sanjay Gupta (Chief Operating Officer), Mary Stella (General Manager – Technical), and Jaspreet Singh (General Manager).
Marriage to Elizabeth Hurley and Wedding Details
Arun Nayar’s personal life has garnered significant media attention, particularly his marriage to British actress Elizabeth Hurley. The couple began dating in late 2002 and married on March 2, 2007. The wedding celebrations spanned two continents, commencing with a civil ceremony at Sudeley Castle in Gloucestershire, UK, followed by a traditional Hindu wedding at Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur, India. The Indian celebrations included a sangeet at Nagaur Fort and a reception at Mehrangarh Fort.
The wedding was a lavish affair, costing an estimated £1 million (approximately $2.5 million at the time). The ceremonies and festivities lasted over eight days. Photos from the wedding were sold to Hello! magazine for a reported $2 million. The costs included significant expenses for private jets (£233,430) and accommodations (over £77,810), including a $10,000-a-night bridal suite in India. Approximately £112,824 was spent on flowers and £116,700 on fireworks.
Divorce and Subsequent Relationships
On December 12, 2010, Elizabeth Hurley announced her separation from Arun Nayar via Twitter, following press reports linking her romantically with Australian cricketer Shane Warne. Hurley filed for divorce on April 2, 2011, citing Nayar’s “unreasonable behavior” as the cause. Before Elizabeth Hurley, Arun Nayar was married to Valentina Pedroni, an Italian model. They married in 1997 and separated in 2002. In July 2016, Nayar married Kim Johnson in the French Riviera.
Holdings and Investments
Arun Nayar’s estimated net worth includes holdings in various companies. As of March 2025, he owns 176,191 shares of Amcor PLC (AMCR) stock valued at approximately $2 million.
