Gopichand Hinduja, the billionaire head of Britain’s wealthiest family, has died at the age of 85. He passed away in London on Tuesday after a prolonged illness, as confirmed by a spokesperson for the British-Indian businessman. Hinduja was the chairman of the Hinduja Group, a Mumbai-based conglomerate with an estimated net worth of £35.3 billion, according to the latest Sunday Times Rich List. The group operates across various sectors, including banking, finance, media, entertainment, and energy, employing around 200,000 people globally. Commonly known as "GP", Hinduja joined the family business in 1959 after graduating from Jai Hind College in Mumbai. He later earned a doctorate in law from the University of Westminster in 1996. The Hinduja family moved to London in the 1980s, where they transformed the group from a modest trading company into a diversified global enterprise. In a statement, the family expressed their grief, saying, "He will leave a deep hole at the heart of our family. He will also be remembered for his formidable work." Gopichand was the second-eldest of four brothers who have managed the business for decades. His older brother, Srichand, passed away earlier this year at the age of 87. The future leadership of the conglomerate remains uncertain, although the youngest brother, Ashok, currently oversees operations in India, including the truck manufacturer Ashok Leyland. The Hinduja family also owns significant real estate in London, including several large homes near St James’s Park and the historic Old War Office building in Whitehall, which has recently been refurbished into a luxury development. Gopichand Hinduja largely maintained a low profile but was involved in a notable controversy in 2001, known as the Hinduja Affair. This incident led to the resignation of then-government minister Peter Mandelson after it was revealed that Hinduja had written to him regarding a UK passport for his brother, Prakash, following a £1 million donation from the Hinduja Foundation to the Millennium Dome project. Mandelson later resigned but was cleared of any wrongdoing after an inquiry. Hinduja is survived by his wife, Sunita, and their three children: Sanjay, Dheeraj, and Rita.