G randhi Mallikarjuna Rao, universally known as G.M. Rao, is an Indian self-made billionaire and the founder and chairman of the GMR Group, a major Indian infrastructure conglomerate. A mechanical engineer by training, he began his career as a commodities trader and then moved into manufacturing before making a major and ambitious pivot into the infrastructure sector in the 1990s as India began to liberalize its economy.

He has built the GMR Group into one of India's leading infrastructure developers, with a portfolio of major projects across the airport, energy, and transportation sectors. The group's most high-profile achievements include the development and operation of major international airports in Delhi and Hyderabad, which are considered world-class facilities. The group also has a significant presence in power generation. He has also committed a significant portion of his personal wealth to philanthropy through the GMR Varalakshmi Foundation, which focuses on education and vocational training.