Tamil Nadu Polls: Who Is The Richest Candidate In 2026 Election? Leema Rose With Rs 5000 Crore

Who is the richest candidate in Tamil Nadu 2026 elections? The answer is Leema Rose, wife of lottery tycoon Santiago Martin and AIADMK candidate from the Lalgudi constituency in Trichy district.

Rose has become the wealthiest contender in the current Assembly elections, declaring combined family assets that exceed a staggering Rs 5,000 crore (approximately £475 million).

A Fortune in Figures

According to the mandatory election affidavit filed alongside her nomination papers, Rose's personal wealth is substantial, but it is the aggregate family holdings that have set a new precedent for political candidates in the state.

Rose herself holds movable assets-including high-value jewellery-worth Rs 139.62 crore, complemented by immovable property (land and buildings) valued at Rs 909.94 crore. However, the lion's share of the family's wealth remains with her husband, Santiago Martin, whose movable assets alone are valued at Rs 3,262.01 crore.

The breakdown of the family's declared wealth is as follows:

For the 2024-25 financial year, the family reported significant annual earnings. While Rose declared an income of Rs 9.82 crore, her son, Jose Daison Martin, outpaced the senior Martins with an individual annual income of Rs 19.56 crore. Notably, the affidavit also lists Rose's formal educational qualification as Class VI.

A House Politically Divided

Beyond the eye-watering financial figures, the Martin family's involvement in this election cycle is a study in political diversity. Rose's transition to the AIADMK was a swift one; having previously been associated with the Latchiya Jananayaga Katchi (LJK)-a party led by her son, Jose Charles-she reportedly grew dissatisfied before defecting. In February 2026, she was appointed Joint Secretary of the AIADMK Women's Wing by party chief Edappadi Palaniswami.

The family's political footprint extends even further:

Jose Charles (Son): Remains at the helm of the LJK, primarily active in Puducherry.

Aadav Arjuna (Son-in-law): Serves as the General Secretary for Election Management and Campaigning for the Tamizhaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), the party led by actor-turned-politician Vijay.Born in 1967 in Devakottai, Leema Rose's entry into the Lalgudi race has shifted the spotlight from local policy to the sheer scale of political financing in the region. As the "Lottery Queen" takes the field for the AIADMK, the Martin family finds itself in the unique position of having influence across three different political entities simultaneously.

Whether this concentration of wealth and multi-party presence will translate into a victory in Tiruchirappalli remains to be seen, but Rose has already secured her place in the history books as the state's most affluent candidate to date.