US @250: How Indian-Americans are living the 'American dream' and contributing to its success story

As the United States of America marks its 250th anniversary. Data suggest that it is the Indian American communities who are living the "American Dream" and leading several sectors in the country. While Indian Americans comprise just over 1 per cent of the US population, they have emerged as one of its most influential demographic groups in the US.

Indian Americans have led tech giants like Microsoft and Google and served as top officials in the US President Donald Trump's administration. Indian Americans have become deeply woven into the fabric of modern American society. Their rise reflects not only the success of an immigrant community but also the changing face of the United States over its 250-year history.

More from World

When it comes to demographics, about 5.2 million people in the US identified themselves as Indian. The Indian American community is the second-largest Asian origin population living in the US, which, according to Pew Research, accounts for 21 per cent of the total Asian population of the country.

Pew Research also noted that in terms of personal income, the annual earnings of Indian Americans aged 16 and above were $85,300 in 2023, which is higher than among other Asians overall in America ($52,400), the Pew Research report stated.

Hence, the Indian Americans contribute more to the economy than others.

Growing political influence

In the political sphere, the Indian American community has grown stronger and more influential. Lawmakers and politicians like Bobby Jindal, Nikki Haley, and Pramila Jayapal often make headlines. Not only this, but the Indian community also plays an important role in determining the results in several swing states (including North Carolina) during presidential elections.

Over the years, Indian-origin political personalities have made several strides. For instance, Kamala Harris not only became the first Indian- American to become US Vice President, but she was also the first woman to achieve the feat.

When JD Vance became the Vice President of the current US dispensation, it also marked the first time an Indian American, Usha Vance, became the second Indian-American to become the second first lady.

Economic powerhouse

Indian-American executives are at the helm of some of the world's most powerful and recognisable companies, from big tech to consumer goods and even real estate. Some of the prominent Indian-American leaders heading major global and U.S. corporations include: Sundar Pichai: CEO of Alphabet Inc. and Google; Satya Nadella: CEO of Microsoft; Arvind Krishna: Chairman and CEO of IBM; Shantanu Narayen: Chairman and CEO of Adobe; Shankh Mitra: CEO of Welltower, who recently emerged as one of the highest-paid executives globally; Neal Mohan: CEO of YouTube; Raj Subramaniam: President and CEO of FedEx; Jayshree Ullal: President and CEO of Arista Networks; Revathi Advaithi: CEO of Flex, etc.

Despite comprising just about 1.5 per cent of the US population, Indian Americans exert an outsized economic influence. The community contributes 5–6 per cent of total US income taxes (roughly $250–$300 billion annually) and boasts household incomes well above the national average, making Indian immigrants highly beneficial for the overall US budget and GDP.

Overall, the economic impact of the Indian diaspora spans multiple key sectors and scales of business.