Leema Rose Martin’s husband is Santiago Martin, widely known as India’s “Lottery King” and the founder of Martin Lottery Agencies Ltd. Together, the couple commands one of the largest family fortunes in Tamil Nadu politics, with a combined declared family wealth of approximately Rs 5,862 crore as of 2026.
Santiago Martin: How a Coimbatore Ticket Seller Built a Business Empire
Santiago Martin (also written as Santhiyago Martin) built his fortune from the ground up in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, starting with lottery ticket sales before scaling into one of India’s most prominent business conglomerates. In 1988, he formally incorporated Martin Lottery Agencies Ltd, the venture that would become the cornerstone of the Martin Group of Companies. Under his chairmanship, the group expanded beyond lotteries into construction, media, and other sectors, with annual business growth reportedly reaching 109% at peak periods.
His lottery operations became so dominant that the label “Lottery King” stuck permanently. The Martin Group today supports, directly and indirectly, the livelihoods of millions across South India. In 2024, Santiago Martin drew national attention as India’s largest individual buyer of Electoral Bonds, with his company’s purchases traced to contributions of more than Rs 500 crore to the ruling DMK party in Tamil Nadu alone, according to BBC reporting.
| Key Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Santiago Martin (Santhiyago Martin) |
| Known as | “Lottery King of India” |
| Main company | Martin Lottery Agencies Ltd (est. 1988) |
| Headquarters | Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu |
| Business sectors | Lottery, construction, media, real estate |
| Declared income (2024-25) | Rs 11.39 crore |
| Role in Martin Group | Founder and Chairman |
A man who began selling lottery tickets on the streets of Coimbatore now chairs a group whose family members collectively declare assets approaching Rs 6,000 crore. That particular arc, from footpath vendor to one of India’s largest political donors, is the kind of story that rarely surfaces in standard business profiles.
Who Is Leema Rose Martin? Background and Biography
Leema Rose Martin, born around 1967, is the Director of the Martin Group of Companies and has been central to the group’s social responsibility and philanthropic efforts for decades. Her official biography describes her as “Humanitarian by birth, Philanthropist by heart, Administrator by practice.” Despite a formal education that ended at Class VI, she has built a public identity as one of Tamil Nadu’s prominent women philanthropists and community leaders.
She holds multiple organizational roles, including positions in charitable institutions and civic bodies. The Martin Foundation, the group’s philanthropic arm, has channeled resources into healthcare, education, and social welfare programs across Tamil Nadu under her active involvement. She was awarded the honorary title “Dr.” in recognition of her social contributions.
In 2026, Leema Rose Martin entered electoral politics when AIADMK fielded her as its candidate for the Lalgudi Assembly constituency in Trichy district for the Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections. Her nomination affidavit revealed a personal net worth of approximately Rs 1,041 crore, comprising Rs 139.63 crore in movable assets and Rs 909.94 crore in immovable assets, against liabilities of Rs 8.57 crore. This made her the single richest candidate in the 2026 Tamil Nadu elections.
Marriage, Children, and the Martin Family
Leema Rose and Santiago Martin have two sons: Jose Charles Martin and Jose Tyson Martin. The family has become deeply intertwined with Tamil Nadu’s political structure, with multiple members contesting elections across different constituencies and even different parties in 2026.
Jose Charles Martin, the eldest son, serves as Director of the Martin Group of Companies and has also launched his own political venture, the Latchiya Jananayaga Katchi (LJK). He filed nomination for a separate constituency in the 2026 elections, with his own movable assets declared at over Rs 328 crore. He is married to Sindhu Shree. Jose Tyson Martin, the younger son, is also part of the broader family political effort in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, according to election filings cited by News24Online.
| Family Member | Role | 2026 Electoral Involvement |
|---|---|---|
| Santiago Martin | Founder, Martin Group Chairman | Not contesting; declared income Rs 11.39 crore |
| Leema Rose Martin | Director, Martin Group; AIADMK candidate | Lalgudi constituency, Trichy district |
| Jose Charles Martin | Director, Martin Group; LJK founder | Contesting under LJK; movable assets Rs 328+ crore |
| Jose Tyson Martin | Part of Martin family business | Family contesting in TN and Puducherry |
| Sindhu Shree | Wife of Jose Charles Martin | Mentioned in family election filings |
The sight of a mother running under AIADMK while her son fields candidates under a party he founded himself captures something rarely discussed in coverage of the family: the Martins are not political followers, they are political architects, building across multiple vehicles at once.
Family Wealth and Asset Breakdown
Leema Rose Martin is the richest candidate in the 2026 Tamil Nadu elections. Her declared personal net worth of approximately Rs 1,041 crore places her well ahead of other candidates in the state. The broader Martin family’s combined declared assets reach Rs 5,862 crore, according to election affidavit data compiled by Deccan Herald.
| Asset Category | Leema Rose Martin (Personal) |
|---|---|
| Movable assets | Rs 139.63 crore |
| Immovable assets | Rs 909.94 crore |
| Total assets | Rs 1,049.57 crore |
| Liabilities | Rs 8.57 crore |
| Net worth (approx.) | Rs 1,041 crore |
| Declared income (2024-25) | Rs 9.82 crore |
The immovable assets (real estate) account for approximately 87% of her declared personal wealth, a pattern consistent with South Indian business families who tend to concentrate holdings in land and property. The family’s total Rs 5,862 crore figure includes assets declared by Santiago Martin and their sons.
Political Career: AIADMK Candidate in Lalgudi, 2026
Leema Rose Martin entered electoral politics in 2026 as the AIADMK candidate for Lalgudi constituency in Trichy district, Tamil Nadu. Polling is scheduled for April 23, 2026, with results on May 4, 2026. Her election affidavit, filed with the Election Commission of India, confirms her as the wealthiest candidate in the state with a declared personal net worth of approximately Rs 1,041 crore.
AIADMK, led by Edappadi K. Palaniswami, is contesting as part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in this cycle. Lalgudi has a mixed urban-rural voter base in Trichy’s hinterland, and her candidacy brings considerable financial firepower into what was previously a relatively low-profile seat.
Lalgudi is a seat in Trichy district with a mixed urban-rural voter base. Her candidacy marks her formal entry into electoral politics after decades of work in the Martin Group’s business and philanthropic operations. The affidavit she filed also discloses one pending criminal case, a detail reported by The News Minute in its coverage of her nomination.
Her son Jose Charles Martin, meanwhile, is running under the banner of his own party, the Latchiya Jananayaga Katchi, in a separate constituency, while other family members contest in Puducherry, per News24Online reporting. The family’s presence across multiple constituencies and political formations in the same election cycle is unusual even by Tamil Nadu’s standards of family-based politics.
Philanthropy and Social Responsibility
Leema Rose Martin directs the Martin Group’s charitable and CSR programs, working for over two decades across healthcare, education, and community welfare in Tamil Nadu. The Martin Foundation, the family’s philanthropic arm, funds programs targeting vulnerable communities, women’s empowerment, and educational access throughout the state.
Leema Rose Martin has led the Martin Group’s social responsibility work for over two decades. The Martin Foundation, the family’s charitable arm, has funded programs in healthcare, education, and community welfare across Tamil Nadu. CSR Times described her as “a visionary philanthropist redefining social responsibility” in a 2025 profile.
Her official website identifies three pillars of her public identity: humanitarian work, philanthropy, and administration. She has been recognized for her contributions to vulnerable communities, including women’s empowerment and educational access programs across the state.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Leema Rose Martin’s husband?
Leema Rose Martin’s husband is Santiago Martin, widely known as India’s “Lottery King.” He is the founder and chairman of Martin Lottery Agencies Ltd and the Martin Group of Companies, established in 1988 in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. Their combined family wealth is approximately Rs 5,862 crore as declared in 2026 election affidavits.
What is Santiago Martin known for?
Santiago Martin is known as India’s “Lottery King” for building one of the country’s largest lottery businesses from scratch. He founded Martin Lottery Agencies Ltd in 1988 in Coimbatore. He gained national attention in 2024 as the largest individual donor in India’s Electoral Bonds controversy, with his company’s political contributions exceeding Rs 5 billion according to BBC reporting.
How much is Leema Rose Martin’s net worth?
Leema Rose Martin declared a personal net worth of approximately Rs 1,041 crore in her 2026 Tamil Nadu election affidavit, comprising Rs 139.63 crore in movable assets and Rs 909.94 crore in immovable assets, with Rs 8.57 crore in liabilities. This made her the richest candidate in the 2026 Tamil Nadu elections.
How many children do Leema Rose and Santiago Martin have?
Leema Rose and Santiago Martin have two sons: Jose Charles Martin and Jose Tyson Martin. Jose Charles Martin is the eldest, serves as Director of the Martin Group, and also founded his own political party, the Latchiya Jananayaga Katchi (LJK). He is married to Sindhu Shree. Both sons are involved in the family’s 2026 election campaign across Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
What is the Martin Group?
The Martin Group of Companies is a diversified business conglomerate founded by Santiago Martin, headquartered in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. Its primary business is lottery operations through Martin Lottery Agencies Ltd, but the group has expanded into construction, media, and real estate. The group is one of India’s largest lottery operators, and multiple family members, including Leema Rose Martin and Jose Charles Martin, hold director positions.
What is Leema Rose Martin’s educational background?
According to her 2026 election affidavit, Leema Rose Martin studied only up to Class VI. Despite this limited formal education, she has built a prominent public career as a philanthropist, business administrator, and political candidate.
Which constituency is Leema Rose Martin contesting in 2026?
Leema Rose Martin is contesting the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections from the Lalgudi constituency in Trichy district under the AIADMK banner. Tamil Nadu polling is scheduled for April 23, 2026, with results on May 4, 2026.
Who is Jose Charles Martin?
Jose Charles Martin is the eldest son of Santiago Martin and Leema Rose Martin. He serves as Director of the Martin Group of Companies and is married to Sindhu Shree. In 2025-2026, he founded the Latchiya Jananayaga Katchi (LJK) political party and contested the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections under that party’s banner. His declared movable assets exceed Rs 328 crore.
Is Santiago Martin directly involved in politics?
Santiago Martin has not personally contested elections but has been deeply connected to Tamil Nadu politics through his company’s major political donations. In 2024, he was identified as India’s largest individual buyer of Electoral Bonds, with purchases linked to contributions to multiple political parties including the DMK and AIADMK, according to BBC and Deccan Herald reporting. His wife and sons represent the family directly in the 2026 electoral arena.
Are there pending criminal cases against Leema Rose Martin?
Leema Rose Martin’s 2026 election affidavit discloses one pending criminal case, as reported by The News Minute. Details of the specific case were not fully elaborated in publicly available affidavit summaries.
