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Vijay Mallya took over as chairman of United Breweries Group at just 28. Soon, he became known as the “King of Good Times,” expanding his empire across aviation, beverages, and real estate.
In 2013, Forbes estimated Mallya’s net worth at around 750 million dollars (Rs 6,422 crore). His flashy lifestyle made headlines, from private jets to luxury yachts.
Mallya launched Kingfisher Airlines in 2005 with top-class service. But global financial troubles hit hard, and the airline started to struggle.
In 2016, Mallya left India after defaulting on loans worth over Rs 9,000 crore. In 2017, the Supreme Court declared him guilty in a case linked to Kingfisher’s downfall.
According to The Independent UK, Mallya’s estimated net worth in July 2022 was around 1.2 billion dollars (Rs 10,297 crore), despite ongoing legal issues.
He bought the Royal Challengers Bangalore team for Rs 476 crore in 2008, making it one of the costliest IPL teams. It was backed by United Spirits, owned by Mallya at the time.
Mallya was accused of sending 40 million dollars (Rs 343 crore) to his children. In a 2017 contempt case, he was sentenced to four months in jail and fined just Rs 2,000 (£21).
As per India Today, Mallya owns a $2.4 million penthouse and three condos in Trump Plaza, New York—two with his daughter. He also owns a luxurious estate near Cannes, France.
Speaking to Raj Shamani, Mallya said: “You may call me a fugitive… but where is the ‘chor’ (thief)? Where is the ‘chori’ (theft)?” He claims he left India on a scheduled trip and didn’t flee.
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