Vijay Mallya, the former owner of Kingfisher Airlines and the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) IPL team, remains a prominent figure in the news, despite his ongoing legal battles and fugitive status. While his business empire has faced significant setbacks, reports suggest his net worth has seen some fluctuations and even a rise amid the controversies.
Once known as the "King of Good Times," Mallya enjoyed a flamboyant lifestyle and a thriving business career. He served as the chairman of United Spirits, the largest spirits company in India, and continues to be the chairman of the United Breweries Group, a conglomerate with interests in beverage alcohol, aviation infrastructure, real estate, and fertilizer. His career highlights include expanding the United Breweries Group's portfolio through various acquisitions and achieving significant market share for Kingfisher beer, making it available in over 52 countries. He also bought the Royal Challengers Bangalore team for ₹476 crore in 2008, making it one of the costliest IPL teams.
However, Mallya's ambitious foray into aviation with Kingfisher Airlines proved to be his undoing. Launched in 2005, the airline faced financial distress following the 2008 global financial crisis and eventually defaulted on loans worth over ₹9,000 crore (approximately $1.1 billion). By 2012, the airline had ceased operations, and Mallya came under increasing scrutiny from Indian regulators and banks. In 2016, he left India for the UK, just before being accused of willful default.
According to Forbes, Mallya's estimated net worth stood at around $750 million in 2013. Recent reports indicate a rise in his net worth, with The Independent (UK) estimating it at $1.2 billion as of July 2022. However, other reports claim that as of 2025, Vijay Mallya has a net worth of USD 600 million. Despite the legal challenges and controversies, Mallya reportedly holds assets such as a penthouse and three luxury condos at Trump Plaza in New York, some co-owned with his daughter. He also owns the Le Grande Jardin estate in France, located on Sainte-Marguerite Island near Cannes.
Mallya's legal troubles continue to mount as Indian authorities pursue his extradition to face trial for financial crimes related to Kingfisher Airlines. He faces charges of criminal conspiracy, fraud, and money laundering, with investigating agencies detailing several cases against him. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has charged Mallya under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), alleging that Kingfisher Airlines diverted at least ₹3,547 crore of loan received from banks. Despite losing his final appeal against extradition in 2020, Mallya remains in the UK, resisting extradition on other bases that have yet to be resolved.
Adding to his legal woes, Mallya lost an appeal against a bankruptcy order issued by a London High Court in April 2025, pertaining to a debt exceeding £1 billion owed to Indian banks, including the State Bank of India. The court upheld the bankruptcy order, but Mallya's lawyers stated that he would continue to seek to overturn it.
Despite the ongoing legal battles, Mallya maintains his innocence and claims that he is open to returning to India if assured a fair trial. He has also stated that banks have recovered ₹14,000 crore, which is more than double the amount he owed, and has approached the Karnataka High Court seeking loan recovery accounts from banks. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman informed the Lok Sabha that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has recovered assets worth ₹17,750 crore from Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi, and Mehul Choksi. Mallya's properties worth ₹14,131.6 crore were restored to public sector banks.
As of June 2025, Vijay Mallya remains a controversial figure, with his past successes overshadowed by his legal battles and fugitive status. While his net worth may have seen some fluctuations and a potential rise, his reputation remains tarnished, and his future remains uncertain as he continues to fight extradition and defend himself against numerous charges.
