In brief
- There is no reliable 2026 estimate of Vijay Mallya’s net worth.
- Forbes last valued him at $750 million in 2013, ranking him 84th in India.
- A UK court declared him bankrupt in July 2021 on a petition by Indian banks.
- Assets worth Rs 14,131.6 crore have been restored to Indian public sector banks.
As of October 2026, there is no reliable current estimate of Vijay Mallya’s net worth. Forbes last valued him at $750 million in 2013. A UK court declared him bankrupt in 2021, and Indian banks have since recovered assets worth Rs 14,131.6 crore linked to unpaid Kingfisher Airlines loans.
What is Vijay Mallya’s net worth in 2026?
No major publication currently publishes a net worth figure for Vijay Mallya. Forbes placed him 84th on its list of India’s 100 richest people in 2013, with $750 million, down from $800 million a year earlier.
Since then, his fortune has been tied up in debt recovery and court cases. Business Standard reports that he owes 17 Indian banks an estimated Rs 9,000 crore. Mallya disputes this and has argued that banks and the Enforcement Directorate have recovered more than double the original debt.
Also readAliko Dangote Net Worth 2026: $54.5 Billion After Cement SurgeHow Vijay Mallya made his money
Mallya became chairman of the UB Group in 1983, at the age of 28, after the death of his father, Vittal Mallya. The group’s main business was alcohol, through United Breweries (maker of Kingfisher beer) and United Spirits.
Under his control, the group grew into one of India’s largest drinks businesses. He later sold control of United Spirits to Diageo. In 2016 he agreed to step down as chairman of United Spirits in exchange for a $75 million payment from Diageo, which Indian courts later froze.
He also owned the Royal Challengers Bangalore IPL team and co-owned the Force India Formula One team.
Debts, bankruptcy and recovery
Kingfisher Airlines, which Mallya launched in 2005, stopped flying in 2012 with large unpaid loans. Indian banks, led by State Bank of India, have pursued him for these debts since then.
| Year | Figure | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | $800 million | Forbes list of India’s 100 richest, ranked 73rd |
| 2013 | $750 million | Forbes list of India’s 100 richest, ranked 84th |
| 2016 | Not ranked | Left India in March 2016 as bank loans to Kingfisher Airlines went unpaid |
| 2021 | Bankrupt | Declared bankrupt by a UK court in July 2021 |
| 2024 | Rs 14,131.6 crore recovered | Value of his assets restored to public sector banks, Finance Minister told Lok Sabha |
In July 2021, the Insolvency and Companies Court in London declared Mallya bankrupt on a petition by an SBI-led group of 13 Indian banks. This allowed the banks to pursue his assets worldwide. In October 2025, he withdrew his application to annul the bankruptcy order.
In December 2025, the Enforcement Directorate released Rs 300 crore to clear unpaid dues of former Kingfisher employees, following a Debts Recovery Tribunal order.
Assets: homes, cars, jets and yacht
At his peak, Mallya was known for an expensive lifestyle that included luxury homes, private jets and large yachts. Many of these assets have since been seized or sold.
The 95-metre superyacht Indian Empress, long linked to Mallya, was impounded in Malta over a crew wage dispute. It was sold for €43.5 million in a court-ordered auction in 2018, according to Superyacht Times.
Several of his properties and shares in India were attached by investigating agencies and sold to repay banks. He now lives in the United Kingdom, where a court order bars him from leaving the country.
Early life and career
Vijay Mallya was born on 18 December 1955 in Calcutta (now Kolkata). He studied at La Martiniere College and St. Xavier’s College in the city.
After taking charge of the UB Group, he expanded into new areas, including aviation, fertilisers and real estate. He was also elected twice to the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of India’s Parliament, and resigned in 2016.
His sports investments made him one of India’s most visible business figures in the 2000s. In March 2026, Business Standard reported on United Spirits’ Rs 16,660 crore all-cash sale of Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a consortium.
Legal cases in India and the UK
Mallya left India in March 2016. A Westminster Magistrates’ Court ordered his extradition to India in December 2018, and he has since failed to overturn that ruling. He remains in the UK while a separate confidential legal matter is pending.
A special court in Mumbai declared him a fugitive economic offender in 2019. In 2022, the Supreme Court of India sentenced him to four months in jail for contempt of court.
In February 2026, the Bombay High Court said he must return to India and submit to its jurisdiction before it hears his challenges to the fugitive offender declaration. Mallya told the court he could not say when he would return. In September 2026, the Enforcement Directorate told the court that bank recoveries do not settle the money laundering charges against him.
What Mallya has said
In June 2025, Mallya spoke on a podcast with Raj Shamani that passed 20 million views. He apologised to former Kingfisher staff, denied being a “chor” (thief) and said he may return to India if assured of a fair trial.
He has repeatedly said that the amount recovered by banks is far higher than his debt, a claim the banks and the Enforcement Directorate do not accept.
Personal life
Mallya first married in 1986, and his son, Siddharth Mallya, was born in 1987. That marriage ended in divorce, and he later married Rekha Mallya. Siddharth is an actor and model.
For other Indian fortunes, see our profile of Anupam Mittal’s net worth and our list of the richest cricketers in the world.
Sources: Business Standard, Business Standard / PTI, 2013, Gulf News, Superyacht Times.
Frequently asked questions
What is Vijay Mallya’s net worth in 2026?
There is no reliable estimate of Vijay Mallya’s net worth in 2026. Forbes last valued him at $750 million in 2013. A UK court declared him bankrupt in July 2021, and Indian banks have since recovered assets worth Rs 14,131.6 crore linked to Kingfisher Airlines loans.
How much money does Vijay Mallya owe Indian banks?
Business Standard reports that Mallya owes 17 Indian banks an estimated Rs 9,000 crore, linked to loans given to Kingfisher Airlines. Mallya argues that the banks and the Enforcement Directorate have already recovered more than double the original debt, which the agencies dispute.
Where is Vijay Mallya now?
Vijay Mallya lives in the United Kingdom, where he has been since March 2016. A UK court ordered his extradition in December 2018, but a separate confidential legal matter is pending. He told the Bombay High Court in 2026 that a UK order bars him from travelling.
Was Vijay Mallya declared bankrupt?
Yes. In July 2021, a court in London declared Mallya bankrupt on a petition by a State Bank of India-led group of 13 Indian banks. The order lets the banks pursue his assets worldwide. In October 2025 he withdrew his application to annul the order.
Did Vijay Mallya own RCB?
Yes. Mallya bought the Royal Challengers Bangalore IPL franchise in 2008, and it was held through United Spirits, which Diageo now controls. In March 2026, Business Standard reported on United Spirits’ Rs 16,660 crore all-cash sale of the team to a consortium.
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