Once dubbed the “King of Good Times,” Vijay Mallya, the former chairman of United Breweries Group and founder of the defunct Kingfisher Airlines, continues to live a life of relative comfort in the United Kingdom despite being a declared fugitive economic offender in India. As of December 31, 2025, Mallya remains in the UK, where extradition efforts approved years ago have yet to be enforced due to ongoing confidential legal matters.
Mallya’s financial situation has been thrust back into the spotlight following his rare public appearance in June 2025 on podcaster Raj Shamani’s Figuring Out series. In the over-four-hour interview—titled in clips as “How Does Vijay Mallya Earn Money in 2025? – Day In Life”—Mallya broke nearly a decade of media silence. He discussed his daily routine, luxury collections, business legacy, and defended his actions amid allegations of defrauding banks of over ₹9,000 crore through Kingfisher Airlines loans.
Primary Sources of Wealth
Mallya’s income and assets in 2025 are largely passive, stemming from holdings that survived the collapse of his empire and legal attachments. Key sources include:
- Stake in United Breweries Limited (UBL): Mallya retains an approximately 8.08% stake in UBL, the company behind Kingfisher beer, now majority-controlled by Heineken. As of mid-2025 valuations, this holding is estimated at around ₹4,367–4,400 crore. While much of it may be pledged or restricted, it contributes to his portfolio through share value appreciation.
- Minor Holdings in Liquor-Related Companies: He owns small stakes in entities like United Spirits (about 0.01%, worth roughly ₹10 crore) and others, totaling over ₹4,400 crore in public Indian stock holdings as per March–June 2025 data from sources like Trendlyne.
- Global Real Estate and Assets: Mallya owns luxury properties across the world, including homes in London, a estate near Cannes in France, a penthouse and condos in New York’s Trump Plaza, and residual interests in India (though many have been attached or sold). These assets provide potential rental income or hold significant value.
Some reports mention residual perks or a reported annual salary equivalent to around ₹1.7 crore from past entities, though this is unverified.
Net Worth Estimates
Estimates of Mallya’s net worth in 2025 vary widely due to ongoing asset recoveries by Indian banks (exceeding ₹14,000 crore attached, with recoveries neutralizing much of the original debt). Figures range from $600–800 million to lingering references of $1.2 billion from 2022 reports. His wealth is predominantly tied to pre-2016 holdings protected amid legal disputes.
Life in Exile and the Shamani Podcast
In the podcast, Mallya described a comfortable, reflective daily life in the UK involving family time, pets, and maintaining his collection of vintage cars. He vehemently denied being a “thief,” claiming banks have over-recovered debts and that he offered settlements multiple times. Mallya expressed willingness to return to India for a “fair trial” but highlighted perceived injustices.
No longer involved in active businesses—Kingfisher Airlines is long defunct, Force India F1 was sold, and operational control of UBL is with Heineken—Mallya’s fortune relies on retained assets amid protracted extradition battles.
As 2025 ends, Mallya’s story remains one of extravagance, controversy, and resilience, with Indian authorities continuing efforts to bring him back while he maintains a luxurious existence abroad.
About The Author
