Owning a multimillion-dollar mansion perched atop a skyscraper—only to never live in it—perfectly captures the lifestyle of the ultra-rich.
Yet, that’s precisely the case for a lavish $20 million estate atop Kingfisher Towers in Bengaluru, India, towering over the city’s many slums.
Situated in the luxurios UB City, it’s a stark contrast to how those 400ft beneath the estate live.
The mansion belongs to tycoon Vijay Mallya, but it remains vacant because he is wanted by Indian authorities on charges of fraud and money laundering.
So, what does this extravagant property include?
Mallya’s sky-high estate boasts lush gardens, an infinity pool, a helipad, and a sprawling deck. However, its location has sparked significant controversy.
It covers a whopping 40,000 square feet, and shares nothing with the rest of the apartments in the building below.
The mansion has proved controversial (Instagram/@sriharikaranth)
Irfan Razack, chairman of Prestige Estates Projects—part of the joint development behind the tower—spoke about the challenges of the ambitious project:
“Building the mansion on a massive cantilever at such a height was no easy task, but we ensured it was constructed exactly as envisioned. It’s a complex structure, and finishing work is still underway. We will complete the project as per contract and hand it over.”
Despite its estimated $20 million value, Mallya’s extravagant dream home now risks becoming nothing more than an unoccupied symbol of excess.
There’s a strong possibility that Mallya may never set foot in his extravagant, multimillion-dollar mansion.
India has been actively working to extradite Mallya, who built his fortune through the Kingfisher beer empire.
The owner may never live there (Instagram/@sriharikaranth)
In 2023, former British security minister Tom Tugendhat addressed Mallya’s extradition, emphasizing that the UK does not intend to be a safe haven for fugitives.
Speaking to PTI, he stated: “Both the UK and India have legal processes that must be followed. But the UK government is absolutely clear—we have no intention of becoming a place where those seeking to evade justice can hide.”
Meanwhile, Mallya’s opulent mansion remains unclaimed as the Indian government persists in its efforts to bring him back.
