Who is Vijay Mallya's first wife? Everything about his lavish lifestyle, 3 wives, net worth, to cars

Pink Villa

12-06-2025

Vijay Mallya, the 'King of Good Times', has always garnered the attention of the media and public. Whether it is his extravagant lifestyle and luxurious properties or his personal life, the business tycoon's life sparks debates and discussions. The most celebrated businessman rose to fame due to his expansive ventures in aviation, liquor, and sports. However, despite his financial status and lavish lifestyle, his life wasn't rosy. Over the years, his name has been linked to a lot of legal challenges, public scrutiny, and alleged fraudulent activities.
Here's a quick take on his personal and professional trajectory.
Vijay Mallya's First Wife
Vijay Mallya married thrice and has three children. His first wife, Sameera Tyabji, was a former Air India air hostess. They met in 1986, during a business trip to the United States. After several interactions, Vijay proposed to Sameera in mid-air. Their love story created headlines, and within a year, they tied the knot. Later, the couple was blessed with a baby boy, Siddhartha. When the couple moved to England, their personal life took a major turn, and their marriage came to an end.
Vijay Mallya's Second Wife
Later, he got hitched to Rekha, his childhood friend who was also an air hostess. At that time, Rekha was navigating through a separation. From her previous marriages, she had two children, Kabir and Laila.
Years passed, and Vijay and Rekha's relationship strengthened, leading to their marriage in 1993. He also adopted Rekha's daughter Laila, whereas the couple welcomed two daughters, Leanna and Tanya. Since the media and public were keenly interested in their relationship, Rekha strived to maintain a low profile.
In addition to his business empire and controversies, Vijay Mallya's personal relationships and marriage have kept the audience hooked to know more. As he expanded his empire across aviation, real estate, and beverages, he was hailed as the 'King of Good Times'. At just 28, he was announced as the Chairman of United Breweries Group.
Vijay Mallya's alleged third wife, Pinky
There have been speculations that Mallya married for the third time. However, there has been no official confirmation regarding the same. Reportedly, he married to former Kingfisher Airlines employee, Pinky Lalwani. They were apparently spotted together during the court hearings of Mallya's court cases.
Vijay Mallya's Business Timeline
In 2005, he launched top-class aviation services, Kingfisher Airlines, which struggled financially later and was shut down.
In 2008, he purchased the Royal Challengers Bangalore IPL team for reportedly Rs 476 crore, making it the most expensive team of all.
In 2013, it was estimated that Vijay Mallya's net worth was around 750 million dollars. His private jets and luxury yachts screamed pure luxury and his lavish way of living.
In 2016, Mallya exited India and allegedly defaulted on loans worth over Rs 9,000 crore. However, in the recent podcast, Figuring Out with Raj Shamani, Mallya stated that he didn't do anything wrong and that the stories were fabricated by the media and critics. In 2017, in a case linked to Kingfisher's downfall, the Supreme Court declared him guilty.
Cut to 2022, despite the ongoing legal issues and controversies, Vijay Mallya's net worth was estimated to be around 1.2 billion dollars, which is Rs 10,297 crore.
Vijay Mallya's Lavish Properties
In London, he owns numbers 18 and 19 on Cornwall Terrace, a historic property built in 1823. In 2015, he purchased Ladywalk Mansion in Hertfordshire. In addition, Mallya owns a $2.4 million penthouse and three condos in Trump Plaza, New York, two of which he shares with his daughter. He also owns a luxurious estate near Cannes, France. In India, he has a seaside bungalow on Napean Sea Road in Mumbai, known as Niladari. Furthermore, his list of properties includes a penthouse in Kingfisher Towers, Bangalore, and a mansion in California.
To conclude, Mallya owns approximately 26 properties across India and Europe, and it is also true that he had to sell a few due to his inability to repay all of his loans.
Vijay Mallya's Car Collection
Known for having a large car collection, Mallya continues to live a lavish lifestyle. His car collection includes a Mercedes 220SE, which he has parked at his Mandwa home. To everyone's surprise, the company only produced 2,729 cars, and Vijay owns one.
As a lover of sports cars, he owned a two-seater red Ferrari 328 GTS, which debuted in 1985. Moreover, he also had a Herald during his college days and a white Rolls-Royce Ghost.
As Vijay Mallya turns 70 this year, his life's narrative will forever be etched into history. His cases and controversies have also become a symbol of India's struggles with high-profile financial offenders. Nonetheless, to date, the Indian fugitive, former businessman, and politician continues to garner attention and make headlines.
Z ee News, Economic Times platforms. In some cases, celebrities or their teams give their inputs too, which we incorporate if provided by them. We take all efforts to share possible accurate numbers, however, unless otherwise mentioned they are all approximates. We are open to feedback and suggestions on [e-mail].