Vijay Mallya Celebrates RCB's Record Sale: A Journey from Rs 450 Crore to Rs 16,660 Crore
Vijay Mallya's Reflections on RCB's Historic Sale
New Delhi: Vijay Mallya, the former owner of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), expressed his thoughts on the franchise's recent record sale. A consortium led by the Aditya Birla Group has acquired RCB for an astounding Rs 16,660 crore, prompting Mallya to reflect on how his initial investment of Rs 450 crore has significantly appreciated over time.
The consortium also includes Bolt Ventures and Blackstone's perpetual private equity strategy, making RCB the priciest franchise in Indian Premier League (IPL) history.
In a post on X, Mallya congratulated the new owners, wishing them success with the franchise. He recalled the skepticism he faced when he purchased RCB in 2008, with many dismissing it as a mere vanity project. He emphasized that his vision was to build the Royal Challenge brand, which led to the naming of the franchise.
I would like to heartily congratulate the new owners of RCB. I wish them the very best and Godspeed with the most valuable IPL franchise. When I bought the franchise in 2008 for INR 450 crores, most people laughed at me and criticised my investment as a vanity project. Behind my…
— Vijay Mallya (@TheVijayMallya) March 26, 2026
Mallya expressed immense satisfaction in witnessing his investment grow to Rs 16,500 crores. He fondly recalled his time with RCB, particularly the moment he selected Virat Kohli, who has since become one of the world's top players. He extended his gratitude to RCB fans for their support during his tenure and encouraged them to continue backing the team.
With the new ownership, Aryaman Vikram Birla from the Aditya Birla Group will take on the role of Chairman, while Satyan Gajwani from Times Internet Limited will serve as Vice Chairman. The consortium also features David Blitzer, founder of Bolt Ventures, and Viral Patel, CEO of BXPE.
Notably, RCB is the first franchise to hold both the IPL and WPL titles simultaneously, having secured their first IPL title in 2025 and their second WPL title in February 2026.