The Sky Palace: A Billionaire’s Dream Turned Empty Throne

High above the booming metropolis of Bengaluru, India, a palace floats in the sky—a gleaming white mansion that looks more suited to Washington, D.C., than the rooftop of a high-rise tower. Modeled after the iconic White House and adorned with neoclassical columns, marble facades, and sweeping balconies, the 40,000-square-foot residence was supposed to be the ultimate personal sanctuary for its creator: billionaire liquor baron Vijay Mallya.

But while the “sky mansion” was completed at extraordinary cost and engineering risk, its owner has never lived in it—and perhaps never will.

The King of Good Times

Once nicknamed “The King of Good Times,” Mallya was a flamboyant figure in Indian business. He chaired United Breweries, launched Kingfisher Airlines, and was known for hosting lavish parties, racing yachts, and embracing a lifestyle that rivaled the world’s wealthiest elite.

When he announced plans to build Kingfisher Towers—a luxurious residential skyscraper in Bengaluru—he envisioned something that would reflect both his empire and his ego. Crowning the 33-story tower, a private mansion would dominate the city’s skyline: his personal White House, lifted into the clouds.

Construction began in the early 2010s. Built on the grounds of Mallya’s ancestral bungalow, the tower was developed in partnership with Prestige Estates, one of India’s most reputable builders. The centerpiece was to be Mallya’s penthouse—a two-floor mansion complete with a helipad, private gardens, infinity pool, library, and art gallery.

Engineering such a massive structure atop an already tall building wasn’t easy. The design included cantilevered platforms to bear the enormous weight, advanced anti-seismic supports, and specially imported materials. By the time the mansion neared completion, the total cost was estimated at over $20 million.

But while construction teams in Bengaluru labored to complete his sky palace, Mallya’s world on the ground was crumbling.

From Fortune to Fugitive

By 2016, Mallya was facing intense scrutiny. His once-celebrated Kingfisher Airlines had collapsed, leaving behind over $1 billion in unpaid loans. Indian banks, many of them state-owned, accused him of willfully defaulting and funneling funds.

Amid mounting legal pressure, Mallya left India and fled to the United Kingdom. His departure turned into international news. India revoked his passport and requested extradition, but Mallya fought the case in British courts, claiming political persecution and a lack of fair trial guarantees.

As of 2025, he remains in the UK, embroiled in endless appeals and legal maneuvering. Meanwhile, back in India, his assets have been seized, frozen, or auctioned—except one.

The mansion in the sky.

A Symbol Without a Soul

Though completed, the penthouse remains eerily unoccupied. While other residents of Kingfisher Towers have moved into their multimillion-dollar apartments, the top floors stand empty. No furnishings, no guests, no parties.

It’s not just legal limbo that keeps Mallya away—it’s also public perception. In India, he has gone from being a business tycoon to a symbol of excess, debt, and escape. Even if he could return without prosecution, stepping into his palatial home might spark outrage.

The sky mansion is now a paradox. It towers above the city as a testament to wealth and ambition, yet it is functionally useless—a monument to a man who is no longer welcome in the land of his birth.

What Comes Next?

The question of what to do with the penthouse lingers. Indian banks have made attempts to recover dues by targeting Mallya’s assets, but the unique nature of the sky mansion complicates matters. Unlike a typical apartment, it was custom-built to the exact tastes and lifestyle of one man. Its floor plan, amenities, and finishes may not appeal to a conventional buyer.

Even selling it piecemeal is no simple task—the mansion is structurally integrated into the tower, and separating it into smaller units could cost millions more.

There have been whispers of converting the penthouse into a boutique luxury venue, an exclusive members’ club, or even an art museum. But so far, all such plans have stalled, waiting for a legal green light that may never come.

A Tale of Two Heights

The sky mansion now lives in limbo—a half-realized fantasy hovering over a city grounded in new ambitions. As Bengaluru becomes a global tech and innovation hub, its skyline tells stories of both promise and hubris. And none is more haunting than the mansion in the clouds.

Vijay Mallya once aimed to build his legacy high above the city that made him rich. Instead, he built a prison of his own making—one with no walls, no guards, and no keys, but just as confining. The palace he never entered may outlast his career, his reputation, and even the scandals that followed him.

It’s often said that you can’t take it with you. For Mallya, the tragedy may be that he couldn’t even use it while he was here.