23 Jan 2009, That Vijay Mallya, the flamboyant chairman of the UB group, likes the good life is well known. His penchant for fast cars, castles, horses, jets, yachts, game lodges and bling is well chronicled. It looks as if islands are his latest passion. 

The buzz in Bangalore is that he has bought an island in Europe, ostensibly off the coast of Monte Carlo, though the exact location couldn’t be verified. Multiple sources involved in the deal have confirmed the news to TOI and indicated that the price Mallya paid was between $100 million and $150 million (Rs 500 crore to Rs 750 crore). The man himself rubbished the news. Said Mallya, “Island? Rs 800 crore? Complete nonsense. Please quote me on this.’’ We have. 

This wouldn’t be the first island that Mallya would own. He bought a string of islands north of the Maldives years ago and now runs resorts in these islands. At one point he had a stake in an aircraft company that offered hopping flights to these islands. Recently, he acquired the island of Thinnakkara off the cost of Lakshwadeep . 

Mallya in his personal capacity has heavily invested in the tourism space. He owns the Mabula Game Lodge, close to Johannesburg in South Africa. Spread over 12,000 hectares it is said to be one of South Africa’s finest private game reserves. He is believed to have bought about 1,000 acres of land in the Himalayas to promote high end tourist properties there. 

Mallya’s lifestyle — the sheer scale and lavishness of it — leaves most bedazzled . He has houses around the globe; castles in Scotland, town houses in London, Monte Carlo, Manhattan (Trump Towers), Sausalito and innumerable properties in India. While ‘Niladri’ in Mumbai and ‘Kingfisher Villa’ in Goa are the best known, he has hidden gems like the heritage, colonial bunglow with the best garden in Ooty, besides houses in Delhi and his home town Bangalore. 

His three yachts: Indian Empress, Indian Princess and Kalizma, his four private jets, his 240-strong vintage car collection, his Force India Formula 1 team and thoroughbreads not to mention the Porsches, Bentleys, Maserattis and Ferraris make Mallya the most colourful of Indian businessmen.