Ambani’s Rolls-Royce Cullinan, Tata’s Ferrari California or Murthy’s Skoda: which Indian billionaire has the best taste in cars?

Asia’s second-richest man just spent US$1.8 million on the world’s most expensive SUV, adding to his collection of Phantoms, Lamborghinis, Bentleys and Cadillacs

Many tycoons share his passion. Mittal has a ‘palace on wheels’, Tata favours a Ferrari and Poonawalla has a ‘batmobile’ Mercedes. So who’s the poor guy with the Skoda?

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A Rolls-Royce Cullinan, like the one bought by Mukesh Ambani. Photo: Rolls-Royce

Published: 5:10pm, 15 Feb 2022Updated: 7:38pm, 15 Feb 2022

Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s recent purchase of a Rolls-Royce Cullinan – one of the world’s most expensive SUVs at US$1.8 million – was a reminder of the enduring appeal of luxury cars as a status symbol.

Such is the passion of Asia’s second-richest man for automobiles that the managing director of the oil-to-telecoms conglomerate Reliance Industries even coughed up an additional US$15,000 for a number plate ending with “0001”.

Not that that is the first Cullinan the 64-year-old has bought. Named after the largest diamond ever discovered, this is the third in his crowded garage overflowing with 168 other beauties. These include a Rolls-Royce Phantom V111 sedan, a Bentley Bentayga SUV, a Lamborghini Roadster, an armoured Mercedes-Maybach S600 Guard and various models of McLarens, Cadillacs, and Aston Martins.

On Ambani’s 60th birthday, his wife, Nita, also a car lover, gave him a customised Mercedes-Benz Maybach 62 pegged at half a million dollars.

It’s no surprise then that six floors of the Ambanis’ 27-storey residence – Antilia – in Mumbai, India, are dedicated to parking these fancy wheels. They are maintained by a bevy of 30 attendants and 10 chauffeurs and serviced by a car service station on the mansion’s seventh floor.

Mukesh Ambani’s home Antilia. Photo: Instagram

However, there are many other Indian titans who share Ambani’s craze for cars. Lakshmi Mittal, CEO of the world’s second largest steel company ArcelorMittal, owns a slew of super expensive cars including a Porsche Boxster, Rolls-Royces and several Mercedes-Benzes. However, Lakshmi’s most lavish automobile is a recreational vehicle (RV) nicknamed “Palace on Wheels” – technically a mini hotel on wheels incorporating luxury bedrooms, a shower and a living room with a flat-screen television.

The Porsche Boxster is one of Lakshmi Mittal’s favourites.