Owner of controversial $20 million 'sky mansion' built on top of 400ft skyscraper might never live in it
If you were a billionaire, where would you build a house?
You might opt for a beachside location, or maybe a New York City penthouse?
With lush gardens, an infinity pool, a helipad and a surrounding deck, businessman Vijay Mallya's mansion would be right at home on a sprawling country estate.
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It has the space and grandeur you'd expect of a billionaire's home - it just so happens to be about 400 feet in the sky.
Built on top of the Kingfisher Towers in UB City, Bengaluru, India, the home covers 40,000 square feet, and shares nothing with the rest of the apartments in the building below.
Irfan Razack, the chairman of Prestige Estates Projects, which is part of a joint development agreement to construct the tower, said of the project: “It was a challenge to construct the mansion on a huge cantilever at that height, but we have ensured we build it exactly the way it was conceived. It’s a complex structure and the finishing work is going on.
“We will finish the project as per contract and hand it over."
The mansion has a value of approximately $20 million, but after spending so much money to make his extravagant home dreams come true, there's a chance Mallya might never actually get to live in it.
In March 2016, Mallya fled India to move to the UK as he defaulted on debts of more than $1bn (£842m), and faced charges including fraud.
India has made efforts to extradite Mallya, who made his fortune selling beer under the Kingfisher brand. He later branched out into aviation and Formula 1 racing.
Earlier this year, British Security Minister Tom Tugendhat was asked about the extradition of Mallya and responded to say the UK does not intend to become a place where people can evade justice.
Speaking to PTI, Tugendhat said: "We both (the UK and India) have legal processes that must be gone through. But the UK government is absolutely clear, we have no intention of becoming a place where those who are seeking to evade justice can hide."
As the Indian government continues to try and get its hands on Mallya, the mansion remains unclaimed by its owner.
Still, that hasn't stopped people expressing their wonder at the building, with one internet user branding it 'beautiful but scary at the same time'.
"I’m gonna buy this one day," another commented.
With questions surrounding whether Mallya will ever get to live in the property, who knows who will end up moving in.
Topics: Money, World News
Emily Brown