Billionaire's $20M mansion built on top of skyscraper is still abandoned and he's never once set foot inside
Published on Jun 13, 2026 at 12:02 AM (UTC+4)
by Ben Thompson
Last updated on Jun 13, 2026 at 12:02 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Ben Thompson
On top of a skyscraper, this billionaire built a $20 million mansion – but he’s never stepped foot inside it once.
As if that set of facts wasn’t unusual enough, the mansion is also modelled after the White House.
Vijay Mallya, an Indian businessman, was the brains behind this idea.
But despite all the cash invested into the property, he’s still not been able to enjoy it for himself.
Why the $20 million mansion sits empty
Mallya invested millions into this project, decking it out with a helipad, an infinity pool, and a garden.
We can’t help but wonder if the property, located in Bengaluru, India, actually tops the real White House.
After all, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue doesn’t have a view like this, does it?
The ‘White House in the Sky’ began construction back in the early 2010s, built on top of the Kingfisher Towers, nearing completion six years later.
However, it was around this time that things started going wrong.
Mallya ended up fleeing the country and heading to the UK after the Indian government accused him of fraud and money laundering.
With reportedly $1 billion owed in loans, his assets ended up being frozen.
This ground the whole $20 million mansion project to a halt, and it has gone unfinished for a decade.
His legal troubles have shown no signs of abating either, with Bombay High Court ruling back in December that it would not hear his challenge to the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act until he submitted himself to the authorities.
There are a lot of expensive houses around the world
The set-up of this house is certainly unusual, but its price isn’t.
Around the world, there are plenty of properties guaranteed to break the bottom line.
One Bentley penthouse would set you back $37 million, which still comes up short compared to this Scarface mansion.
And who could forget the mansion that Adele now owns, having purchased it off Sylvester Stallone?
Will we ever see Mallya’s mansion completed and lived in? It’s too soon to say.
But it would be a mighty shame for a view like that to go to waste.
Ben joined Supercar Blondie in February 2025 after being published by international organizations including LADbible, The Sun, the New York Post, and the Daily Mail. He covers supercars, rare and collectible vehicles, aviation, luxury assets, and the fascinating people behind them. His reporting has explored everything from seven-figure supercars and historic Ferrari collections to unusual aircraft adventures and extraordinary automotive discoveries from around the world. Ben has also gained first-hand insight into vehicle craftsmanship and customization, including visiting specialist workshops to see bespoke vehicles up close.
