Lalit Modi, a reputed Indian businessman and cricket manager, who is famous due to the foundation of Indian Premier League (IPL). He has been widely considered as a visionary in the field of sports marketing so far, as he united the domains of cricket, entertainment, and business to produce a league that transformed the sport completely in the entire world arena. His swaggering style and lifestyle, scandals and flamboyance have kept him in the limelight over decades.
Who is Lalit Modi?
Lalit Kumar Modi who is also known as the ex- Chairman and Commissioner of the IPL and former Vice President of Board of Control of Cricket in India (BCCI). Other than being a cricketer, he has a substantial ancestry in the Indian industry as founder of the Modi Group, which is a massive conglomerate that deals in tobacco, chemicals, education, and chain stores. Lalit Modi’s name is known for his innovative approach as well as controversy and political influence.
| Name | Lalit Modi |
| Date of birth | 29 November 1963 |
| Place of birth | New Delhi, India |
| Age | 61 |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Zodiac sign | Sagittarius |
| Political Inclination | Bhartiya Janta Party |
| Marital Status | Widower |
| Wife | Minal Modi |
Lalit Modi Age
Lalit Modi age estimated to be 61 years old as of 2025 since he was born on the 29th of November 1963. Although he is old, he is still active on social media and business matters and he always posts personal developments and that he gets to give his opinion to matters of Indian cricket.
Physical Stats
Lalit Modi’s height stands at an approximation of 5 feet and 8 inches and has a weight of approximately 78 kilograms. His body is medium in build, dark brown in color of the eyes, and he carries salt and pepper hair. He usually wears stylish suits and is also famous because of his high-end appearance and style.
Early Life and Education
Lalit Modi was born in New Delhi in an affluent family which had a strong influence. He started his education at Bishop Cotton School in Shimla but was later moved to St. Joseph College in Nainital because of the security reason. But because he had disciplinary problems he was expelled and sent to another country. He studied electrical engineering and business administration in United States at Pace University in New York and at Duke University in North Carolina. His period in the U.S. influenced his thoughts in the business and entertainment although he did not finish his graduation.
Family Background
Lalit Modi was born into a rich and well connected family called the Modi family, which is one of the most accepted business families in India. His grandfather, Gujar Mal Modi founded the Modi Group and the industrial town of Modinagar. Krishan Kumar Modi, the father of Lalit was also instrumental in the growth of the family empire and he is the former chairman of Godfrey Phillips India. His mother, Bina Modi is also a well-regarded personality in the business sphere. He owns a sister Charu Modi Bhartia, who is an entrepreneur and a brother Samir Modi who manages a number of family enterprises. Minal modi was the wife of Lalit and she died in 2018 because of cancer. The couple bore two children that is, a son Ruchir Modi who was active in business, and a daughter Aliya Modi, who is an interior designer. He also has a step daughter called Karima Sagrani whose parents are divorced. Lalit Modi has briefly dated actress Sushmita Sen, and they have supposedly broken up in early 2025.
| Grand Father | Gujar Mal Modi (founder the Modi Group) |
| Father | Krishan Kumar Modi |
| Mother | Bina Modi |
| Sister | Charu Modi Bhartia |
| Wife | Minal modi |
| Brother | Samir Modi |
| Son | Ruchir Modi |
| Daughter | Aliya Modi |
| Step-Daughter | Karima Sagrani |
Career of Lalit Modi
Lalit Modi started with his career in family business and was called in as President of International Tobacco Company (ITC) in late 1980s. His next appointment was acquired by taking executive duties at Godfrey Phillips India, one of the biggest tobacco companies in India. In 1993, he established Modi Entertainment Networks that introduced the international mega media giants such as ESPN and Disney into the Indian television. He gained his actual breakthrough in the administration field of cricket when he ventured in the Rajasthan Cricket Association to become its president soon. He gained high influence within a short period such that in 2005, he was appointed as the Vice President of the BCCI.
In 2008 he started the Indian Premier League, a franchise-based Twenty20 cricket league that mixed sports with entertainment and high-value sponsorship. The IPL hit pay dirt and made a billion-dollar industry out of Indian cricket overnight. The IPL came ranked among the most ingredients of sports events in the world under his leadership; it saw players, investors, and advertisers all over the world. Nonetheless, everything went sour in his career when his financial irregularities came out.
Controversies about Lalit Modi
Lalit Modi’s career is conditioned by several scandals. During his childhood, as he studied in the U.S., he was arrested in 1985 on the possession of drugs, assault and kidnapping. He admitted the crime and was put under probation. The largest controversy however came out in 2010 when the BCCI suspended him on the grounds of mismanagement of the IPL as far as finances were concerned. He was charged with taking kickbacks, bidding franchise, and conflict of interest in broadcast deals. In the wake of these allegations, succession of investigations was instigated by Indian authorities led by Enforcement Directorate. Modi fled to London in the face of legal pressure that was building up and asserted the accusations were politically driven.
He has throughout the years been accused of tax evading, money laundering and using his influence. And he has not been extradited to India yet despite the efforts of Indian agencies to have him extradited to them, and he still resides outside India. There has also been criticism and legal case with his posts, particularly the ones against legal officials and political figures in his social media.
Lalit Modi’s Networth
The net worth of Lalit Modi is approximated to be 4,500 to 4,555 crore as of 2025. He is among the richest individuals in the Indian Business and Cricketing environment. His revenues are well diversified, as he owns legacy companies, properties, hospitality industry, and previous media and sports investments. His life standard is characterized by luxury vehicles, foreign real estate, and unique investments.
Sources of income and approximate Annual earnings
- Modi Enterprises, 300 crores per year
Being one of the main stockholders of this conglomerate, Mr. Lalit makes heaps of money out of its business in tobacco, chemicals, FMCG, retailing, education, and agro-industries.
- Renting and Commercial Real Estate – 120 crore per annum
His London, New Delhi and Mumbai investments attract high rentals and capital appreciation in form of intervals.
- EGO Chain (Restaurant Business) – 55 crores/year
The EGO hospitality chain offers superior outlets in India, Europe, and the UAE, so it is a constant source of income to him.
- Stocks (IT, technology, healthcare), PE funds, collectibles – 45cr a year
Stock market returns in the world, portfolio returns, art, and collectibles.
- Media & Past IPL Ventures 35 crore/ year
Eventhough the IPL has come to an end, the past deals, royalties and licensing of Modi Entertainment Networks and the initial stages of the IPL still brings residual income.
Assets
- With 14 rooms, private lift, bespoke interior and spanning 7,000+ sq. ft., this five-storey mansion lies at Sloane Street.
- Modi Enterprises Assets- They own manufacturing units, office building, education campus and retail chains.
- Several Homes – luxury homes of Mumbai, Delhi, UAE, and Europe.
- Luxury Collectibles Luxury collectibles are defined as consisting of fine art, vintage watches, and rare jewelry that are secured in personal safes and bank vaults.
Luxury Car Collection
- Aston Martin Rapide – 4.4 crore
- Ferrari California – 3.8 crore
- Ferrari 812 GTS – 5.75 Crore
- Ferrari F12 Berlinetta – 5.6 crore
- Ferrari 488 Pista Spider – 4.81 crore
- BMW 7 ‑ Series 760 Li 1.95 crore
- McLaren 720S – 5.04 Cr
- Bentley Mulsanne Speed – 4.81 crore
Social Media
Mr. Lalit is very active in social media, in particular, on Instagram and Twitter (now X). He also posts personal updates, snippets of fancy lifestyles and hard-nosed opinions on Indian cricketing and politics on these platforms. His Instagram is full of his high life, and travels across the globe, tweets that commonly provide debates are made by him and he does business meetings, and so on.
| Platform | Username | Followers |
|---|---|---|
| @lalitkmodi | 4.7M | |
| X (Twitter) | @LalitKumarModi | 3.7M |
Unknown Facts
- A citizen of Vanuatu, a pacific island country, is Lalit Modi.
- He has a slight lisp which can barely be heard during interviews.
- He had at one point considered starting an international sport league in the style of IPL.
- His London residence is a five-storeyed building with lift, and having 14-rooms.
- He has in the past come to be known as the Super Chief Minister of Rajasthan because of his political influence during the tenure of Vasundhara Raje.
FAQs
He is remembered mainly as the founder of Indian Premier League (IPL) which transformed the face of cricket around the world.
His wife was Minal Modi who died in 2018. The latter was a relationship with actress Sushmita Sen.
He is a resident of London and is a citizen of Vanuatu.
In 2010 he left India following allegations of financial irregularities and under went law enquiries. He says the accusations are politically-inspired.
He has an estimated net worth of about 4,500 to 4,555 crore, mainly gained through business, investments and media ventures.
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