India's Richest Politician Went From Maruti Omni To India's Most Expensive Rolls-Royce: This Is His Story
In politics, leaders often flaunt their wealth, power and status. The cars that one drives can speak a lot about the person. People often associate specific cars with certain personality traits. They play a key role in image management, something that's crucial in staying in power. N.Nagaraj, better known as MTB Nagaraj, is the richest politician in India. He has declared assets worth Rs 1,609 Crores, and owns a tasteful (and diverse) garage. Nagaraju owns a slew of cars and SUVs- from a humble Maruti Omni to a Ferrari F8 Tributo and a Rolls-Royce Phantom VIII.
N Nagaraj: A 'Rags To Riches' Story
Nagaraj is a businessman who rose to immense success from a humble beginning. The first business which he set up was that of bricks- Manjunatha Table Bricks (MTB), which he operated from a rented space. This also made him known by the name MTB Nagaraj.
Now, besides a successful political career, Nagaraj owns several residential and commercial properties, farms and estates and runs multiple small scale businesses. The businessman-turned-politician had a strong focus on constructing properties and renting them out.
Inside His Garage
In 2024, a video surfaced soon after the Ayudh Puja, giving a closer look at N Nagaraj's multi-crore garage. It showed these vehicles coming out of the legislator's parking and going out for a drive. Several expensive vehicles like a Rolls Royce Phantom Series VIII, Ferrari F8 Tributo, Land Rover Defender 110, Land Rover Range Rover LWB, and BMW XM can be seen in the video. The lineup also had a Fortuner, Innova Crysta, and even a Maruti Omni! The poltician owns humble cars as well!
Rolls Royce Phantom VIII
How can an ultra-luxury garage not have a Rolls Royce in it? Well, M.T.B Nagaraj's prized possession is a Phantom VIII! The eighth-generation Phantom is the carmaker's flagship offering which has a base price of 9.5 Cr, ex-showroom. The legislator's car has an elegant White paint and polished Silver wheels.
The Phantom VIII is powered by Rolls Royce's familiar 6.75 L twin turbocharged V12 engine that makes 563 bhp and 900 Nm. Today, you'll find Phantoms in billionaire garages like those of Kalanithi Maran and the Ambanis.
Ferrari F8 Tributo
This is probably the fastest car in M.T.B. Nagaraj’s collection. The F8 Tributo can do the 0-100 kph sprint in just 2.9 seconds, thanks to its 3.9-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine that makes 710 bhp and 770 Nm of torque. This particular example has a Blue paint (likely 'Blu Corsa'), and a dark-themed interior. The supercar currently has an ex-showroom price of Rs 4.02 Crores in India.
Range Rover Autobiography
Nagaraj also owns the all-new Range Rover Autobiography LWB, finished in Lantau Bronze. This luxury SUV has a starting price of 2.57 Crores, ex-showroom and offers the choice of a 4.4-liter petrol engine and a 3.0-liter diesel. The exact powertrain of choice here remains unknown.
Land Rover Defender
The Defender is a hot pick among celebrities and politicians, and Nagaraj hasn't shied away from owning one. His SUV has the Gondwana Stone metallic color and the 110 (five door) bodystyle.
Porsche Cayenne
The politician is also known to own a White Porsche Cayenne. It is powered by a 3.0-liter V6 diesel engine, capable of delivering 340 bhp and 450 Nm of torque.
BMW XM
The legislator bought the XM in 2023. The SUV has an ex-showroom price of Rs 2.60 crore. The biggest highlight is the powertrain- a 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged petrol engine-based hybrid setup. It is capable of producing 644bhp and 800 Nm. It is mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission and the vehicle can do 0-100 kph in just 4.3 seconds.
Fortuner And Innova Crysta
On the more affordable side of things, he owns vehicles like the Toyota Fortuner and Innova Crysta. The Fortuner, in particular, is widely considered a 'politician car' and something that symbolizes power and influence. Nagaraj's Fortuner is a pre-facelift model. Not one, but two Innova Crystas can be seen in the video, and are parts of his garrage as well.
Maruti Omni
This could probably be the least expected member of the garage. Who would ever imagine a multi-crore garage to have an Omni in it?! The Karnataka politician has, however, been keeping this vehicle in his garage for a very long time, and the vehicle could have some emotional value, which we aren't aware of yet.