An Indian billionaire businessman has bequeathed a substantial part of his £91 million fortune to his dog in his will.
Ratan Tata, the tycoon behind Jaguar, Land Rover, and Tetley, passed away earlier this month at the age of 86. His German Shepherd, Tito, has been designated for “unlimited care” as outlined in his will.
Traditionally in India, an individual in Tata’s position would have allocated their estate, valued at approximately £91 million, to siblings. However, he chose to exclude his brother, Jimmy Tata, and half-sisters, Shireen and Deanna Jejeebhoy, in favor of his beloved dog.
According to The Times, Tata specified in his will that Tito, along with his butler, Konar Subbiah, and cook, Rajan Shaw, should each receive a significant portion of his wealth, while his siblings will inherit only a portion of the estate.
Tata, recognized for transforming the Tata Group into a globally renowned conglomerate, made provisions for Tito’s “unlimited care,” ensuring that his pet, who remained by his side until his passing, would be well taken care of.
Suhel Seth, a close friend of Tata, noted that the allocations for Tata’s former butler and cook, both in their 50s and currently caring for Tito, are generous.
“He has made very, very generous provisions for them,” he told The Times. “They will never have to work again and will be very well looked after.”
Seth emphasized that these instructions are not surprising to those who knew Tata, describing the will as “not a statement of wealth,” but rather a “gesture of gratitude for the joy and care” he received from his pets and closest aides.
During his tenure as chairman of the Tata Group, Tata oversaw several high-profile acquisitions, including the purchase of British tea company Tetley in 2000 for $432 million, and Anglo-Dutch steelmaker Corus in 2007 for $13 billion, marking the largest takeover of a foreign firm by an Indian company at the time.
Additionally, Tata Motors acquired the British luxury brands Jaguar and Land Rover from Ford Motor Co in 2008 for $2.3 billion. His notable projects at Tata Motors included the Indica, the first car model designed and manufactured in India, and the Nano, which was promoted as the world’s most affordable car.
