BENGALURU: Karnataka's D K Shivakumar is set to take office as the wealthiest chief minister in the country. His total declared assets stand at Rs 1,413 crore.
Election affidavit-based analysis compiled by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) puts Shivakumar ahead of Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu (Rs 931 cr) and Tamil Nadu CM C Joseph Vijay (Rs 648 cr). This means that the three richest chief ministers in India are now all from the south.
In the 2025 list put out by ADR, Naidu was followed by Arunachal Pradesh's CM Pema Khandu with Rs 332 cr and Karnataka's outgoing CM Siddaramaiah.
Unlike many politicians who consciously cultivate an image of austerity through simple attire, Shivakumar wears his wealth - quite literally. His wardrobe is a curated roll call of the world's most recognisable luxury brands: Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Prada, Burberry and Gucci sit alongside premium watches from Rolex and Cartier. Another personal touch is the customised 'dk' monogram in shirts and kurtas.
Shivakumar's total assets include Rs 1,140 cr in immovable property and Rs 273 cr in movable assets. His liabilities stand at Rs 265 cr.
DK Shivakumar has previously said his assets are declared transparently in his and his family's names. "Many others in the state or country have companies which hold their assets; I am straightforward in my assets and liabilities," he had said in an interview with TOI.
He once arrived at a garbage segregation plant on Hosur Road in Bengaluru with a Louis Vuitton scarf knotted at his neck - a detail that did not go unnoticed. Another personal touch is the customised 'dk' monogram on shirts and kurtas.
If his sartorial confidence has grown, so have his declared assets, from Rs 75.5 crore in 2008 to Rs 251 crore in 2013, Rs 840 crore in 2018 and Rs 1,413 crore in 2023.
Much of this has come from inheritance of land, investments and appreciation of their value. His declarations show agricultural lands handed to him through the wills of his father and grandmother. He has declared residential properties across Bengaluru, Mysuru, Kanakapura and Delhi. This includes a mall site in Gopalpura in Bengaluru. With land prices in Karnataka booming over the last two decades, the value of his land assets too has soared.
Among elected representatives in India, affidavit data shows the richest are AIADMK MLA Leema Rose Martin, with declared assets of Rs 5,863 crore and liabilities of Rs 340 crore, and Maharashtra MLA Parag Shah, with declared assets of Rs 3,383 crore. Shivakumar is also among the richest elected representatives in country.
A Journalist by profession, Sandeep Moudgal has an experience of ...
Read MoreA Journalist by profession, Sandeep Moudgal has an experience of 18 years in the field with Politics and Policy as forte. He is a Senior Assistant Editor with the Bengaluru bureau and Karnataka as his jurisdiction. Has a Master's degree in Ancient History and Archaeology from Mysore University along with a PGDJ from the Asian College of Journalism.
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