Inside jet-setting life of India’s polo-playing billionaire ‘king’ crowned aged 12 in family’s stunning palace
CROWNED King at just 12 years old Maharaj Sawai Padmanabh Singh has changed the definition of royalty with his jet-setting billion-dollar lifestyle.
With an estimated fortune of around $2.5 billion, this young Indian monarch has set the bar high when it comes to living an extravagant life.
Royal Highness Sawai Padmanabh Singh’s ancestry can be traced back to ancient times – with him being the 303rd descendent of the royal family of Jaipur.
The unofficial monarch, 25, is known for his extensive travel plans across continents and for living a life full of luxury inside the family’s magnificent Rambagh Palace.
After attending college in New York, he travelled to Rome to study the management of cultural heritage in the hopes of preserving the history he inherited from his royal ancestors.
Alongside his hobbies, which include restoring antiques and old properties, the king affectionately known as Pacho finds his true passion in polo.
Like his grandfather Maharaj Bhawani Singh, Pacho is an accomplished polo player and has represented his country internationally.
He is a member of the Federation of International Polo and the Guards Polo Club in Windsor and has even played alongside Prince William and Prince Harry.
The Maharaja of Jaipur also has close ties with his godfather King Charles calling the British monarch the “most special person.”
The Playboy-style king is a big-time fashion enthusiast, donning the front covers of Vogue and GQ.
He graced Dolce & Gabbana’s catwalk during the Milan Fashion Week in 2017 and has been covered extensively by luxury brands such as Ralph Lauren.
Hundreds of royal families were stripped of their princely rights when the monarchy was abolished in India in 1971.
A few, however, still carry honorary titles as they live their lives king-size – Padmanabh being one of them.
THE GAME OF KINGS
Of all his different hobbies and likes, polo – known as the game of kings – remains the passion of the Maharaja’s heart.
Being a member of the Indian national polo team, the king represented India at the 2017 Polo World Cup in Iran – and was the youngest player to do so.
He is also the youngest winner of the Indian Open Polo Cup.
He served as the captain of the first Indian polo team in 20 years in England, for which he became a part of the Forbes 30 under 30 Asia list.
Having played alongside Prince Wills and Prince Harry, Pancho regards them both as good friends.
He also shares close ties to the royal brother’s father, his godfather King Charles.
Speaking about the recently crowned King to Hello magazine, he said: “Prince Charles never makes you feel you’re in the company of someone that popular or important.
“He is a down-to-earth person and very friendly towards staff.”
STYLISH MONARCH
Extending beyond the polo field, the Maharaja’s charisma has reached global heights – capturing the hearts of international elites.
Over the years, the monarch of Jaipur has become one of the most iconic names in the fashion industry.
As a big-time fashion enthusiast, Maharaja Padmanabh proudly walked the ramp for Dolce & Gabbana during the 2017 Milan Fashion Week – and had a chat with the legendary fashion icon Giorgio Armani.
According to the charismatic king, fashion is an extension of art and an area that “interests him a great deal”.
He’s appeared on the front of many high-end fashion mags including Vogue Arabia, GQ and Hello magazine.
In 2019, the king made it onto Tatler’s most-eligible bachelors list but little is known about his current relationship status.
THE YOUNG KING
Maharaja Padmanabh was barely four when Maharaja Sawai Bhawani Singh named him as his successor.
In 2013, the young prince was crowned as the Maharaja of Jaipur – shortly after the demise of his grandfather – the last titular monarch of the city.
Soon, he was sent to the prestigious Mayo College in Ajmer – dubbed the best boarding school for boys in the country.
He then attended Millfield School in Somerset, Britain, before going to New York University to get a Liberal Arts degree.
The young prince did not stop there – he went to the Università e Nobil Collegio degli Orefici: Sant’Eligio in Rome in 2018 and studied topics like cultural heritage management, art history, and Italian.
It was in the city of Rome where Padmanabh got his famous sobriquet – ‘Pacho’ – from his close ones.
Speaking to Vogue, the King said: “There are months where there’s something or the other almost every day.
“My grandfather used to make it a point to attend as many as he could and always took me along, so I feel it is my duty to continue that legacy.
“I feel it would be a shame if some of these traditions and stories died or fizzled out as time went by.”
A KING WITH MANY INTERESTS
When at home – the majestic palace of Jaipur – Maharaja Padmanabh likes to spend his days with grandmother Rajmata Padmini Devi performing ceremonial and cultural duties at various family events.
When away from his ceremonial duties, the king likes to get involved with his mother’s outreach foundation – the Princess Diya Kumari Foundation.
The organisation focuses on women’s development – emphasising female entrepreneurship and income-generating skills.
He says philanthropy is something that he sees himself doing a lot in the years to come.
Another field that interests him a lot is restoration and renovations of antiques – especially his ancestral properties like the famous Jaigarh Fort and Jaipur City Palace.
“With my studies in Rome, I am better equipped to understand and appreciate some of the cultural heritage that is being passed on to me and, hopefully, do a better job of protecting it.
“In the years to come, I would like to get more involved in the careful restoration of these historic structures so that they can be preserved for future generations,” the young king told in an interview.