The illustrious Gaekwad royal family of Baroda lives in a breathtaking ancestral palace valued at over ₹24,000 crore — a residence said to be four times larger than Buckingham Palace. Their inherited wealth exceeds ₹20,000 crore, making them one of India’s richest surviving royal dynasties.
This royal household is currently led by Maharaja Samarjitsinh Gaekwad, head of the Gaekwad dynasty which ruled the princely state of Baroda from the early 18th century until Indian independence in 1947. Today, the family lives amidst a rare blend of preserved imperial heritage and contemporary grandeur — where tradition and modernity seamlessly intertwine.
Samarjitsinh ascended the throne in 2012 after the passing of his father, Ranjitsinh Pratapsinh Gaekwad. A former first-class cricketer himself, the Maharaja today serves as President of the Baroda Cricket Association and runs a cricket academy at the historic Motibaug ground. He is married to Radhikaraje Gaekwad, a former journalist and princess of the Wankaner royal family.
Lakshmi Vilas Palace — Larger than Buckingham, Priceless Beyond Imagination
The family resides in Lakshmi Vilas Palace, a 700-acre architectural marvel considered the largest private residence in the world. Built in the 1880s by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III in Indo-Saracenic revival style, this palace features:
- 170 opulent rooms
- Grand durbar halls and Venetian mosaic floors
- Priceless Ravi Varma paintings
- Antique weaponry and artifacts
- Rare imported stone from Songadh, used in its golden façade
Current estimated value? ₹24,000 crore.
Maharaja Samarjitsinh has even opened parts of the palace for private events under his luxury initiative ‘Lakshmi Vilas Banquets’.
A Legacy of Power, Art & Faith
After settling a long-running inheritance dispute with a family uncle, Samarjitsinh also gained control of:
- 170-acre Lakshmi Vilas Palace estate
- Motibaug cricket ground
- Maharaja Fateh Singh Museum
- Priceless gold, silver and royal jewels
- 17 historic temple estates across Gujarat and Varanasi
A Fleet of Royal Automobiles
Their royal garage features vintage automotive treasures, including:
- 1934 Rolls-Royce
- 1948 Bentley Mark VI
- 1937 Rolls-Royce Phantom III
- And the legendary 1886 Benz Patent Motorwagen — the world’s first car designed by Karl Benz himself.
The Fortune
Taking into account their ancestral wealth, land holdings, temples, heirlooms, museum assets, business ventures, and palace revenues — the Baroda royal family holds a net worth exceeding ₹20,000 crore.
Lakshmi Vilas Palace by Selvin
Written by Reshni Shanya
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