Indian industrialist Ratan Tata, who passed away at 86, left most of his £97 million (US$118 million) estate to provide “unlimited care” for his German Shepherd, Tito.
The former Tata Group chairman, who did not marry or have children, allocated only a small part of his fortune to his brother and half-siblings, prioritizing his beloved pet instead, according to the Daily Mail. Tata’s will included clear provisions to ensure Tito’s lifelong well-being.
Indian business tycoon Ratan Tata and his beloved German Shepherd, Tito. Photo courtesy of Tata’s Instagram
Known for his affection for animals, Tata had previously introduced policies at Tata Group’s headquarters that instructed security staff not to turn away stray animals.
Close friend Suhel Seth revealed to The Times that Tata also set aside generous sums for his butler and assistant Konar Subbiah, and his personal chef Rajan Shaw, who are now responsible for Tito’s care. “He has made very, very generous provisions for them,” Seth said. “They will never have to work again and will be very well looked after.”
Born in 1937 in Bombay (now Mumbai), Tata initially aimed to become an architect in the U.S. but returned to India to lead his family’s business. By 2022, he was ranked 421st among the wealthiest individuals in India.
Today, Tata Group operates nearly 100 companies, including India’s largest private steel producer and major automotive and software outsourcing firms, employing over 350,000 people worldwide.
It is uncommon in India for pets and employees to be significant beneficiaries in wills, as wealth typically remains within families. However, Tata is not the first to make such an arrangement. Earlier in 2024, a woman in China, Liu, left her 20 million yuan (US$2.8 million) fortune to her pets rather than her children.
