Who owns RCB? The story behind Bengaluru's IPL team and its connection to Vijay Mallya

In the hours following RCB's historic win at IPL 2025, Google Trends reported "RCB owner" as one of the top searches, highlighting the curiosity regarding the corporate might behind the franchise. For a team that was once popular for being hand-picked by beleaguered liquor baron Vijay Mallya, RCB's journey on and off the field reflects key changes in leadership and vision.

Here's the team ownership explained in 5 points:

1.) Currently, Royal Challengers Bengaluru is owned by United Spirits Limited (USL), a prominent Indian alcoholic beverages company. USL itself operates as a subsidiary of British multinational giant Diageo popular for its extensive portfolio of spirits and beers. This layered ownership means that while USL directly manages the team, the ultimate control resides with Diageo.

2.) When RCB first started, it was bought by Vijay Mallya, who was the boss of United Spirits at the time. He paid Rs 476 crore for it, making RCB the second most expensive team at the time. As the owner, Mallya's UB Group heavily sponsored RCB. This meant brands like Royal Challenge and McDowell's No.1, which belonged to United Spirits Limited (USL), were clearly seen. The team's name, "Royal Challengers," even came from the Royal Challenge whiskey brand. Kingfisher, from his United Breweries, also featured as a sponsor.