One of Pune's richest men, Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla is now the proud owner of a $113 million mansion.
In an article on profit.ndtv.com, the recently acquired property of vaccine billionaire Poonawalla is considered as the priciest residential purchase the country has seen. The Serum Institute of India founder "secured the property after real estate groups were told there were limits on potential redevelopment plans for the heritage-listed house and seaside plot."
The newly acquired seaside mansion was formerly used in 1957 as the US consulate. It was later renamed the "Lincoln House." It was then put on the market about four years ago, after the US consulate was officially relocated to a newer business district in the vicinity of a purpose built compound. Poonawalla and his family kept mum on further details of the extensive property, as stated in the same article.
Another article on forbes.com placed Dr. Poonawalla in rank #208 for their billionaires' list for this year and #14 for India's richest as of last year. He is the founder and owner of the Serum Institute of India, which annually produces up to 1.3 billion of vaccines from its Pune factory. A widower, Poonawalla started the vaccine company from his family's stud farm and worked his way up to become one of the richest people in the world today. He is now venturing into the hotel industry as he purchased a Bulgari hotel in the Maldives as well as a stakeholder for a new Ritz Carlton, which will be located in Pune.
Serum has also teamed up with pharmaceutical giant Cipla last November 2014, however Poonawalla denies claims of a merger in place. The collaboration was intended as a marketing strategy for Serum's vaccines to be available in Europe.
Poonawalla's current net worth is at $8 billion, according to the same article.
