Former IPL chief Lalit Modi has revealed a lavish family tradition that stems from a childhood wish he says was never fulfilled.
Speaking in a recent interview, Modi said he gifts his son a Ferrari every year on his birthday — a ritual that began when his son turned 21 and has continued ever since. According to Modi, his son now owns 12 Ferraris.
But for the businessman, the luxury cars are about more than wealth. They are tied to a personal memory from his younger days.
Modi said he had always dreamed of owning a Ferrari but never received one from his father. In fact, he did not own his first Ferrari until he turned 40, when it was gifted to him by his brother-in-law.
That experience, he said, shaped the way he chose to raise his own children.
“I never wanted my children to grow up wanting something the way I did,” Modi said, explaining that if he could afford something, he preferred to give it to them rather than make them wait for years.
Reflecting on his upbringing, Modi said he spent much of his life chasing things he wanted but could not easily have. That journey influenced his belief that parents should provide opportunities and comforts to their children when possible.
The former IPL commissioner also dismissed the idea that growing up around luxury automatically makes children irresponsible. According to him, the opposite happened in his family.
Modi claimed his son, despite owning an enviable collection of supercars, has become financially disciplined and often advises him to spend less.
He even joked that his son now questions his own spending habits and tells him to keep a closer eye on his credit card bills.
During the conversation, Modi also spoke about his family’s lifestyle, describing a contrast between his traditional grandparents and his father, whom he characterised as a larger-than-life social figure known for hosting extravagant parties in Delhi.
The remarks offered a rare glimpse into the personal side of Lalit Modi, revealing how an unfulfilled childhood dream eventually evolved into an unusual birthday tradition worth millions.