Mallika Sagar is a famous Indian auctioneer, art expert, and consultant who made history by becoming the first woman to head the Indian Premier League(IPL) auctions. She was born and grew up in Mumbai, and she has created a remarkable career that cut across international art houses and the largest sporting leagues of India. Mallika was initially introduced to the international art scene after she had her first job experience with some of the most renowned auction houses, such as the Christie’s house and Sotheby’s house where she was involved in dealing with modern and contemporary Indian art. Her soothing voice, number aptitude, and dominating stature quickly placed her in a special category in an occupation that was originally male-dominated. This article will provide a complete biography of Mallika Sagar.
Mallika Sagar: Biography
Mallika Sagar has over the years managed to shift to high-pressure sports auctions out of high-value art auctions by holding bidding events on the IPL, Women’s Premier League (WPL) and Pro Kabaddi League. Her involvement in the cricket auctions was the change and she became the household name and face that was trusted by the team owners, players and fans alike. She is also an independent art consultant besides auctions and she is a directorship in a number of reputable companies. Being a highly professional, calm and knowledgeable woman, Mallika Sagar can be viewed as a strong embodiment of a combination of cultural experience and up-to-date leadership.
| Attribute | Details |
| Full Name | Mallika Sagar |
| Date of Birth | August 3, 1975 |
| Age (January 2026) | 50 Years |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Birthplace | Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| Profession | Auctioneer, Art Consultant |
| Known For | First Female IPL Auctioneer |
| Marital Status | Divorced |
| Net Worth | ₹125 Crore (Approx. $15 Million) |
| Social Media | Instagram: @mallikasagar75 (Private) |
| Alternate Instagram | @sagar.malika (Approx. 1.9K Followers) |
Mallika Sagar Age
Mallika Sagar was born on 3 August 1975, which makes her 50 years old as of January 2026. Her zodiac sign is Leo, often associated with confidence, leadership, and authority—qualities clearly visible during live auctions.
| Detail | Information |
| Date of Birth | 3 August 1975 |
| Age (2026) | 50 Years |
| Zodiac Sign | Leo |
Mallika Sagar Height, Weight and Physical Status
Mallika Sagar is of height 5 feet 4 inches. She is professional and dignified in appearance and suitable in the formal setting of the auction rooms. Although she keeps her own fitness regimen secret, her confident stance and relaxed attitude make her on stage.
| Attribute | Measurement |
| Height | 5 feet 4 inches (163 cm) |
| Weight | Not Publicly Disclosed |
| Eye Color | Black |
| Hair Color | Black |
Early Life and Family Background
Mallika Sagar belongs to a respected and long-established business family in Mumbai that contributed significantly to her confidence and the global perspective. Her father, Virenchee Vithalbhai Sagar was a great businessman and he was a firm believer in Mallika being interested in art and auctioneering when she was still young. He died before she became famous nationwide with IPL auctions. Her mother has always preferred to remain out of the limelight and her name is not publicly divulged in any books of record.
Mallika is a sister of two brothers Kunal Sagar and Rahul Sagar, who have a senior position at Nirlon Ltd. which indicates a good corporate background of the family. She has a sister, Maneesha R. Bhat as well.
| Family Member | Details |
| Father | Virenchee Vithalbhai Sagar (Businessman) |
| Mother | Name Not Public |
| Brothers | Kunal Sagar, Rahul Sagar |
| Sister | Maneesha R. Bhat |
| Children | One Son name not disclosed |
Educational Background
Mallika Sagar attended Early schooling in Mumbai till Class 10. She later relocated to the United States where she completed her higher secondary education in Connecticut. She continued to study Art History at Bryn Mawr College, Pennsylvania and her thesis on current Indian artists was comprehensive.
| Level | Institution |
| Schooling | Mumbai (up to Class 10) |
| Higher Secondary | Connecticut, USA |
| Graduation | Bryn Mawr College, USA |
| Specialization | Art History |
Mallika Sagar Husband
Mallika Sagar is the former wife of Vir Advani, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Blue Star Ltd. The couple have had a son together whose identity Mallika has preferred to keep a secret. They got divorced in 2017 and it is said that they separated soon after their child was born. Since that time, Mallika has mostly maintained her personal life as something personal and concentrated on her career path in auctions and consulting. After the divorce, media reports, but momentarily, had her attached to Ashish Goel, the brother of fashion designer Surily Goel. These reports came at a time when both of them were reportedly making personal partings. But Mallika Sagar has never publicly stated this relationship.
| Relationship Status | Details |
| Marital Status | Divorced (around 2017) |
| Ex-Husband | Vir Advani (Blue Star Ltd.) |
| Children | One son (name not public) |
| Reported Relationship | Ashish Goel (unconfirmed) |
| Current Status | Unmarried / Single (as of 2026) |
Mallika Sagar Career
Mallika Sagar has developed a phenomenal career that intertwines the fine art auctioning and elite sports auctioning businesses. She is internationally trained and honed by decades of experience, and she is popularly known to be calm, fast, and in control in any bidding situation that is high pressure. Her experience shows not just professional prowess, but a sequence of historic women firsts in the field of auctioneering.
| Phase / Year | Organization / Event | Role | Key Achievement |
| 2000 | New York (Independent) | Auctioneer | Conducted first auction (baseball memorabilia) |
| 2001 | Sotheby’s London | Auction Specialist | Worked on Indian & South Asian art |
| 2001 | Christie’s New York | Auctioneer | Became first Indian woman auctioneer |
| 2005 onwards | Pundole’s Art Gallery | Auctioneer | Led high-value Indian art auctions |
| 2005–2020 | Independent Practice | Art Consultant | Advisory roles for collectors & institutions |
| 2021 | Pro Kabaddi League | Auctioneer | First female PKL auctioneer |
| 2023 | Women’s Premier League | Auctioneer | Conducted inaugural WPL auction |
| 2024 | Indian Premier League | Auctioneer | First woman to lead IPL auction |
| 2025–2026 | IPL & WPL Auctions | Lead Auctioneer | Managed mega & international auctions |
Interesting Facts About Mallika Sagar
| Fact | Description |
| Early Inspiration | Inspired by a childhood book on female auctioneers |
| First Auction | Baseball memorabilia in New York (2000) |
| Thesis Topic | Modern Indian artists |
| Board Roles | Director at multiple companies |
| Career Pause | Took time off in 2004 due to mother’s illness |
Mallika Sagar Net Worth
Mallika Sagar has a net worth of approximately 15 million dollars(₹125 crores) as of January 2026. Her financial success is a combination of high end art auctioning and sports auctions, which is the most famous, the IPL. The initial achievements of modern Indian art made a solid foundation and the latest sports events like marquee IPL auctions have enabled her to increase her income by a great margin. She is also known to keep a low profile through her composed nature and her actual charges are confidential but industry figures estimate that she earns on the higher side considering the number of auctions she participates.
Key income drivers include
- Art auctioneering: Over many years of operation, long-established relationship with reputable houses and galleries selling modern Indian art.
- Sports auctioneering: Premiums in the form of IPL, WPL and Pro Kabaddi League events enhanced by international coverage.
- Art consulting: Consulting services to institutions and collectors.
- Corporate jobs: Memberships of a board, directorships that provide a reliable stream of yearly income.
- Brand associations: Appearances at IPL becoming visibility that leads to select partnership and endorsements.
| Income Source | What It Contributes |
| Art Auctioneering | Decades of high-value sales and commissions |
| Sports Auctions | Top-tier fees from IPL/WPL/PKL events |
| Art Consulting | Advisory retainers and project fees |
| Corporate Roles | Board and directorship compensation |
| Brand Partnerships | Visibility-led collaborations |
Mallika Sagar IPL Auction Salary 2025
There are no exact pay numbers to her IPL 2025 auction service (auctioned in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia) but she is reported to be in the range of most lucrative sports auctioneers with bonuses raised by high profile events such as the IPL 2026 mini-auction in Abu Dhabi.
Mallika Sagar Social Media Profiles
Mallika Sagar likes a low profile online presence. She is not an active user on social networks as many other people in the public but remains focused on her career.
| Platform | Account | Followers |
| @mallikasagar75 (Private) | 290 |
Mallika Sagar Recent News and Controversies
Mallika Sagar has on some occasions been subject to criticism when there have been high-pressure IPL auctions, mostly dealing with missed paddle raises, quick pacing and bid confirmation problems. These events took place in highly bidding situations where the decisions need to be made in a split second. Although the controversies were a debate amongst fans and franchises, there is a clear specification in the IPL rules of the auction that once the gavel falls, the sale is completed and there is no room to turn it back. Nevertheless, Mallika Sagar has remained the head of the successive auctions and she has remained the reliable auctioneer to date despite these failures.
Controversies over IPL 2025 Mega Auction (Jeddah)
In the acceleration phase of the IPL 2025 mega auction, various problems related to bidding came up. The biggest publicized incident was that of uncapped player Swastik Chikara, where a missed paddle resulted in a franchise dispute. Other oversights during the announcement led to higher payments made by teams than expected.
| Incident | What Happened | Impact |
| Swastik Chikara | Missed DC paddle; sold to RCB at base price | DC protest rejected |
| Jos Buttler (GT) | ₹15.75 cr announced instead of ₹15.50 cr | GT overpaid ₹25 lakh |
| Abhinav Manohar (SRH) | KKR bid overlooked | SRH paid ₹40 lakh extra |
IPL 2024 Mini-Auction Incident (Dubai)
During the 2024 mini-auction, Punjab Kings made a mistake to bid Shashank Singh, the player who was being confused with yet another player. When the gavel dropped, PBKS sought a reversal and Mallika Sagar refused on the ground that it was against auction regulations. It was a controversial decision, but it was within the law of an IPL auction.
| Incident | Issue | Outcome |
| Shashank Singh (PBKS) | Wrong player bid | Sale declared final |
Fan Backlash After IPL 2026 Mini-Auction
After the IPL 2026 mini-auction in Abu Dhabi, some fans attacked Mallika Sagar in social media where her pauses were claimed to have broken the bidding rhythm or given an advantage to some of the teams. But there were no official grievances against franchises and the auction went on in a smooth manner.
| Issue | Reaction | Official Status |
| Auction pacing | Social media criticism | No formal complaint |
Swastik Chikara Bid Error
Swastik Chikara incident has been the most controversial IPL auction. In the fast bidding, Capitals in Delhi raised their paddle, which was inconspicuous. The gavel was put down to go with RCB and although it was immediately protested, IPL rules could not allow it to be corrected. Later Mallika Sagar admitted the oversight.
| Step | Event |
| Base Price | ₹30 lakh (RCB bid) |
| Missed Action | DC paddle not noticed |
| Result | Player sold to RCB |
| Resolution | Sale stood as final |
Conclusion
Mallika Sagar has rewritten the description of an auctioneer in India as a woman who has broken the boundaries in the world of men. Her experience of driving global art auctions and being at the helm of the high pressure stages of IPL, WPL, and Pro Kabaddi League is one that demonstrates accuracy, assurance, and profound knowledge. The composed authority and professionalism with which Mallika is working have won her respect within the sports franchising and art circles. She is not just a record-breaker but is an idol to women who hope to excel in high-stakes careers that are competitive and demanding in terms of skill and discipline and withstand strength.
FAQs
A1. Mallika Sagar is an Indian auctioneer and the first female to do IPL auctions.
A2. She is 50 years old as of 2026.
A3. No, she is divorced from Vir Advani.
A4. Mallika Sagar’s net worth is $15 million (125 crores).
A5. She is known as the first woman ever to be an auctioneer in the history of IPL.
Article Code: MALSAG-MAG-001
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