If someone asked you who owns India’s most expensive Rolls-Royce, you’d probably guess it’s locked away in the garage of an Ambani or Adani. It’s a curve bowl as it belongs to Venu Gopalakrishnan, the founder and CEO of Litmus7, a tech consultancy in Kochi.
While the big business families might have the spotlight, Gopalakrishnan is the real king of luxury wheels with his Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Series II Black Badge. Known for his passion for cars and a dream collection that could make even the Richie riches jealous, he’s quietly cruising past the usual suspects, proof that sometimes, the tech guys have the best toys!
Black Badge Ghost Series II
Black Badge Ghost Series II is priced at around Rs 16 crore. Speaking to Fortune India, Gopalakrishnan said that even though he knew he was going to own the first Black Badge Ghost Series II, he doesn’t believe that by owning something first is a sign of achievement. This philosophy is quite simple, “I wanted this car and now I have it”.
It was a twist of fate moment for Gopalakrishnan as he had initially booked a Silver Ghost in March 2024 for his birthday in August, according to Fortune India. In between the booking and the delivery date, Rolls Royce launched the Silver Ghost Series II Black Badge and that was all Gopalakrishnan wanted. Hence, in January 2025 he booked the latest offering from Rolls Royce and waited for six months before he could get his hands on his new vehicle.
The Black Badge Ghost Series II is powered by a 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 engine, which produces 584 bhp and 900 Nm of torque. According to Rolls Royce, it does 0 – 100 kmph under 5 seconds and a top speed of 250 kmph. It is mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission with an all-wheel drive system.
Who is Venu Gopalakrishnan?
Gopalakrishnan is the founder and CEO of Kochi-based IT firm, Litmus7. He founded this company in 2009 and specializes in providing custom digital and technology solutions for companies. The automobile enthusiast came into the limelight when purchased a special number plate — KL 07 DG 0007 — for around Rs 47 lakh for his Lamborghini Urus. He also has a specialized 911 number plate for his Porsche 911 Turbo S.
Recently, the Kerala tycoon added the Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG worth to his exotic garage. The Rs 4.2 crore SUV, the iconic SUV is powered by a 4-litre twin-turbo V8 engine with 577 bhp and 850 Nm of torque. According to Mercedes-Benz, it has a top speed of 220 kmph and does 0 -100 kmph in 4.4 seconds.
