The late billionaire Ratan Tata appointed Shantanu Naidu in his will as his executive assistant and mentee. Tata’s beloved German Shepherd, Tito, is included as one of the unique beneficiaries in the will, which emphasises the visionary leader’s strong ties and charitable nature, according to a Times of India story.
In an astonishing gesture, Ratan Tata, who passed away earlier this month at the age of 86, asked for “unlimited care” for his cherished cat, Tito. This gesture is noteworthy because it is an uncommon step taken by wealthy Indians to guarantee the proper care of their pets. Tito is named after the late industrialist’s former dog and has been a part of Tata’s life for five or six years. Rajan Shaw, Ratan Tata’s long-time cook, will take care of Tito.
Ratan Tata’s projected ₹10,000 crore estate will benefit his half-sisters, Shireen and Deanna Jejeebhoy, as well as housekeepers and other close friends, in addition to his pet. Interestingly, Tata’s butler Subbaiah, with whom he had a close relationship for more than three decades, is also included in the will. Tata was renowned for his generosity; after his travels overseas, he frequently gave Rajan and Subbaiah fine clothing as gifts.
The fact that Shantanu Naidu was named in the will emphasises the unique relationship the thirtysomething had with Tata.
According to the will, Tata waived his education loans and gave up his interest in Naidu’s companionship business, Goodfellows, demonstrating the mentor-mentee bond they had formed. A 2,000-square-foot beach villa in Alibaug, a two-story home on Mumbai’s Juhu Tara Road, and fixed deposits totalling more than ₹350 crore are just a few of Ratan Tata’s outstanding holdings.
He also owned 0.83% of Tata Sons, which is the parent firm of the $165 billion Tata Group. According to custom, his ownership of Tata Sons will be given to the Ratan Tata Endowment Foundation (RTEF), a nonprofit organisation that supports a range of humanitarian causes.