Joseph Vijay, one of the wealthiest politicians in India, took oath as the chief minister of Tamil Nadu at a grand ceremony held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium on Sunday, marking a historic shift in the state’s political landscape.
Thousands of supporters, party workers, film personalities and political leaders gathered to witness the swearing-in of the actor-turned-politician, whose Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) emerged as a major force in its very first Assembly election. Vijay took the oath in Tamil.
According to media estimates and election disclosures, Vijay’s net worth is estimated to be more than ₹450 crore, making him among the wealthiest politicians in Tamil Nadu.
His wealth includes:
Film remuneration and production earnings
Luxury properties in Chennai and other cities
Investments and business interests
High-end vehicles and other assets
Before entering politics full-time, Vijay was among the highest-paid actors in Indian cinema, reportedly charging over ₹100 crore per film in recent years.
Although election results were declared on May 4, Tamil Nadu witnessed nearly five days of political uncertainty as parties negotiated support and rival camps attempted to consolidate numbers.
The political drama also revived “resort politics”:
Congress MLAs reportedly camped in Hyderabad
TVK legislators stayed at a resort in Mamallapuram
AIADMK MLAs temporarily moved to Puducherry before returning to Chennai
Born on June 22, 1974, Vijay comes from a prominent film family in Tamil cinema. His father, S A Chandrasekhar, is a veteran film director, producer and writer, while his mother Shoba Chandrasekhar is a playback singer and producer.
Vijay entered cinema as a child actor before emerging as one of Tamil cinema’s biggest stars during the 1990s and 2000s. Over the years, he built a massive fan following across South India, which later became the foundation for his political mobilisation through fan clubs and grassroots networks.
Political observers believe his financial strength, celebrity appeal and extensive fan base played a major role in TVK’s rapid rise in Tamil Nadu politics.
He is married to Sangeeta Sornalingam, and the couple has two children.