Who Was Sunjay Kapur, the Billionaire Reportedly Killed After Swallowing a Bee at a Polo Match?

Indian billionaire Sunjay Kapur, chairman of a global auto components firm, passed away on June 12, 2025, at the age of 53. According to The Telegraph, the billionaire reportedly collapsed during a polo match in Windsor, England.

Some outlets, including The Mirror, cited that he may have accidentally swallowed a bee mid-match, potentially triggering anaphylactic shock that led to a fatal heart attack. However, other sources with knowledge of the incident told The Telegraph that Sunjay had merely leaned over during a break in play and then lost consciousness. His death was confirmed by his company Sona Comstar and the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India.

To better understand the man behind the headlines, here are five key aspects of Sunjay Kapur’s life and legacy.

Sunjay Kapur led Sona Comstar, a global mobility technology company that manufactures auto components across India, the U.S., China, Mexico, and Serbia. He took over as chairman in 2015 after the passing of his father, Surinder Kapur, who founded the company in the 1990s. According to Forbes, Sunjay helped pivot Sona Comstar towards the electric vehicle market, which now contributes 36% of its revenue. The company earned 35.5 billion rupees (approximately $412 million USD) in the fiscal year ending March 2025.

Sunjay was previously married to Bollywood star Karisma Kapoor, with whom he had two children. The couple divorced in 2016. Their separation was highly publicized, and Karisma later spoke out about their contentious relationship, alleging neglect and emotional distress during their marriage. According to The Mirror, she claimed he once left her to care for their sick infant while he traveled to play polo with Prince William. Sunjay later married Priya Sachdev, a former model and entrepreneur, and the couple had a son together.

An avid polo player, the billionaire was well known in elite sporting circles. His team was playing in the subsidiary final of the prestigious Queen's Cup at the Guards Polo Club in Windsor when he collapsed. According to The Telegraph, Sunjay had played matches with Prince William in the past, further cementing his ties to high society. Friends described him as inclusive and generous, known for inviting everyone—from his employees to high-net-worth friends—to social gatherings.

Sunjay was a graduate of the University of Buckingham with a degree in Business Administration. He also studied at The Doon School, an elite boarding school in Uttarakhand, India, modeled after British public schools. He later joined the school’s board of governors. According to The Telegraph, the institution remembered him as a “learner for life” and someone who worked to make the sport of polo more accessible.

Sunjay was listed by Forbes with an estimated net worth of $1.2 billion as of April 2025. He joined the ranks of the World’s Billionaires in 2022. A dual citizen of India and the United States, Sunjay maintained a global business presence while keeping strong personal and professional ties in India. Just hours before his death, he posted a condolence message on X (formerly Twitter) about the Air India crash in Ahmedabad, a final public gesture that friends and associates now remember as emblematic of his humanity and awareness.