diff --git a/litellm-proxy-extras/litellm_proxy_extras/migrations/20260630190000_add_budget_fallbacks_to_litellm_verification_token/migration.sql b/litellm-proxy-extras/litellm_proxy_extras/migrations/20260630190000_add_budget_fallbacks_to_litellm_verification_token/migration.sql
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..1a5c16288de
--- /dev/null
+++ b/litellm-proxy-extras/litellm_proxy_extras/migrations/20260630190000_add_budget_fallbacks_to_litellm_verification_token/migration.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+-- AlterTable
+ALTER TABLE "LiteLLM_VerificationToken" ADD COLUMN IF NOT EXISTS "budget_fallbacks" JSONB NOT NULL DEFAULT '{}';
+
+-- AlterTable
+ALTER TABLE "LiteLLM_DeletedVerificationToken" ADD COLUMN IF NOT EXISTS "budget_fallbacks" JSONB NOT NULL DEFAULT '{}';
diff --git a/litellm-proxy-extras/litellm_proxy_extras/schema.prisma b/litellm-proxy-extras/litellm_proxy_extras/schema.prisma
index 5e8bb2f37f4..f9ab5e6aefd 100644
--- a/litellm-proxy-extras/litellm_proxy_extras/schema.prisma
+++ b/litellm-proxy-extras/litellm_proxy_extras/schema.prisma
@@ -419,6 +419,7 @@ model LiteLLM_VerificationToken {
     access_group_ids String[] @default([])
     model_spend      Json @default("{}")
     model_max_budget Json @default("{}")
+    budget_fallbacks Json @default("{}")
     budget_id String?
     organization_id String?
     object_permission_id String?
@@ -512,6 +513,7 @@ model LiteLLM_DeletedVerificationToken {
     access_group_ids String[] @default([])
     model_spend             Json     @default("{}")
     model_max_budget        Json     @default("{}")
+    budget_fallbacks        Json     @default("{}")
     router_settings  Json? @default("{}")
     budget_id               String?
     organization_id         String?
diff --git a/litellm/models/verification_token.py b/litellm/models/verification_token.py
index 8bddd1c1619..d67726be584 100644
--- a/litellm/models/verification_token.py
+++ b/litellm/models/verification_token.py
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ class LiteLLM_VerificationToken(LiteLLMPydanticObjectBase):
     permissions: Dict = {}
     model_spend: Dict = {}
     model_max_budget: Dict = {}
+    budget_fallbacks: dict[str, list[str]] = {}
     soft_budget_cooldown: bool = False
     blocked: Optional[bool] = None
     litellm_budget_table: Optional[dict] = None
diff --git a/litellm/proxy/_types.py b/litellm/proxy/_types.py
index 78bcdc490dc..e7b045d66b5 100644
--- a/litellm/proxy/_types.py
+++ b/litellm/proxy/_types.py
@@ -1039,6 +1039,7 @@ class GenerateRequestBase(LiteLLMPydanticObjectBase):
     config: Optional[dict] = {}
     permissions: Optional[dict] = {}
     model_max_budget: Optional[dict] = {}  # {"gpt-4": 5.0, "gpt-3.5-turbo": 5.0}, defaults to {}
+    budget_fallbacks: Optional[dict[str, list[str]]] = None
 
     model_config = ConfigDict(protected_namespaces=())
     model_rpm_limit: Optional[dict] = None
@@ -1136,6 +1137,7 @@ class GenerateKeyResponse(KeyRequestBase):
             "config",
             "permissions",
             "model_max_budget",
+            "budget_fallbacks",
             "router_settings",
             "budget_limits",
         ]
diff --git a/litellm/proxy/auth/user_api_key_auth.py b/litellm/proxy/auth/user_api_key_auth.py
index a28c8be9408..95a31f37c83 100644
--- a/litellm/proxy/auth/user_api_key_auth.py
+++ b/litellm/proxy/auth/user_api_key_auth.py
@@ -11,8 +11,10 @@ import asyncio
 import fnmatch
 import re
 import secrets
+
+import orjson
 from datetime import datetime, timezone
-from typing import Any, Dict, Iterator, NamedTuple, List, Optional, Tuple, Union, cast
+from typing import Any, Dict, Iterator, NamedTuple, List, Optional, Protocol, Tuple, Union, cast
 
 import fastapi
 from fastapi import HTTPException, Request, WebSocket, status
@@ -30,6 +32,7 @@ from litellm.proxy._types import *
 from litellm.proxy.auth.auth_checks import (
     ExperimentalUIJWTToken,
     _cache_key_object,
+    _can_object_call_model,
     _check_end_user_budget,
     _delete_cache_key_object,
     _get_user_role,
@@ -73,6 +76,7 @@ from litellm.proxy.common_utils.http_parsing_utils import (
     _read_request_body,
     _safe_get_request_headers,
     _safe_get_request_query_params,
+    _safe_set_request_parsed_body,
     populate_request_with_path_params,
 )
 from litellm.proxy.common_utils.realtime_utils import _realtime_request_body
@@ -171,6 +175,87 @@ def _get_model_names_for_budget_checks(
     return model
 
 
+class _KeyModelBudgetLimiter(Protocol):
+    async def is_key_within_model_budget(self, user_api_key_dict: UserAPIKeyAuth, model: str) -> bool: ...
+
+    async def get_fallback_model_within_budget(
+        self, user_api_key_dict: UserAPIKeyAuth, model: str
+    ) -> Optional[str]: ...
+
+
+async def _check_key_model_budget_with_fallback(
+    valid_token: UserAPIKeyAuth,
+    model_max_budget_limiter: _KeyModelBudgetLimiter,
+    model_name: str,
+    request_data: dict,
+    request: Request,
+    llm_model_list: Optional[list] = None,
+    llm_router: Optional[litellm.Router] = None,
+) -> None:
+    """
+    Enforce the key's per-model budget for `model_name`. If exceeded and the
+    key has a `budget_fallbacks` chain configured for `model_name`, reroute
+    the request to the first fallback model still within its own budget
+    instead of rejecting the request.
+
+    The selected fallback is validated against the key's model-access
+    allowlist and the team's model restrictions so that budget_fallbacks
+    cannot bypass model authorization. The rewrite is persisted to the
+    parsed-body cache, Starlette's JSON cache (``request._json``), and
+    path parameters so that downstream handlers see the final model
+    regardless of whether they consume ``_read_request_body()``,
+    ``request.json()``, or the path ``model`` parameter.
+
+    Fallback is only attempted when ``model_name`` matches the top-level
+    ``request_data["model"]``; models extracted from nested fields
+    (``session.model``, ``completion.model``, etc.) are not rewritable
+    and raise immediately.
+
+    Raises:
+        BudgetExceededError: if `model_name` is over budget and no configured
+            fallback is within budget either (or the fallback is not authorized).
+    """
+    try:
+        await model_max_budget_limiter.is_key_within_model_budget(
+            user_api_key_dict=valid_token,
+            model=model_name,
+        )
+    except litellm.BudgetExceededError as e:
+        if request_data.get("model") != model_name:
+            raise e
+        fallback_model = await model_max_budget_limiter.get_fallback_model_within_budget(
+            user_api_key_dict=valid_token,
+            model=model_name,
+        )
+        if fallback_model is None:
+            raise e
+        try:
+            await can_key_call_model(
+                model=fallback_model,
+                llm_model_list=llm_model_list,
+                valid_token=valid_token,
+                llm_router=llm_router,
+            )
+            if valid_token.team_models:
+                _can_object_call_model(
+                    model=fallback_model,
+                    llm_router=llm_router,
+                    models=valid_token.team_models,
+                    team_model_aliases=valid_token.team_model_aliases,
+                    team_id=valid_token.team_id,
+                    object_type="team",
+                )
+        except ProxyException:
+            raise e
+        request_data["model"] = fallback_model
+        _safe_set_request_parsed_body(request=request, parsed_body=request_data)
+        request._json = request_data  # type: ignore[attr-defined]
+        request._body = orjson.dumps(request_data)  # type: ignore[attr-defined]
+        path_params = request.scope.get("path_params")
+        if isinstance(path_params, dict) and "model" in path_params:
+            path_params["model"] = fallback_model
+
+
 def _get_bearer_token_or_received_api_key(api_key: str) -> str:
     if api_key.startswith("Bearer "):  # ensure Bearer token passed in
         api_key = api_key.replace("Bearer ", "")  # extract the token
@@ -1779,11 +1864,26 @@ async def _user_api_key_auth_builder(
                     ):
                         ## GET THE SPEND FOR THIS MODEL
                         for model_name in current_models:
-                            await model_max_budget_limiter.is_key_within_model_budget(
-                                user_api_key_dict=valid_token,
-                                model=model_name,
+                            await _check_key_model_budget_with_fallback(
+                                valid_token=valid_token,
+                                model_max_budget_limiter=model_max_budget_limiter,
+                                model_name=model_name,
+                                request_data=request_data,
+                                request=request,
+                                llm_model_list=llm_model_list,
+                                llm_router=llm_router,
                             )
 
+                        # Recompute after a potential budget-fallback rewrite so
+                        # the end-user check below validates the final model
+                        current_model = _get_model_from_request_context(
+                            request_data=request_data,
+                            route=route,
+                            request=request,
+                            llm_router=llm_router,
+                        )
+                        current_models = _get_model_names_for_budget_checks(model=current_model)
+
                     # Check 5b. End-user model max budget
                     end_user_mmb = valid_token.end_user_model_max_budget
                     if (
@@ -2838,11 +2938,26 @@ async def _run_post_custom_auth_checks(
         and valid_token.token is not None
     ):
         for model_name in current_models:
-            await model_max_budget_limiter.is_key_within_model_budget(
-                user_api_key_dict=valid_token,
-                model=model_name,
+            await _check_key_model_budget_with_fallback(
+                valid_token=valid_token,
+                model_max_budget_limiter=model_max_budget_limiter,
+                model_name=model_name,
+                request_data=request_data,
+                request=request,
+                llm_model_list=llm_model_list,
+                llm_router=llm_router,
             )
 
+        # Recompute after a potential budget-fallback rewrite so
+        # the end-user check below validates the final model
+        current_model = _get_model_from_request_context(
+            request_data=request_data,
+            route=route,
+            request=request,
+            llm_router=llm_router,
+        )
+        current_models = _get_model_names_for_budget_checks(model=current_model)
+
     # 4. Check end-user model_max_budget
     end_user_mmb = valid_token.end_user_model_max_budget
     if (
diff --git a/litellm/proxy/hooks/model_max_budget_limiter.py b/litellm/proxy/hooks/model_max_budget_limiter.py
index 5ebb5819c20..803fe64c193 100644
--- a/litellm/proxy/hooks/model_max_budget_limiter.py
+++ b/litellm/proxy/hooks/model_max_budget_limiter.py
@@ -80,6 +80,20 @@ class _PROXY_VirtualKeyModelMaxBudgetLimiter(RouterBudgetLimiting):
 
         return True
 
+    async def get_fallback_model_within_budget(
+        self,
+        user_api_key_dict: UserAPIKeyAuth,
+        model: str,
+    ) -> Optional[str]:
+        budget_fallbacks: dict[str, list[str]] = user_api_key_dict.budget_fallbacks or {}
+        for fallback_model in budget_fallbacks.get(model, []):
+            try:
+                await self.is_key_within_model_budget(user_api_key_dict=user_api_key_dict, model=fallback_model)
+                return fallback_model
+            except litellm.BudgetExceededError:
+                continue
+        return None
+
     async def is_end_user_within_model_budget(
         self,
         end_user_id: str,
diff --git a/litellm/proxy/management_endpoints/internal_user_endpoints.py b/litellm/proxy/management_endpoints/internal_user_endpoints.py
index d98dcf984b2..989fad7cd0b 100644
--- a/litellm/proxy/management_endpoints/internal_user_endpoints.py
+++ b/litellm/proxy/management_endpoints/internal_user_endpoints.py
@@ -374,6 +374,7 @@ async def new_user(
     - max_parallel_requests: Optional[int] - Rate limit a user based on the number of parallel requests. Raises 429 error, if user's parallel requests > x.
     - soft_budget: Optional[float] - Get alerts when user crosses given budget, doesn't block requests.
     - model_max_budget: Optional[dict] - Model-specific max budget for user. [Docs](https://docs.litellm.ai/docs/proxy/users#add-model-specific-budgets-to-keys)
+    - budget_fallbacks: Optional[Dict[str, List[str]]] - Per-model fallback chain tried in order when that model's own `model_max_budget` is exceeded, e.g. {"gpt-4o": ["gpt-4o-mini"]}.
     - model_rpm_limit: Optional[float] - Model-specific rpm limit for user. [Docs](https://docs.litellm.ai/docs/proxy/users#add-model-specific-limits-to-keys)
     - mcp_rpm_limit: Optional[dict] - Per-MCP-server rpm limit, keyed by MCP server name {"github": 100, "slack": 200}. Enforced for keys and teams only; values set on a user are stored but not enforced per user.
     - model_tpm_limit: Optional[float] - Model-specific tpm limit for user. [Docs](https://docs.litellm.ai/docs/proxy/users#add-model-specific-limits-to-keys)
@@ -1375,6 +1376,7 @@ async def user_update(
         - max_parallel_requests: Optional[int] - Rate limit a user based on the number of parallel requests. Raises 429 error, if user's parallel requests > x.
         - soft_budget: Optional[float] - Get alerts when user crosses given budget, doesn't block requests.
         - model_max_budget: Optional[dict] - Model-specific max budget for user. [Docs](https://docs.litellm.ai/docs/proxy/users#add-model-specific-budgets-to-keys)
+        - budget_fallbacks: Optional[Dict[str, List[str]]] - Per-model fallback chain tried in order when that model's own `model_max_budget` is exceeded, e.g. {"gpt-4o": ["gpt-4o-mini"]}.
         - model_rpm_limit: Optional[float] - Model-specific rpm limit for user. [Docs](https://docs.litellm.ai/docs/proxy/users#add-model-specific-limits-to-keys)
         - mcp_rpm_limit: Optional[dict] - Per-MCP-server rpm limit, keyed by MCP server name {"github": 100, "slack": 200}. Enforced for keys and teams only; values set on a user are stored but not enforced per user.
         - model_tpm_limit: Optional[float] - Model-specific tpm limit for user. [Docs](https://docs.litellm.ai/docs/proxy/users#add-model-specific-limits-to-keys)
diff --git a/litellm/proxy/management_endpoints/key_management_endpoints.py b/litellm/proxy/management_endpoints/key_management_endpoints.py
index ade865a5378..ff849240292 100644
--- a/litellm/proxy/management_endpoints/key_management_endpoints.py
+++ b/litellm/proxy/management_endpoints/key_management_endpoints.py
@@ -1244,7 +1244,7 @@ async def _check_team_key_limits(
     )
     # Exclude the key being updated to avoid double-counting its limits.
     # data.key may be a raw key (sk-...) or a pre-hashed token_id.
-    if isinstance(data, UpdateKeyRequest):
+    if isinstance(data, UpdateKeyRequest) and data.key is not None:
         hashed_key = _hash_token_if_needed(data.key)
         keys = [key for key in keys if key.token != hashed_key]
     check_team_key_model_specific_limits(
@@ -1426,7 +1426,7 @@ async def _check_org_key_limits(
     )
     # Exclude the key being updated to avoid double-counting its limits.
     # data.key may be a raw key (sk-...) or a pre-hashed token_id.
-    if isinstance(data, UpdateKeyRequest):
+    if isinstance(data, UpdateKeyRequest) and data.key is not None:
         hashed_key = _hash_token_if_needed(data.key)
         keys = [key for key in keys if key.token != hashed_key]
     check_org_key_model_specific_limits(
@@ -1485,6 +1485,7 @@ async def generate_key_fn(
     - disable_global_guardrails: Optional[bool] - Whether to disable global guardrails for the key.
     - permissions: Optional[dict] - key-specific permissions. Currently just used for turning off pii masking (if connected). Example - {"pii": false}
     - model_max_budget: Optional[Dict[str, BudgetConfig]] - Model-specific budgets {"gpt-4": {"budget_limit": 0.0005, "time_period": "30d"}}}. IF null or {} then no model specific budget.
+    - budget_fallbacks: Optional[Dict[str, List[str]]] - Per-model fallback chain tried in order when that model's own `model_max_budget` is exceeded, e.g. {"gpt-4o": ["gpt-4o-mini"]}.
     - model_rpm_limit: Optional[dict] - key-specific model rpm limit. Example - {"text-davinci-002": 1000, "gpt-3.5-turbo": 1000}. IF null or {} then no model specific rpm limit.
     - model_tpm_limit: Optional[dict] - key-specific model tpm limit. Example - {"text-davinci-002": 1000, "gpt-3.5-turbo": 1000}. IF null or {} then no model specific tpm limit.
     - mcp_rpm_limit: Optional[dict] - key-specific per-MCP-server rpm limit, keyed by MCP server name (alias if set, else the configured name). Example - {"github": 100, "slack": 200}. IF null or {} then no MCP-specific rpm limit.
@@ -1691,6 +1692,7 @@ async def generate_service_account_key_fn(
     - guardrails: Optional[List[str]] - List of active guardrails for the key
     - permissions: Optional[dict] - key-specific permissions. Currently just used for turning off pii masking (if connected). Example - {"pii": false}
     - model_max_budget: Optional[Dict[str, BudgetConfig]] - Model-specific budgets {"gpt-4": {"budget_limit": 0.0005, "time_period": "30d"}}}. IF null or {} then no model specific budget.
+    - budget_fallbacks: Optional[Dict[str, List[str]]] - Per-model fallback chain tried in order when that model's own `model_max_budget` is exceeded, e.g. {"gpt-4o": ["gpt-4o-mini"]}.
     - model_rpm_limit: Optional[dict] - key-specific model rpm limit. Example - {"text-davinci-002": 1000, "gpt-3.5-turbo": 1000}. IF null or {} then no model specific rpm limit.
     - model_tpm_limit: Optional[dict] - key-specific model tpm limit. Example - {"text-davinci-002": 1000, "gpt-3.5-turbo": 1000}. IF null or {} then no model specific tpm limit.
     - mcp_rpm_limit: Optional[dict] - key-specific per-MCP-server rpm limit, keyed by MCP server name (alias if set, else the configured name). Example - {"github": 100, "slack": 200}. IF null or {} then no MCP-specific rpm limit.
@@ -2486,6 +2488,7 @@ async def update_key_fn(
     - spend: Optional[float] - Amount spent by key
     - max_budget: Optional[float] - Max budget for key
     - model_max_budget: Optional[Dict[str, BudgetConfig]] - Model-specific budgets {"gpt-4": {"budget_limit": 0.0005, "time_period": "30d"}}
+    - budget_fallbacks: Optional[Dict[str, List[str]]] - Per-model fallback chain tried in order when that model's own `model_max_budget` is exceeded, e.g. {"gpt-4o": ["gpt-4o-mini"]}.
     - budget_duration: Optional[str] - Budget reset period ("30d", "1h", etc.)
     - soft_budget: Optional[float] - [TODO] Soft budget limit (warning vs. hard stop). Will trigger a slack alert when this soft budget is reached.
     - max_parallel_requests: Optional[int] - Rate limit for parallel requests
@@ -3526,6 +3529,7 @@ async def generate_key_helper_fn(
     allowed_cache_controls: Optional[list] = [],
     permissions: Optional[dict] = {},
     model_max_budget: Optional[dict] = {},
+    budget_fallbacks: Optional[dict] = None,
     model_rpm_limit: Optional[dict] = None,
     model_tpm_limit: Optional[dict] = None,
     mcp_rpm_limit: Optional[dict] = None,
@@ -3616,6 +3620,7 @@ async def generate_key_helper_fn(
     metadata_json = json.dumps(metadata)
     validate_model_max_budget(model_max_budget)
     model_max_budget_json = json.dumps(model_max_budget)
+    budget_fallbacks_json = json.dumps(budget_fallbacks or {})
     user_role = user_role
     tpm_limit = tpm_limit
     rpm_limit = rpm_limit
@@ -3668,6 +3673,7 @@ async def generate_key_helper_fn(
             "allowed_cache_controls": allowed_cache_controls,
             "permissions": permissions_json,
             "model_max_budget": model_max_budget_json,
+            "budget_fallbacks": budget_fallbacks_json,
             "organization_id": organization_id,
             "budget_id": budget_id,
             "blocked": blocked,
@@ -4018,6 +4024,7 @@ def _transform_verification_tokens_to_deleted_records(
             "metadata",
             "model_spend",
             "model_max_budget",
+            "budget_fallbacks",
             "router_settings",
         ]:
             if json_field in record and record[json_field] is not None:
@@ -4519,6 +4526,7 @@ async def regenerate_key_fn(
         - spend: Optional[float] - Amount spent by key
         - max_budget: Optional[float] - Max budget for key
         - model_max_budget: Optional[Dict[str, BudgetConfig]] - Model-specific budgets {"gpt-4": {"budget_limit": 0.0005, "time_period": "30d"}}
+        - budget_fallbacks: Optional[Dict[str, List[str]]] - Per-model fallback chain tried in order when that model's own `model_max_budget` is exceeded, e.g. {"gpt-4o": ["gpt-4o-mini"]}.
         - budget_duration: Optional[str] - Budget reset period ("30d", "1h", etc.)
         - soft_budget: Optional[float] - Soft budget limit (warning vs. hard stop). Will trigger a slack alert when this soft budget is reached.
         - max_parallel_requests: Optional[int] - Rate limit for parallel requests
diff --git a/litellm/proxy/schema.prisma b/litellm/proxy/schema.prisma
index 5e8bb2f37f4..f9ab5e6aefd 100644
--- a/litellm/proxy/schema.prisma
+++ b/litellm/proxy/schema.prisma
@@ -419,6 +419,7 @@ model LiteLLM_VerificationToken {
     access_group_ids String[] @default([])
     model_spend      Json @default("{}")
     model_max_budget Json @default("{}")
+    budget_fallbacks Json @default("{}")
     budget_id String?
     organization_id String?
     object_permission_id String?
@@ -512,6 +513,7 @@ model LiteLLM_DeletedVerificationToken {
     access_group_ids String[] @default([])
     model_spend             Json     @default("{}")
     model_max_budget        Json     @default("{}")
+    budget_fallbacks        Json     @default("{}")
     router_settings  Json? @default("{}")
     budget_id               String?
     organization_id         String?
diff --git a/schema.prisma b/schema.prisma
index 5e8bb2f37f4..f9ab5e6aefd 100644
--- a/schema.prisma
+++ b/schema.prisma
@@ -419,6 +419,7 @@ model LiteLLM_VerificationToken {
     access_group_ids String[] @default([])
     model_spend      Json @default("{}")
     model_max_budget Json @default("{}")
+    budget_fallbacks Json @default("{}")
     budget_id String?
     organization_id String?
     object_permission_id String?
@@ -512,6 +513,7 @@ model LiteLLM_DeletedVerificationToken {
     access_group_ids String[] @default([])
     model_spend             Json     @default("{}")
     model_max_budget        Json     @default("{}")
+    budget_fallbacks        Json     @default("{}")
     router_settings  Json? @default("{}")
     budget_id               String?
     organization_id         String?
diff --git a/tests/e2e/budgets/budget_client.py b/tests/e2e/budgets/budget_client.py
index af8021f9b93..86d49e836fc 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/budgets/budget_client.py
+++ b/tests/e2e/budgets/budget_client.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ from pydantic import AliasPath, BaseModel, Field, RootModel
 from e2e_gateway import Gateway, build_gateway
 from e2e_http import NoBody, StreamingResponse, Success, unwrap
 from models import (
+    AnthropicMessagesBody,
     BudgetWindow,
     ChatBody,
     ChatMessage,
@@ -171,6 +172,7 @@ class BudgetClient:
         user_id: str | None = None,
         team_id: str | None = None,
         model_max_budget: dict[str, ModelBudgetEntry] | None = None,
+        budget_fallbacks: dict[str, list[str]] | None = None,
         budget_limits: list[BudgetWindow] | None = None,
     ) -> str:
         return self.gateway.generate_key(
@@ -183,6 +185,7 @@ class BudgetClient:
                 user_id=user_id,
                 team_id=team_id,
                 model_max_budget=model_max_budget,
+                budget_fallbacks=budget_fallbacks,
                 budget_limits=budget_limits,
             )
         )
@@ -217,6 +220,24 @@ class BudgetClient:
             ),
         )
 
+    def messages(
+        self,
+        key: str,
+        model: str,
+        content: str,
+        *,
+        max_tokens: int = 16,
+    ) -> StreamingResponse:
+        return self.gateway.transport.send(
+            "/v1/messages",
+            headers=self.gateway.transport.bearer(key),
+            json=AnthropicMessagesBody(
+                model=model,
+                messages=[ChatMessage(role="user", content=content)],
+                max_tokens=max_tokens,
+            ),
+        )
+
     # ---- internal user --------------------------------------------------
 
     def create_user(self, *, max_budget: float) -> str:
diff --git a/tests/e2e/budgets/test_budget_fallback_e2e.py b/tests/e2e/budgets/test_budget_fallback_e2e.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..6114bfe6fc9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/e2e/budgets/test_budget_fallback_e2e.py
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+"""Live e2e: a virtual key's per-model `budget_fallbacks` reroutes `/v1/messages`
+transparently from an exhausted Anthropic model to an OpenAI model, instead of
+blocking the caller with a `budget_exceeded` error. Coverage for the
+budget_fallbacks feature in litellm/proxy/hooks/model_max_budget_limiter.py.
+"""
+
+import json
+import time
+
+import pytest
+
+from budget_client import BudgetClient, model_budget
+from e2e_config import unique_marker
+from lifecycle import ResourceManager
+
+pytestmark = pytest.mark.e2e
+
+PRIMARY_MODEL = "claude-haiku-4-5"
+FALLBACK_MODEL = "gpt-5.5"
+
+
+def test_budget_fallback_reroutes_anthropic_messages_to_openai(
+    client: BudgetClient, resources: ResourceManager
+) -> None:
+    key = client.generate_key(
+        model_max_budget=model_budget(PRIMARY_MODEL, 1e-6),
+        budget_fallbacks={PRIMARY_MODEL: [FALLBACK_MODEL]},
+    )
+    resources.defer(lambda: client.delete_key(key))
+
+    # Exhaust the primary model's near-zero budget. Once exceeded, every
+    # subsequent /v1/messages call for this key must reroute to the fallback
+    # instead of surfacing a budget_exceeded block.
+    served_by = None
+    deadline = time.monotonic() + 60
+    while time.monotonic() < deadline:
+        result = client.messages(
+            key, PRIMARY_MODEL, f"hi {unique_marker()}", max_tokens=16
+        )
+        if not result.ok:
+            pytest.fail(
+                "budget_fallbacks must reroute transparently, never surface a "
+                f"block; status={result.status_code} body={result.body[:300]}"
+            )
+        served_by = json.loads(result.body)["model"]
+        if FALLBACK_MODEL in served_by:
+            break
+        time.sleep(1)
+    assert served_by is not None and FALLBACK_MODEL in served_by, (
+        f"{PRIMARY_MODEL}'s budget_fallbacks never rerouted to {FALLBACK_MODEL}"
+    )
+
+    # The rerouted call must be recorded under the fallback model, not the
+    # exhausted primary - proving spend tracking followed the reroute.
+    rows = client.gateway.poll_logs_for_key(
+        key, predicate=lambda rows: any(FALLBACK_MODEL in (r.model or "") for r in rows)
+    )
+    assert any(FALLBACK_MODEL in (r.model or "") for r in rows), (
+        f"no spend log recorded against {FALLBACK_MODEL} after the reroute"
+    )
diff --git a/tests/e2e/models.py b/tests/e2e/models.py
index b5b7865cb08..972f816905e 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/models.py
+++ b/tests/e2e/models.py
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ class KeyGenerateBody(BaseModel):
     team_id: str | None = None
     budget_id: str | None = None
     model_max_budget: dict[str, ModelBudgetEntry] | None = None
+    budget_fallbacks: dict[str, list[str]] | None = None
     budget_limits: list[BudgetWindow] | None = None
     tpm_limit: int | None = None
     rpm_limit: int | None = None
@@ -95,6 +96,12 @@ class ChatBody(BaseModel):
     metadata: ChatMetadata | None = None
 
 
+class AnthropicMessagesBody(BaseModel):
+    model: str
+    messages: list[ChatMessage]
+    max_tokens: int
+
+
 class OutMessage(BaseModel):
     content: str | None = None
 
diff --git a/tests/proxy_unit_tests/test_unit_test_max_model_budget_limiter.py b/tests/proxy_unit_tests/test_unit_test_max_model_budget_limiter.py
index 0daa5b17ffa..55459721906 100644
--- a/tests/proxy_unit_tests/test_unit_test_max_model_budget_limiter.py
+++ b/tests/proxy_unit_tests/test_unit_test_max_model_budget_limiter.py
@@ -452,6 +452,83 @@ async def test_async_log_success_event_pushes_redis_increments_when_redis_config
             mock_push.assert_awaited_once()
 
 
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_get_fallback_model_within_budget_returns_none_without_fallbacks(
+    budget_limiter,
+):
+    user_api_key = UserAPIKeyAuth(token="test-key", budget_fallbacks={})
+    assert (
+        await budget_limiter.get_fallback_model_within_budget(user_api_key, "gpt-4")
+        is None
+    )
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_get_fallback_model_within_budget_returns_first_within_budget(
+    budget_limiter,
+):
+    user_api_key = UserAPIKeyAuth(
+        token="test-key",
+        model_max_budget={"gpt-4o-mini": {"budget_limit": 100.0, "time_period": "1d"}},
+        budget_fallbacks={"gpt-4": ["gpt-4o-mini", "claude-haiku"]},
+    )
+    with patch.object(
+        budget_limiter, "_get_virtual_key_spend_for_model", return_value=1.0
+    ):
+        result = await budget_limiter.get_fallback_model_within_budget(
+            user_api_key, "gpt-4"
+        )
+    assert result == "gpt-4o-mini"
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_get_fallback_model_within_budget_skips_exhausted_fallback(
+    budget_limiter,
+):
+    user_api_key = UserAPIKeyAuth(
+        token="test-key",
+        model_max_budget={
+            "gpt-4o-mini": {"budget_limit": 100.0, "time_period": "1d"},
+            "claude-haiku": {"budget_limit": 100.0, "time_period": "1d"},
+        },
+        budget_fallbacks={"gpt-4": ["gpt-4o-mini", "claude-haiku"]},
+    )
+
+    async def _spend_for_model(user_api_key_hash, model, key_budget_config):
+        return 150.0 if model == "gpt-4o-mini" else 1.0
+
+    with patch.object(
+        budget_limiter,
+        "_get_virtual_key_spend_for_model",
+        side_effect=_spend_for_model,
+    ):
+        result = await budget_limiter.get_fallback_model_within_budget(
+            user_api_key, "gpt-4"
+        )
+    assert result == "claude-haiku"
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_get_fallback_model_within_budget_returns_none_when_chain_exhausted(
+    budget_limiter,
+):
+    user_api_key = UserAPIKeyAuth(
+        token="test-key",
+        model_max_budget={
+            "gpt-4o-mini": {"budget_limit": 100.0, "time_period": "1d"},
+            "claude-haiku": {"budget_limit": 100.0, "time_period": "1d"},
+        },
+        budget_fallbacks={"gpt-4": ["gpt-4o-mini", "claude-haiku"]},
+    )
+    with patch.object(
+        budget_limiter, "_get_virtual_key_spend_for_model", return_value=150.0
+    ):
+        result = await budget_limiter.get_fallback_model_within_budget(
+            user_api_key, "gpt-4"
+        )
+    assert result is None
+
+
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_async_log_success_event_skips_redis_push_without_redis(budget_limiter):
     """When dual_cache has no Redis backend, do not await _push_in_memory_increments_to_redis."""
diff --git a/tests/test_litellm/proxy/auth/test_user_api_key_auth.py b/tests/test_litellm/proxy/auth/test_user_api_key_auth.py
index 4141b1f20c3..90f46152837 100644
--- a/tests/test_litellm/proxy/auth/test_user_api_key_auth.py
+++ b/tests/test_litellm/proxy/auth/test_user_api_key_auth.py
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ from litellm.proxy.auth.handle_jwt import JWTHandler
 from litellm.proxy.auth.auth_checks import get_key_object, _cache_key_object
 from litellm.proxy.auth.route_checks import RouteChecks
 from litellm.proxy.auth.user_api_key_auth import (
+    _check_key_model_budget_with_fallback,
     _PendingAutoRegister,
     _matches_routing_override,
     _reserve_budget_after_common_checks,
@@ -4084,3 +4085,265 @@ async def test_auth_path_caches_team_object_under_canonical_team_id_key():
     assert served is not None and served.team_id == team_id
     assert cache.get_cache(key=team_id) is None
     assert cache.get_cache(key=None) is None
+
+
+class TestCheckKeyModelBudgetWithFallback:
+    """`_check_key_model_budget_with_fallback` must reroute a request to the
+    first configured `budget_fallbacks` entry still within its own budget,
+    and only raise `BudgetExceededError` when no fallback is available."""
+
+    def _make_request(self):
+        request = MagicMock()
+        request.scope = {}
+        return request
+
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_within_budget_does_not_reroute(self):
+        valid_token = UserAPIKeyAuth(
+            token="test-key", budget_fallbacks={"gpt-4o": ["gpt-4o-mini"]}
+        )
+        limiter = AsyncMock()
+        limiter.is_key_within_model_budget.return_value = True
+        request_data = {"model": "gpt-4o"}
+        request = self._make_request()
+
+        await _check_key_model_budget_with_fallback(
+            valid_token=valid_token,
+            model_max_budget_limiter=limiter,
+            model_name="gpt-4o",
+            request_data=request_data,
+            request=request,
+        )
+
+        assert request_data["model"] == "gpt-4o"
+        limiter.get_fallback_model_within_budget.assert_not_awaited()
+        assert "parsed_body" not in request.scope
+
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_exceeded_budget_reroutes_to_fallback(self):
+        valid_token = UserAPIKeyAuth(
+            token="test-key",
+            budget_fallbacks={"gpt-4o": ["gpt-4o-mini", "claude-haiku"]},
+        )
+        limiter = AsyncMock()
+        limiter.is_key_within_model_budget.side_effect = litellm.BudgetExceededError(
+            current_cost=10, max_budget=5
+        )
+        limiter.get_fallback_model_within_budget.return_value = "gpt-4o-mini"
+        request_data = {"model": "gpt-4o"}
+        request = self._make_request()
+
+        await _check_key_model_budget_with_fallback(
+            valid_token=valid_token,
+            model_max_budget_limiter=limiter,
+            model_name="gpt-4o",
+            request_data=request_data,
+            request=request,
+        )
+
+        assert request_data["model"] == "gpt-4o-mini"
+        limiter.get_fallback_model_within_budget.assert_awaited_once_with(
+            user_api_key_dict=valid_token, model="gpt-4o"
+        )
+        # the rerouted model must be visible to a later, separate
+        # `_read_request_body` call on the same `request` (route handlers
+        # re-parse the body from this cache instead of reusing the dict).
+        cached_keys, cached_body = request.scope["parsed_body"]
+        assert cached_body["model"] == "gpt-4o-mini"
+
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_raises_when_every_fallback_also_exceeded(self):
+        valid_token = UserAPIKeyAuth(
+            token="test-key", budget_fallbacks={"gpt-4o": ["gpt-4o-mini"]}
+        )
+        limiter = AsyncMock()
+        original_error = litellm.BudgetExceededError(current_cost=10, max_budget=5)
+        limiter.is_key_within_model_budget.side_effect = original_error
+        limiter.get_fallback_model_within_budget.return_value = None
+        request_data = {"model": "gpt-4o"}
+        request = self._make_request()
+
+        with pytest.raises(litellm.BudgetExceededError) as exc_info:
+            await _check_key_model_budget_with_fallback(
+                valid_token=valid_token,
+                model_max_budget_limiter=limiter,
+                model_name="gpt-4o",
+                request_data=request_data,
+                request=request,
+            )
+
+        assert exc_info.value is original_error
+        assert request_data["model"] == "gpt-4o"
+
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_raises_when_fallback_not_authorized(self):
+        """If the fallback model is within budget but the key is not allowed
+        to call it, the original BudgetExceededError must be raised instead
+        of rerouting to an unauthorized model."""
+        valid_token = UserAPIKeyAuth(
+            token="test-key",
+            models=["gpt-4o"],
+            budget_fallbacks={"gpt-4o": ["restricted-model"]},
+        )
+        limiter = AsyncMock()
+        original_error = litellm.BudgetExceededError(current_cost=10, max_budget=5)
+        limiter.is_key_within_model_budget.side_effect = original_error
+        limiter.get_fallback_model_within_budget.return_value = "restricted-model"
+        request_data = {"model": "gpt-4o"}
+        request = self._make_request()
+
+        with patch(
+            "litellm.proxy.auth.user_api_key_auth.can_key_call_model",
+            side_effect=ProxyException(
+                message="model not allowed",
+                type=ProxyErrorTypes.budget_exceeded,
+                param="model",
+                code=status.HTTP_403_FORBIDDEN,
+            ),
+        ):
+            with pytest.raises(litellm.BudgetExceededError) as exc_info:
+                await _check_key_model_budget_with_fallback(
+                    valid_token=valid_token,
+                    model_max_budget_limiter=limiter,
+                    model_name="gpt-4o",
+                    request_data=request_data,
+                    request=request,
+                    llm_model_list=None,
+                    llm_router=None,
+                )
+
+        assert exc_info.value is original_error
+        assert request_data["model"] == "gpt-4o"
+
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_reroute_succeeds_when_fallback_is_authorized(self):
+        """If the fallback model is within budget AND authorized, the request
+        must be rerouted to it."""
+        valid_token = UserAPIKeyAuth(
+            token="test-key",
+            models=["gpt-4o", "gpt-4o-mini"],
+            budget_fallbacks={"gpt-4o": ["gpt-4o-mini"]},
+        )
+        limiter = AsyncMock()
+        limiter.is_key_within_model_budget.side_effect = litellm.BudgetExceededError(
+            current_cost=10, max_budget=5
+        )
+        limiter.get_fallback_model_within_budget.return_value = "gpt-4o-mini"
+        request_data = {"model": "gpt-4o"}
+        request = self._make_request()
+
+        with patch(
+            "litellm.proxy.auth.user_api_key_auth.can_key_call_model",
+            return_value=True,
+        ):
+            await _check_key_model_budget_with_fallback(
+                valid_token=valid_token,
+                model_max_budget_limiter=limiter,
+                model_name="gpt-4o",
+                request_data=request_data,
+                request=request,
+                llm_model_list=None,
+                llm_router=None,
+            )
+
+        assert request_data["model"] == "gpt-4o-mini"
+
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_raises_when_fallback_blocked_by_team_models(self):
+        """If the key allows the fallback but the team does not, the original
+        BudgetExceededError must be raised."""
+        valid_token = UserAPIKeyAuth(
+            token="test-key",
+            models=["gpt-4o", "restricted-model"],
+            team_id="team-1",
+            team_models=["gpt-4o"],
+            budget_fallbacks={"gpt-4o": ["restricted-model"]},
+        )
+        limiter = AsyncMock()
+        original_error = litellm.BudgetExceededError(current_cost=10, max_budget=5)
+        limiter.is_key_within_model_budget.side_effect = original_error
+        limiter.get_fallback_model_within_budget.return_value = "restricted-model"
+        request_data = {"model": "gpt-4o"}
+        request = self._make_request()
+
+        with patch(
+            "litellm.proxy.auth.user_api_key_auth.can_key_call_model",
+            return_value=True,
+        ):
+            with pytest.raises(litellm.BudgetExceededError) as exc_info:
+                await _check_key_model_budget_with_fallback(
+                    valid_token=valid_token,
+                    model_max_budget_limiter=limiter,
+                    model_name="gpt-4o",
+                    request_data=request_data,
+                    request=request,
+                    llm_model_list=None,
+                    llm_router=None,
+                )
+
+        assert exc_info.value is original_error
+        assert request_data["model"] == "gpt-4o"
+
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_reroute_updates_path_params_model(self):
+        """On path-model routes (/openai/deployments/{model}/...) the fallback
+        must also update path_params so downstream logic does not revert to the
+        original path model."""
+        valid_token = UserAPIKeyAuth(
+            token="test-key",
+            models=["gpt-4o", "gpt-4o-mini"],
+            budget_fallbacks={"gpt-4o": ["gpt-4o-mini"]},
+        )
+        limiter = AsyncMock()
+        limiter.is_key_within_model_budget.side_effect = litellm.BudgetExceededError(
+            current_cost=10, max_budget=5
+        )
+        limiter.get_fallback_model_within_budget.return_value = "gpt-4o-mini"
+        request_data = {"model": "gpt-4o"}
+        request = self._make_request()
+        request.scope["path_params"] = {"model": "gpt-4o"}
+
+        with patch(
+            "litellm.proxy.auth.user_api_key_auth.can_key_call_model",
+            return_value=True,
+        ):
+            await _check_key_model_budget_with_fallback(
+                valid_token=valid_token,
+                model_max_budget_limiter=limiter,
+                model_name="gpt-4o",
+                request_data=request_data,
+                request=request,
+                llm_model_list=None,
+                llm_router=None,
+            )
+
+        assert request_data["model"] == "gpt-4o-mini"
+        assert request.scope["path_params"]["model"] == "gpt-4o-mini"
+
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_raises_when_model_from_nested_field(self):
+        """Budget fallback must not attempt rewrite when the checked model
+        came from a nested field (e.g. session.model) rather than the
+        top-level request_data['model']."""
+        valid_token = UserAPIKeyAuth(
+            token="test-key",
+            models=["gpt-4o", "gpt-4o-mini"],
+            budget_fallbacks={"gpt-4o": ["gpt-4o-mini"]},
+        )
+        limiter = AsyncMock()
+        original_error = litellm.BudgetExceededError(current_cost=10, max_budget=5)
+        limiter.is_key_within_model_budget.side_effect = original_error
+        request_data = {"session": {"model": "gpt-4o"}}
+        request = self._make_request()
+
+        with pytest.raises(litellm.BudgetExceededError) as exc_info:
+            await _check_key_model_budget_with_fallback(
+                valid_token=valid_token,
+                model_max_budget_limiter=limiter,
+                model_name="gpt-4o",
+                request_data=request_data,
+                request=request,
+            )
+
+        assert exc_info.value is original_error
+        assert "model" not in request_data
diff --git a/tests/test_litellm/proxy/management_endpoints/test_key_management_endpoints.py b/tests/test_litellm/proxy/management_endpoints/test_key_management_endpoints.py
index ee9202f522e..7b97ae60443 100644
--- a/tests/test_litellm/proxy/management_endpoints/test_key_management_endpoints.py
+++ b/tests/test_litellm/proxy/management_endpoints/test_key_management_endpoints.py
@@ -762,6 +762,58 @@ async def test_generate_key_helper_fn_with_access_group_ids(monkeypatch):
     assert captured_key_data.get("access_group_ids") == ["ag-1", "ag-2"]
 
 
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_generate_key_helper_fn_with_budget_fallbacks(monkeypatch):
+    """Regression: /key/generate must accept `budget_fallbacks` end-to-end.
+
+    generate_key_helper_fn previously had no `budget_fallbacks` parameter, so
+    passing it via /key/generate (which unpacks the full request body as
+    kwargs) raised "unexpected keyword argument" before ever reaching the DB.
+    """
+    mock_prisma_client = AsyncMock()
+    mock_prisma_client.jsonify_object = lambda data: data  # type: ignore
+    mock_prisma_client.db = MagicMock()
+    mock_prisma_client.db.litellm_objectpermissiontable = MagicMock()
+    mock_prisma_client.db.litellm_objectpermissiontable.create = AsyncMock(
+        return_value=MagicMock(object_permission_id=None)
+    )
+
+    captured_key_data = {}
+
+    async def _insert_data_side_effect(*args, **kwargs):
+        table_name = kwargs.get("table_name")
+        if table_name == "user":
+            return MagicMock(models=[], spend=0)
+        elif table_name == "key":
+            captured_key_data.update(kwargs.get("data", {}))
+            return MagicMock(
+                token="hashed_token_budget_fallbacks",
+                litellm_budget_table=None,
+                object_permission=None,
+                created_at=None,
+                updated_at=None,
+            )
+        return MagicMock()
+
+    mock_prisma_client.insert_data = AsyncMock(side_effect=_insert_data_side_effect)
+    monkeypatch.setattr("litellm.proxy.proxy_server.prisma_client", mock_prisma_client)
+
+    from litellm.proxy.management_endpoints.key_management_endpoints import (
+        generate_key_helper_fn,
+    )
+
+    await generate_key_helper_fn(
+        request_type="key",
+        table_name="key",
+        user_id="test-user",
+        budget_fallbacks={"anthropic-haiku-4-5": ["gpt-5.5"]},
+    )
+
+    assert json.loads(captured_key_data["budget_fallbacks"]) == {
+        "anthropic-haiku-4-5": ["gpt-5.5"]
+    }
+
+
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_key_generation_with_mcp_tool_permissions(monkeypatch):
     """
@@ -4222,6 +4274,7 @@ def test_transform_verification_tokens_to_deleted_records():
         permissions={"permission": True},
         metadata={},
         model_max_budget={"gpt-4": {"budget_limit": 100.0}},
+        budget_fallbacks={"gpt-4": ["gpt-4o-mini"]},
         model_spend={},
         soft_budget_cooldown=False,
         allowed_routes=[],
@@ -4260,6 +4313,8 @@ def test_transform_verification_tokens_to_deleted_records():
     record2 = records[1]
     assert record2["token"] == "hashed-token-2"
     assert isinstance(record2["model_max_budget"], str)
+    assert isinstance(record2["budget_fallbacks"], str)
+    assert json.loads(record2["budget_fallbacks"]) == {"gpt-4": ["gpt-4o-mini"]}
 
 
 def test_transform_verification_tokens_to_deleted_records_empty_list():
diff --git a/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/lib/http/schema.d.ts b/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/lib/http/schema.d.ts
index ddf2040cd04..bfd1efc99f3 100644
--- a/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/lib/http/schema.d.ts
+++ b/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/lib/http/schema.d.ts
@@ -6504,6 +6504,7 @@ export interface paths {
          *     - disable_global_guardrails: Optional[bool] - Whether to disable global guardrails for the key.
          *     - permissions: Optional[dict] - key-specific permissions. Currently just used for turning off pii masking (if connected). Example - {"pii": false}
          *     - model_max_budget: Optional[Dict[str, BudgetConfig]] - Model-specific budgets {"gpt-4": {"budget_limit": 0.0005, "time_period": "30d"}}}. IF null or {} then no model specific budget.
+         *     - budget_fallbacks: Optional[Dict[str, List[str]]] - Per-model fallback chain tried in order when that model's own `model_max_budget` is exceeded, e.g. {"gpt-4o": ["gpt-4o-mini"]}.
          *     - model_rpm_limit: Optional[dict] - key-specific model rpm limit. Example - {"text-davinci-002": 1000, "gpt-3.5-turbo": 1000}. IF null or {} then no model specific rpm limit.
          *     - model_tpm_limit: Optional[dict] - key-specific model tpm limit. Example - {"text-davinci-002": 1000, "gpt-3.5-turbo": 1000}. IF null or {} then no model specific tpm limit.
          *     - mcp_rpm_limit: Optional[dict] - key-specific per-MCP-server rpm limit, keyed by MCP server name (alias if set, else the configured name). Example - {"github": 100, "slack": 200}. IF null or {} then no MCP-specific rpm limit.
@@ -6710,6 +6711,7 @@ export interface paths {
          *         - spend: Optional[float] - Amount spent by key
          *         - max_budget: Optional[float] - Max budget for key
          *         - model_max_budget: Optional[Dict[str, BudgetConfig]] - Model-specific budgets {"gpt-4": {"budget_limit": 0.0005, "time_period": "30d"}}
+         *         - budget_fallbacks: Optional[Dict[str, List[str]]] - Per-model fallback chain tried in order when that model's own `model_max_budget` is exceeded, e.g. {"gpt-4o": ["gpt-4o-mini"]}.
          *         - budget_duration: Optional[str] - Budget reset period ("30d", "1h", etc.)
          *         - soft_budget: Optional[float] - Soft budget limit (warning vs. hard stop). Will trigger a slack alert when this soft budget is reached.
          *         - max_parallel_requests: Optional[int] - Rate limit for parallel requests
@@ -6785,6 +6787,7 @@ export interface paths {
          *     - guardrails: Optional[List[str]] - List of active guardrails for the key
          *     - permissions: Optional[dict] - key-specific permissions. Currently just used for turning off pii masking (if connected). Example - {"pii": false}
          *     - model_max_budget: Optional[Dict[str, BudgetConfig]] - Model-specific budgets {"gpt-4": {"budget_limit": 0.0005, "time_period": "30d"}}}. IF null or {} then no model specific budget.
+         *     - budget_fallbacks: Optional[Dict[str, List[str]]] - Per-model fallback chain tried in order when that model's own `model_max_budget` is exceeded, e.g. {"gpt-4o": ["gpt-4o-mini"]}.
          *     - model_rpm_limit: Optional[dict] - key-specific model rpm limit. Example - {"text-davinci-002": 1000, "gpt-3.5-turbo": 1000}. IF null or {} then no model specific rpm limit.
          *     - model_tpm_limit: Optional[dict] - key-specific model tpm limit. Example - {"text-davinci-002": 1000, "gpt-3.5-turbo": 1000}. IF null or {} then no model specific tpm limit.
          *     - mcp_rpm_limit: Optional[dict] - key-specific per-MCP-server rpm limit, keyed by MCP server name (alias if set, else the configured name). Example - {"github": 100, "slack": 200}. IF null or {} then no MCP-specific rpm limit.
@@ -6883,6 +6886,7 @@ export interface paths {
          *     - spend: Optional[float] - Amount spent by key
          *     - max_budget: Optional[float] - Max budget for key
          *     - model_max_budget: Optional[Dict[str, BudgetConfig]] - Model-specific budgets {"gpt-4": {"budget_limit": 0.0005, "time_period": "30d"}}
+         *     - budget_fallbacks: Optional[Dict[str, List[str]]] - Per-model fallback chain tried in order when that model's own `model_max_budget` is exceeded, e.g. {"gpt-4o": ["gpt-4o-mini"]}.
          *     - budget_duration: Optional[str] - Budget reset period ("30d", "1h", etc.)
          *     - soft_budget: Optional[float] - [TODO] Soft budget limit (warning vs. hard stop). Will trigger a slack alert when this soft budget is reached.
          *     - max_parallel_requests: Optional[int] - Rate limit for parallel requests
@@ -6964,6 +6968,7 @@ export interface paths {
          *         - spend: Optional[float] - Amount spent by key
          *         - max_budget: Optional[float] - Max budget for key
          *         - model_max_budget: Optional[Dict[str, BudgetConfig]] - Model-specific budgets {"gpt-4": {"budget_limit": 0.0005, "time_period": "30d"}}
+         *         - budget_fallbacks: Optional[Dict[str, List[str]]] - Per-model fallback chain tried in order when that model's own `model_max_budget` is exceeded, e.g. {"gpt-4o": ["gpt-4o-mini"]}.
          *         - budget_duration: Optional[str] - Budget reset period ("30d", "1h", etc.)
          *         - soft_budget: Optional[float] - Soft budget limit (warning vs. hard stop). Will trigger a slack alert when this soft budget is reached.
          *         - max_parallel_requests: Optional[int] - Rate limit for parallel requests
@@ -14613,6 +14618,7 @@ export interface paths {
          *     - max_parallel_requests: Optional[int] - Rate limit a user based on the number of parallel requests. Raises 429 error, if user's parallel requests > x.
          *     - soft_budget: Optional[float] - Get alerts when user crosses given budget, doesn't block requests.
          *     - model_max_budget: Optional[dict] - Model-specific max budget for user. [Docs](https://docs.litellm.ai/docs/proxy/users#add-model-specific-budgets-to-keys)
+         *     - budget_fallbacks: Optional[Dict[str, List[str]]] - Per-model fallback chain tried in order when that model's own `model_max_budget` is exceeded, e.g. {"gpt-4o": ["gpt-4o-mini"]}.
          *     - model_rpm_limit: Optional[float] - Model-specific rpm limit for user. [Docs](https://docs.litellm.ai/docs/proxy/users#add-model-specific-limits-to-keys)
          *     - mcp_rpm_limit: Optional[dict] - Per-MCP-server rpm limit, keyed by MCP server name {"github": 100, "slack": 200}. Enforced for keys and teams only; values set on a user are stored but not enforced per user.
          *     - model_tpm_limit: Optional[float] - Model-specific tpm limit for user. [Docs](https://docs.litellm.ai/docs/proxy/users#add-model-specific-limits-to-keys)
@@ -14693,6 +14699,7 @@ export interface paths {
          *         - max_parallel_requests: Optional[int] - Rate limit a user based on the number of parallel requests. Raises 429 error, if user's parallel requests > x.
          *         - soft_budget: Optional[float] - Get alerts when user crosses given budget, doesn't block requests.
          *         - model_max_budget: Optional[dict] - Model-specific max budget for user. [Docs](https://docs.litellm.ai/docs/proxy/users#add-model-specific-budgets-to-keys)
+         *         - budget_fallbacks: Optional[Dict[str, List[str]]] - Per-model fallback chain tried in order when that model's own `model_max_budget` is exceeded, e.g. {"gpt-4o": ["gpt-4o-mini"]}.
          *         - model_rpm_limit: Optional[float] - Model-specific rpm limit for user. [Docs](https://docs.litellm.ai/docs/proxy/users#add-model-specific-limits-to-keys)
          *         - mcp_rpm_limit: Optional[dict] - Per-MCP-server rpm limit, keyed by MCP server name {"github": 100, "slack": 200}. Enforced for keys and teams only; values set on a user are stored but not enforced per user.
          *         - model_tpm_limit: Optional[float] - Model-specific tpm limit for user. [Docs](https://docs.litellm.ai/docs/proxy/users#add-model-specific-limits-to-keys)
@@ -23579,6 +23586,10 @@ export interface components {
             blocked?: boolean | null;
             /** Budget Duration */
             budget_duration?: string | null;
+            /** Budget Fallbacks */
+            budget_fallbacks?: {
+                [key: string]: string[];
+            } | null;
             /** Budget Id */
             budget_id?: string | null;
             /** Budget Limits */
@@ -23719,6 +23730,10 @@ export interface components {
             blocked?: boolean | null;
             /** Budget Duration */
             budget_duration?: string | null;
+            /** Budget Fallbacks */
+            budget_fallbacks?: {
+                [key: string]: string[];
+            } | null;
             /** Budget Id */
             budget_id?: string | null;
             /** Budget Limits */
@@ -24702,6 +24717,13 @@ export interface components {
             blocked?: boolean | null;
             /** Budget Duration */
             budget_duration?: string | null;
+            /**
+             * Budget Fallbacks
+             * @default {}
+             */
+            budget_fallbacks: {
+                [key: string]: string[];
+            };
             /** Budget Id */
             budget_id?: string | null;
             /** Budget Limits */
@@ -26087,6 +26109,13 @@ export interface components {
             blocked?: boolean | null;
             /** Budget Duration */
             budget_duration?: string | null;
+            /**
+             * Budget Fallbacks
+             * @default {}
+             */
+            budget_fallbacks: {
+                [key: string]: string[];
+            };
             /** Budget Id */
             budget_id?: string | null;
             /** Budget Limits */
@@ -27895,6 +27924,10 @@ export interface components {
             blocked?: boolean | null;
             /** Budget Duration */
             budget_duration?: string | null;
+            /** Budget Fallbacks */
+            budget_fallbacks?: {
+                [key: string]: string[];
+            } | null;
             /** Budget Limits */
             budget_limits?: components["schemas"]["BudgetLimitEntry"][] | null;
             /**
@@ -28029,6 +28062,10 @@ export interface components {
             blocked?: boolean | null;
             /** Budget Duration */
             budget_duration?: string | null;
+            /** Budget Fallbacks */
+            budget_fallbacks?: {
+                [key: string]: string[];
+            } | null;
             /** Budget Id */
             budget_id?: string | null;
             /** Budget Limits */
@@ -29647,6 +29684,10 @@ export interface components {
             blocked?: boolean | null;
             /** Budget Duration */
             budget_duration?: string | null;
+            /** Budget Fallbacks */
+            budget_fallbacks?: {
+                [key: string]: string[];
+            } | null;
             /** Budget Id */
             budget_id?: string | null;
             /** Budget Limits */
@@ -31606,6 +31647,10 @@ export interface components {
             blocked?: boolean | null;
             /** Budget Duration */
             budget_duration?: string | null;
+            /** Budget Fallbacks */
+            budget_fallbacks?: {
+                [key: string]: string[];
+            } | null;
             /** Budget Id */
             budget_id?: string | null;
             /** Budget Limits */
@@ -32069,6 +32114,10 @@ export interface components {
             blocked?: boolean | null;
             /** Budget Duration */
             budget_duration?: string | null;
+            /** Budget Fallbacks */
+            budget_fallbacks?: {
+                [key: string]: string[];
+            } | null;
             /** Budget Limits */
             budget_limits?: components["schemas"]["BudgetLimitEntry"][] | null;
             /**
@@ -32167,6 +32216,10 @@ export interface components {
             blocked?: boolean | null;
             /** Budget Duration */
             budget_duration?: string | null;
+            /** Budget Fallbacks */
+            budget_fallbacks?: {
+                [key: string]: string[];
+            } | null;
             /** Budget Limits */
             budget_limits?: components["schemas"]["BudgetLimitEntry"][] | null;
             /**
@@ -32394,6 +32447,13 @@ export interface components {
             blocked?: boolean | null;
             /** Budget Duration */
             budget_duration?: string | null;
+            /**
+             * Budget Fallbacks
+             * @default {}
+             */
+            budget_fallbacks: {
+                [key: string]: string[];
+            };
             /** Budget Id */
             budget_id?: string | null;
             /** Budget Limits */