TOP 10 Richest Cricketers in the world
The popularity of cricket is estimated not only by the scale of the spread of this game, in the countries where cricket is played, more than 2 billion people will live. people. Moreover, a certain infrastructure has already developed around cricket, and its own community has been formed. A huge army of fans is showing interest not only in the results of competitions, but also in the success of athletes. Today, the life of the sports elite and the achievements of athletes off the field are actively discussed.
One of the leading places in this list is occupied by the income level of the best players, the size of their capital. Cricket has long taken its place on a par with such expensive sports as football, basketball, and tennis, and the fees of the strongest cricketers amount to millions of USD. Accordingly, in the current situation, there are ratings of the richest teams, TOP lists from the richest cricketers.
We bring to your attention our version of the TOP 10 richest cricketers. It may seem to someone that the rating is based on a subjective assessment of the size of athletes’ capital on sources of income. Nevertheless, the fact of monetization of cricketers’ sporting achievements on the basis of existing contracts and branding is undeniable.
It remains only to announce the names of the players participating in the rating and the size of their capitals.
Features of our 10 most richest cricketers
Contrary to popular belief that cricket is a game of the rich, today we can safely say that most of today’s richest and most famous athletes come from ordinary poor families. Moreover, India, a country with a low standard of living, is the leader in the number of the most affluent cricketers today
In our ranking, India is represented by 6 athletes, whose total capital is a huge amount of 588 million USD.
Prosperous Australia is in second place in terms of the number of rich cricketers. There are 2 athletes representing this English-speaking country on our list. Two positions in the ranking are occupied by players from South Africa and the West Indies.
All the players in our TOP 10 are cricket stars who have played on the field at various times. Accordingly, the allocation of places did not take into account the status of the athlete, whether he is playing or has already completed his performances. We did not take into account the ways and methods of enriching athletes.
We do not question the legality of the earned capital. In most cases, the participants in our ranking are not only successful and legendary cricketers. Many of them, thanks to their ingenuity, ambitions and business qualities, managed to successfully transform their athletic achievements into commercial potential.
The main factor determining a place in our rating is the amount of capital. The data on which the rating is based is provided for 2024
What does our TOP 10 richest cricketers look like?
To begin with, we suggest taking a look at the TOP 10. The list indicates the cricketer’s place in the ranking, his name, age, country and amount of capital in USD.
| Name | Age | Country | Capital (USD) |
| Sachin Tendulkar | 53 | India | 172 million |
| Mahendra Singh Dhoni | 42 | India | 127 million |
| Virat Kohli | 35 | India | 125 million |
| Ricky Ponting | 49 | Australia | 111 million |
| Rohit Sharma | 36 | India | 85 million |
| Jacques Kallis | 48 | South Africa | 70 million |
| Brian Lara | 54 | Trinidad, West Indies | 60 million |
| Virender Sehwag | 45 | India | 42 million |
| Yuvraj Singh | 42 | India | 35 million |
| Shane Watson | 42 | Australia | 35 million |
As you can see, our top list is dominated by representatives of India. It is likely that this leadership is caused by the size of the population (India has a population of over 1 billion. a person) and, accordingly, a larger number of players.
Australia is represented by two athletes in our ranking. There is one cricketer in the ranking from South Africa and from Trinidad (West Indies). Now about the status of the most participants in our TOP list.
Only 3 athletes on the list are current players who compete in competitions of different formats either for their clubs or as part of the national team. They all represent Indian cricket. All the other 7 participants in the list are players who have finished their sports career and are engaged in other activities.
TOP 10 list of richest cricket players
The first place. Sachin Tendulkar. 172 million US dollars
An Indian cricketer who shone on the field in the late 90s and early 2000s. The nickname “God of Cricket”. He has the status of a legend of Indian cricket and at the same time the status of the richest cricketer in the world. He played as a batsman. From 1989 to 2013, he defended the colors of the clubs “Cricket Club of India”, “Mumbai”, “Yorkshire” and “Mumbai Indians”. Silver medalist of the World Championship in 1002. The 2011 world champion of the Indian national team.
At the end of 2012, Sachin Tendulkar announced the termination of his international ODI career. In the autumn of 2013, the cricketer played his last match in the T20 format. In November of the same year, Tendulkar played the last 200th test.
In total, Tendulkar has played 664 matches in various formats in his 25-year career. The achievements of the Indian cricket legend are 34,000 runs and more than 100 centuries.
In 2024, the legendary cricketer’s fortune is estimated at 172 million US dollars. Tendulkar earned his first capital as a player of the Indian national team. Then there were large-sum franchises with Indian clubs and a number of large-sum contracts with well-known brands.
Sources of income of Sachin Tendulkar
For 25 years of playing cricket, the athlete had income from sponsorship contracts with such well-known companies as Adidas, Canon, Phillips, VISA and Castrol. In 2021, the Indian cricketer signed new major contracts with BMW, Pepsi and MRF.
Today, Sachin Tendulkar receives part of the funds through advertising campaigns, but his main income is the salary of the head coach at the Mumbai Indians club and fees for the work of a sports commentator.
Tendulkar officially owns the property, the value of which is estimated at 520 crore Indian rupees. The former player is the owner of the Tamil Thalaivas club and co-owner of the Pro Kabaddi League team.
Second place. MS Dhoni. 127 million US dollars
Indian cricket player MS Dhoni is on the second line of our TOP 10 richest cricketers in the world. His full name is Mahendra Singh Dhoni. The player specializes in the positions of wicketkeeper and batsman. Over the years of his sports career, he played for the Chennai Super Kings and Rising Pune Supergiant clubs. He played for the national team of Jharkhand State and for the national team of Bihar. He has repeatedly played for the Indian national cricket team.
The 2007 World T20 champion and the 2011 world champion with the Indian national team. Silver medalist of the 2014 World Championship. As the captain of the Indian national team, Dhoni won two Asian Cups and won the ICC Champions Trophy.
To date, Dhoni has completed his appearances in the national team and is focusing on playing for the Chennai Super Kings club, which plays in the Indian Premier League.
Thanks to his playing, MS Dhoni not only managed to achieve the most high-profile titles, but also earned quite a lot. His name has also become a legend in world cricket, and his fame has spread all over the world. As the captain of the Indian national team, Dhoni managed to become the owner of all the trophies in the ICC. Accordingly, the player earned his first capital thanks to the successes in his sports career.
Nowadays, all the player’s assets are estimated at 127 million USD. Large companies and firms have had sponsorship contracts with the legendary athlete at various times. For 7 years, Dhoni was the face of the Reebok brand, receiving a fee of $35 million for this deal.
In addition, Dhoni, in different years of his sports career, had contracts with such famous brands as TVS Motors, Red Bus, Sony Bravia, Lays, Orient, Amrapali, Snickers, Colgate and others.
To date, Dhoni has earned part of his capital himself. The player is an investor and co-owner of the Chennai FC cricket club, which plays in the Indian Super League. The athlete owns the rights to his own brand “Se7en”. At the moment, the player receives the main income from the franchise with the Chennai Super Kings club, for which he continues to play in the status of captain.
Third place. Virat Kohli. 125 million US dollars
The honorable third place in the ranking is occupied by Indian cricketer Virat Kohli, nicknamed “Chicco”. He plays as a batsman. The athlete continues to remain an active player today, leading the Indian national team and the Indian Premier League team Royal Challengers Bangalore in the status of captain.
The 2011 World champion. Silver medalist of the T20 World Championship and silver medalist of the 2023 World Championship.
Virat Kohli’s capital is currently estimated at 125 million US dollars. Apart from the fact that his achievements in cricket have become a solid material asset over time, Virat Kohli is himself a powerful brand. His appearance in the mass media and on television is used as a powerful advertising tool. Kohli can be safely called a trend in modern cricket.
What are the sources of income of the current cricket star?
The fact that the current captain of the Indian national cricket team is the best-selling player, writes the authoritative publication Forbes. Moreover, Kohli became one of the few Indians included in the Forbes list of the richest people on the planet. His popularity is breaking all records. His army of subscribers has exceeded 50 million users today. Kohli has about 30 million fans on Twitter.
Virat Kohli has the most expensive contract in the history of the Indian Premier League today. The player was signed for 17 crore rupees by Royal Challengers Bangalore, one of the richest Indian clubs.
He has collaborated with well-known companies such as Audi India. As the captain of the Indian national team, Virat Kohli had large-scale advertising contracts to promote brands such as Pepsi, Hero Moto Corp, Valvoline, Google, Colgate, Tissot and Manyavar.
In 2018, Virat Kohli received a contract worth $17 million for his appointment as an ambassador of the Uber trademark.
Currently, the income of the playing captain of the Indian national team continues to grow. This is facilitated by a reasonable investment policy of the athlete. Kohli owns shares in FC Goa football club. The player’s assets are his own fashion brands Wrong and One 8.
In addition to commercial transactions, Kohli receives a salary income of $1 million for his contract with BCCI.
Fourth place. Ricky Ponting. 111 million US dollars
Australian Ricky Ponting is in fourth place in the TOP 10. He is the first non-Indian cricketer who has a net worth of over $100 million. According to Forbes magazine, currently the total value of the assets of the Australian cricketer is 111 million USD.
The athlete’s full name is Ricky Thomas Ponting. The nickname “hunter”. He played in his time as a batsman. During his sports career, from 1992 to 2013, the athlete played 324 matches as captain and 220 matches ended in victory. Ponting has played brilliantly in the Australian national team between 2002 and 2011 in ODI and tests. The former captain of the Australian national team has three Asian Cups, two consecutive victories at the ICC World Championships.
During his sporting career, the Australian defended the colors of such clubs and teams as Tasmania, Somerset, Kolkata Knight Riders, Hobart Hurricanes, Mumbai Indians, Surrey and Antigua Hawksbills.
For his services to cricket, he received the status of the “best player” in cricket in the first decade of the third millennium.
The first earned capital became the materialization of the athlete’s achievements. While still captain of the Australian national team, Ricky Ponting signed major advertising contracts in the Asia-Pacific region for brands such as Valvoline, Adidas, Pura Milk and Rexona. In the future, well-made investments made it possible to increase the athlete’s capital.
Today, Ricky Ponting is the co-owner and at the same time the head coach of one of the leading teams in the Indian Premier League, Delhi Capitals. In addition to playing on the playing field, the former captain also has a job as a sports commentator and expert on Channel 9. The hotel business has become a major asset of the Australian. In addition to the 5-star hotel, the former cricketer also has a large array of commercial real estate.
Fifth place. Rohit Sharma. 85 million US dollars
Once again, we return to the representatives of India in our ranking. This time, Rohit Sharma is ranked fifth in the TOP 10. The player’s full name is Rohit Gurunath Sharma. The role of the athlete is a batsman nicknamed “killer”. The Indian has scored more than one double century in ODI. The athlete managed to make 5 centuries in one World Championship.
Throughout his sporting career, in addition to playing for the Indian national team, the player defended the colors of such teams as the Mumbai cricket team, Deccan Chargers and Mumbai Indians.
He is currently the captain of the Indian national cricket team, playing in all three formats. At the age of 36, Rohit Sharma is a world champion and a silver medalist in T20. The player has won silver medals at the 2023 ICC World Cup as a member of the Indian national team. The athlete won the Asian Cup twice.
The fortune of the current captain of the Indian national team is estimated at $ 85 million. Numerous advertising contracts for such well-known brands as Adidas, CEAT and Aristocrat contributed to a successful start in the financial field. The contracts amount to millions of dollars.
Being a playing athlete, Rohit Sharma receives a decent amount from the WCC on the basis of an existing contract. In parallel with performances on the field, the athlete manages to successfully run his own business. The player has a lot of commercial real estate. Moreover, the athlete is a major investor in the construction industry.
Sixth place. Jacques Kallis – $ 70 million USA
The only representative of the African continent, Jacques Kallis, is on the sixth line of our ranking of the richest cricketers. The nicknames are “Jakes”, “Woogie” and “Kalahari”. The game specialization is universal. Sports career – from 1993 to 2015. The athlete played at various times for the South African national team and achieved significant success with the team.
Kallis is the only cricketer who has managed over 10,000 runs and taken over 250 wickets in ODI tournaments and tests. In tests, the South African became the second highest scorer in the number of centuries after Sachin Tendulkar.
During his playing career, Kallis played for the South African national team, Western Province, Middlex, Glamorgan, Cape Cobras, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Kolkata Knight Riders, Sydney Thunders and Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel. After completing his international career, Jacques Kallis continued to play domestic cricket for a while. For more than two years, the athlete coached the Kolkata Knight Riders team of the Indian Premier League, achieving the championship title with it.
Today, the assets of South African cricketer Jacques Kallis are estimated at $70 million. The athlete earned his initial capital as captain of the African national team. At the end of his career, the athlete became a representative of the Indian brand Advanced Hair Studio India, having received a contract for a large sum.
Currently, Jacques Kallis has retired from big-time sports, working as a coach in his homeland in South Africa. His main sources of income are rents from real estate in South Africa, India and the West Indies. One of the income items of the cricketer was regular consultations on cricket betting, consulting services at the coaching staff of the South African national team.
Seventh place. Brian Lara. 60 million US dollars
There is also a representative of the Western Hemisphere in our ranking. Cricketer Brian Lara, represents the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. The nickname “Prince”. The specialization in cricket is the batsman. He played for the West Indies national team.
He played in 131 tests between 1990 and 2006. Brian Lara has been the top scorer in test cricket for two decades. During his career, the player made 21,000 runs, which is the second highest in the history of cricket. For his success in the game, the athlete was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2012.
The player’s career began even before the introduction of the T20 format, his performances brought him considerable income. Brian Lara earned most of his future capital, which is currently estimated at $ 60 million, from advertising popular brands. At one time, the athlete was the face of the brand of the Indian company MRF, which manufactures car tires.
Currently, Brian Lara is engaged in coaching, performs the functions of a sports expert and analyst. The main income of the former athlete is rent from real estate rentals, investment projects in construction and in the sports equipment industry.
Eighth place. Virender Sehwag. 42 million US dollars
Once again, the representative of India is in our ranking of the richest cricketers. In eighth place in the TOP 10, Virender Sehwag is an Indian cricketer with a capital of 42 million USD. The specialization in cricket is the batsman. From 1999 to 2913, the athlete played for the Indian national team. The winner of the fastest triple century and the title of the best scorer in test matches.
In domestic cricket, he played for the clubs Delhi cricket team, Haryana cricket team, Leicestershire County Cricket Club, Delhi Capitals and Punjab King. Over the years of his sports career, he became the winner of the Champions Trophy in 2002, the silver medalist of the 2003 World Championship, the T20 world champion in 2007 and the world champion in 2011. The athlete has the prestigious award of the “best player” according to the magazine “Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack” for 2009.
Virender Sehwag finished his international cricket and Indian Premier League appearances in October 2015.
The athlete earned his first and main assets during his tenure as captain of the Indian national team, while playing for professional clubs. Virender Sehwag, at the peak of his career, had major advertising contracts with major companies such as Reebok, Samsung, Boost and Adidas. The contract with the Japanese automobile company Honda alone brought the player more than $ 10 million.
After completing his sports career, Virender Sehwag actively engaged in sponsorship and investment activities. The player is a co-owner of a number of sports clubs, actively advocates the development of youth sports. Today, the main income of an athlete is a shareholder’s share, commercial activities in the sports, education and tourism industries.
Ninth place. Yuvraj Singh. 35 million US dollars
In ninth place in the TOP 10 is Yuvraj Singh, an Indian cricketer who managed to earn a fortune of 35 million USD. The nickname is “Yuvi”. He played for the Indian national team in all three formats. The ampoule is universal. Fame came to the athlete after the 2011 World Cup, which was won by the Indian national team.
During his career, starting in 1996 and ending in 2019, the athlete played for the Punjab and Yorkshire teams, defended the colors of such clubs as Punjab Kings, Pune Warriors India, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Delhi Daredevils, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Mumbai Indians, Toronto Nationals” and “Maratha Arabs”.
The athlete’s last game for the Indian national team took place in June 2017 in a match against the West Indies. In the summer of 2019, Yuvraj Singh ended his sports career, stating that he was ceasing all international and domestic performances.
Yuvraj Singh earned part of his capital, which, according to Forbes magazine, is estimated at $ 35 million in 2024, as a player of the Indian national team and while playing for professional clubs. However, the athlete earned most of his current fortune from advertising contracts, representing many popular brands and companies. His asset can be considered the YWC brand, which has found its place in the fashion industry.
After retiring from big-time cricket, Yuvraj switched to business, making a number of successful investments in the fashion industry and startups related to the production of sports equipment and equipment. Today, the former vice-captain of the Indian national cricket team is actively involved in television projects, provides consulting services and an expert in the sports field.
Tenth place. Shane Watson. 35 million US dollars.
Shane Watson (Australia) completes our TOP 10 richest cricketers. His fortune is estimated at $35 million today. The Australian is ranked 10th in our ranking, having the same amount of capital as the Indian Yuvraj Singh. However, if the Indian has already finished his performances, Shane Watson continues to play cricket. The athlete’s specialization is universal.
During his sporting career, Shane Watson became a world champion in the Australian national team in 2007 and 2015. The Australian cricketer has records in T20I, ODI and T20. The Australian’s professional career is connected with many Australian and Indian teams and clubs. Since 2000, the player has played for the teams of Tasmania, Hampshire, Queensland, Rajasthan Royals, New South Wales, Sydney Sixers, Brisbane Heat, Sydney Thunder, Islamabad United, Royal Challengers Bangalore, St Lucia Stars, Quetta Gladiators.
In 2016, the Australian left international cricket, but continued to play in the domestic arena in the T20 format. From 2018 to the present, Shane Watson has been playing cricket for the Chennai Super Kings team.
According to Forbes magazine, for 4 years, from 2011 to 2015, the Australian became the highest-paid player in the Indian Premier League of non-Indian origin. Watson earned the title of “best player” in the Champions Trophy tournaments, in 2012 in the World T20 format and in 2013 in the IPL. During his performance in the Indian Premier League, Watson received a fee of 2 million US dollars per season.
In addition to paying for contracts in the IPL, the Australian actively cooperates with Asics, Australian Gold and Weet-Bix companies for advertising purposes. At the same time, the athlete has a business in the restaurant industry, provides consulting services, and works on television as a sports commentator. Watson is distinguished by his business acumen and competent handling of finances. This indicates that Shane Watson may soon change his 10th place in the ranking to a higher one.
Conclusion
The Top 10 richest cricketers in the world presented to your attention can be considered quite objective. We have tried to include all the most famous athletes who have played and continue to play cricket over the years.
The rating itself clearly demonstrates the trend towards capitalization of cricket as one of the most expensive sports. The amounts of contracts and the size of the capitals of leading cricketers reflect the rapidly growing commercial component of cricket. This is especially evident in the example of India, which is represented in our ranking by 6 athletes at once.
This shows that India is a trendsetter in cricket. This country has a strong resource base for the development of cricket, which contributes to the identification of young talents and the subsequent education of future cricket stars.
Nevertheless, the key to the financial success of many athletes is the result of a long-term career, achieved success in cricket. In the future, the growth of the cricketers’ capitals became possible thanks to their ingenuity and financial literacy. It is due to these qualities that once brilliant athletes have turned into successful businessmen.
