While Indian cricketers are some of the richest and well paid athletes on a global level, they are not the only ones whose pockets run deep. There are several other cricketers who are similarly loaded, if not richer than some of the Indian cricketers. In recent times, it has been noted that Australian players are actually paid a much higher salary than their Indian counterparts, almost double the amount if we are being exact and precise.
With that being said, let us have a look at 5 of the richest cricketers in the world-
1. Sachin Tendulkar
The God of cricket is also the God of wealth when it comes to the financial side of things. The little master has been sitting pretty on the top of the money making charts ever since his playing days when he signed that lucrative contract with MRF tyres, which is proving to be one of his biggest deals that he’s made in his time. Apart from making his money in endorsements and ad deals, his book that was released in 2014, “Playing it my way” has also catapulted his earnings to a new level.
2. MS Dhoni
The most successful captain of Indian cricket is another player who finds his name in the list of the rich and wealthy, his wide range of investments and his huge array of brand endorsements coupled with his IPL contract have enlarged his wealth. However not a lot of people know that he pocketed a cool 30 cr INR from the royalties of the Biopic Bollywood movie “MS Dhoni – the untold story” in 2016. Add to that his honorary posts in the army and that obviously helps in increasing the wealth at his disposal
3. Virat Kohli
Apart from endorsing some of the largest brands in the country, Virat Kohli’s business acumen spreads outside the cricket field as well. Apart from his fitness centre, his One8 chain of restaurants coupled with his stake in the fashion brands Red Chief and Wrong, Virat Kohli is well and truly showing his savvy in the business interests that he currently owns.
4. Ricky Ponting
The most successful Australian captain was a fierce personality both on and off the pitch, and that shows in the way he conducts himself. A shrewd captain, he is an even smarter businessman and investor off it. After his playing career, he had a successful career as a commentator and an even better one as a coach in the IPL with the Delhi Capitals. Apart from cricket, Ponting has a successful business of his own wines “Ponting’s Wines”.
5. Brian Lara
The West Indian legend is one of the most classy and gifted players of test cricket in his generation. The Prince of Trinidad is an equally smart and intelligent man when it comes to keeping up with the times in terms of generating good income opportunities. He is the brand ambassador of the Chattogram Challengers side in the BPL team, and is also now the head coach of the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL. And before that he was making waves in the commentary box as well with his smart and incisive analysis.
6. Shane Warne
While the legendary leg spinner may not be among us, he did enough during his lifetime to make sure that he had more than enough wealth generated to ensure that his family can live without any issues or difficulties. As a player, he made a handsome amount playing for a number of different franchises over the years, with Rajasthan Royals and Melbourne Stars being among the most prominent. He then went on to become the mentor of the Royals, and also has a very fruitful career as a commentator for Fox sports, and then later on with Sky.
7. Virender Sehwag
The nawab of najafgarh has quite a few business interests outside of cricket. Aside from being one of the most destructive openers who made a massive fortune by playing in the IPL, he has a restaurant of his own as well as a couple of more business interests. The rest of his income is from multiple brand endorsements and commentary duty.
8. Yuvraj Singh
Yuvraj Singh was a magnet for a large number of brands due to his good looks and personality. While on the field he was among the most expensive players in the ipl auction twice, off the field, his investment company YouWeCan ventures is going strong, coupled by the fact that he Invested in multiple startups like Healthians, EazyDiner etc. His autobiography also was a massive money spinner in which he speaks about his hardships while suffering from Cancer
9. Jacques Kallis
The South African is arguably one of the greatest all rounders to have graced the game of cricket. A fierce competitor on the field, but a very gentle man off it, Kallis is one of the players who personifies the gentleman’s game. He also is one of the richest in the business, with almost all his income coming during his playing career, most notably for the Knight Riders and the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL.
10. Steve Smith
Smudge, as he’s called, is one of the modern greats of the game with his exploits with the bat known to everyone. However, while he was banned from the game for a year, he was forced to reinvent himself not only as a player but as an individual. So he went out and started his own oat milk business, and now it is one of the leading brands in Australia, giving the other brands a real run for their money. Add to that being one of the highest paid players in the Australian side, and his sojourns in the IPL and the big bash, Smith is making quite a name for himself.
