Cricket’s a fun and exciting game. But aside from the thrills for fans, it’s also a wild ride that turns players into legends and millionaires. In 2025, guys like Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, and Virat Kohli are hitting the balls right. But they're building fortunes at the same time.
In this article, we'll pocket-watch a little bit. You'll see a sneak peek into the lives of cricket’s biggest stars, showing how they stack cash through games, brand deals, and clever investments.
Fame, Fortune & Cricket’s Big Shots
The top dogs in cricket play well and they're just as smart. These guys also know how to cash in on their stardom. Their bank accounts grow from hefty paychecks, ads, and side hustles. Let’s meet the three kings who’ve turned cricket into a goldmine.
1. Sachin Tendulkar
The cricket god is sitting on $170 million (₹1,400 crore), making him cricket’s richest star. Sachin Tendulkar played for 24 years, from 1989 to 2013, racking up 34,357 runs and 100 centuries. Nobody’s come close to that.
Off the field, he pulls in about ₹15 crore a year from deals with brands like BMW, Pepsi, and MRF. He used to have a stake in the Kerala Blasters football club, and currently backs startups like Spinny. As Venus Williams once said, “You have to believe in yourself when no one else does—that makes you a winner.” It is that mindset that keeps his legacy alive.
Fun fact: his 100 centuries break down to 51 in Tests and 49 in ODIs. It's a record that’s still untouched.
2. MS Dhoni
Mahendra Singh Dhoni has $120–125 million (₹1,000–1,050 crore) to his name. He’s the only captain to win all three ICC trophies: the 2007 T20 World Cup, 2011 ODI World Cup, and 2013 Champions Trophy.
Dhoni’s still cashing in with a ₹4 crore deal from Chennai Super Kings in the 2025 IPL, plus ads for over 30 brands like Dream11 and Pepsi. His side gigs include SEVEN clothing and Chennaiyin FC, with his brand worth ₹800 crore.
Oh, and Dhoni’s co-founder of Dhoni Entertainment which produced Roar of the Lion in 2019. It's a Hotstar documentary about CSK’s 2018 IPL comeback, narrated by the man himself.
3. Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli’s worth $125 million (₹1,050 crore), and he’s cricket’s modern rockstar. He earns ₹21 crore a season with Royal Challengers Bangalore and ₹7 crore from his BCCI contract. Brands like Puma, Audi, and Myntra pay him ₹4–6 crore per deal. He’s also got Wrogn fashion, One8 fitness, and a piece of FC Goa.
With over 270 million Instagram followers, he’s a social media beast. Kohli believes “Self-belief and hard work will always earn you success,” and that hustle keeps him on top. Back in 2023, Forbes ranked him among the world’s top 100 highest-paid athletes, pulling in $33 million.
How They Make Their Millions
Cricket’s gone big-time, with players raking in cash from all angles. Alongside playing, here’s how they build their fortunes:
- Game Paychecks: IPL deals hit up to ₹21 crore a season, and BCCI’s top contracts bring ₹7 crore a year.
- Brand Deals: The big names sign with 15–30 brands, grabbing ₹4–6 crore per ad and ₹1–2 crore per social post.
- Side Hustles: Think Kohli’s Wrogn or Dhoni’s SEVEN. Players pour money into fashion, sports teams, and startups.
- TV and Coaching: Retired stars like Ricky Ponting stay in the game with commentary or IPL coaching gigs.
- Worldwide Leagues: keep players like Chris Gayle rolling in dough.
More Cricket Millionaires
Tendulkar, Dhoni, and Kohli aren’t the only ones cashing in. Other players have also turned their skills into serious wealth. Check out this rundown of cricket’s richest in 2025, with their net worths and a standout moment from each.
| Rank | Player | Country | Net Worth | Standout Moment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Sachin Tendulkar | India | $170M | Scored 100 international centuries |
| 2. | MS Dhoni | India | $120–125M | Won all three ICC trophies as captain |
| 3. | Virat Kohli | India | $125M | Top 100 global athlete in 2023 (Forbes) |
| 4. | Ricky Ponting | Australia | $70M | Led Australia to two World Cup wins |
| 5. | Brian Lara | West Indies | $60M | Smashed 400* in a Test match |
| 6. | Shane Warne | Australia | $50M | Took over 700 Test wickets |
| 7. | Jacques Kallis | South Africa | $48M | Got 10,000+ runs and 250+ wickets in Tests/ODIs |
| 8. | Chris Gayle | West Indies | $45M | Holds record for 22 T20 centuries |
| 9. | Virender Sehwag | India | $40M | Hit two triple-centuries in Tests |
| 10. | Shane Watson | Australia | $40M | Won two World Cups with Australia |
These guys keep the cash flowing with gigs like coaching (Ponting), real estate (Lara), or even poker (Warne’s estate).
Cricket’s Big Impact
Cricket's money boom is getting kids to pick up bats everywhere. The influence of the sport and its big stars is seen in India, Pakistan, Europe, North America, and worldwide. The IPL is bringing in ₹12,000 crore in 2025, putting cricket right up there with soccer and basketball for cash flow. Social media changed everything too. Stars like Kohli make millions per post. The sport's also driving merchandise sales, video games, and fan events.
Also, the popularity and hype of these stars have fueled the interest in cricket betting. According to top tipster Vadims Mikeļevičs, fans of cricket in places like India, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and Pakistan are now trying their hands in legal sports betting. This is not surprising at all. When the India cricket team plays Pakistan for instance, it is always a huge event in both countries and it provides an opportunity for people in both countries to see these players and their abilities at close range.
This is why betting in Pakistan has never been more popular as fans troop to bookmakers online to back their favorite teams and stars by placing wagers on them. Whether it is cricket or other sports, this is the new normal.
Wrapping Up
In 2025, cricket’s biggest names double as brands with empires. These stars show how cricket mixes sport and big money. Their stories push millions to chase dreams with a bat in hand.
As new players come and leagues keep growing, we believe the sport will churn out even more stars who’ll dominate the game and their bank accounts.
