The 10 Richest Cricketers in the World
Not every country in the world ‘gets’ cricket, but in those that do, cricket players are treated like celebrities, with the lifestyle, the endorsement deals, and the fortunes that come with it. Kids might not dream of playing cricket when they grow up (at least, not in the same way they do basketball or football), but if more of them knew just how fabulously wealthy the world’s top cricketers were, they probably would. Find out who’s made the most money from the game as we count down the 10 richest cricketers in the world.
10. Jacques Kallis – Net Worth: $13 Million
Kicking off our list is Jacques Kallis, a sportsman from Cape Town, South Africa with a reputation as one of the best all-around cricketers in the world and the best batsman in South Africa. According to Wikipedia, he’s the only cricketer to have ever scored more than 10,000 runs and taken over 250 wickets in both ODI and Test match cricket. His achievements haven’t gone unacknowledged: in addition to earning the title of Leading Cricketer in the World in 2008, he was also named the ICC Test Player of the Year and ICC Player of the Year in 2005. Kallis officially retired from cricket in 2014, but returned to the game in 2019 when he joined the South African national cricket team, The Proteas, as a batting consultant. The following year, he was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame. His current net worth is estimated to be around $13 million.
9. Shane Watson – Net Worth: $25 Million
Up next with a net worth of $25 million is Australian cricketer, Shane Watson. Watson played international cricket for the Australian team between 2002 and 2016, eventually retiring from all forms of cricket in 2020. During his time in the game, he was named the No. 1 T20I all-rounder for a record-breaking 150 weeks. Away from cricket, Watson has launched numerous ventures, including a sports clinic called “Let’s Activate” that teaches sports skills to kids through the medium of song, movement, and dance. He also hosts a podcast called “Lessons Learnt with the Greats.” As of 2021, his net worth is estimated to be around $25 million.
8. Yuvraj Singh – Net Worth: $35 Million
Cricketing is in Yuvraj Singh’s blood: his father is the former Indian fast bowler turned actor Yograj Singh. An all-rounder who played international cricket for the Indian national team on all levels, Singh developed a reputation for his aggressive play and fielding. In 2012, he was awarded the Arjuna Award by the Government of India for his sporting achievements; two years later, he was awarded the Padma Shri, one of the highest civilian honors in the country, along with the FICCI Most Inspiring Sportsperson of the Year Award. In 2019, he formally stepped down from all forms of international cricket. Retirement clearly hasn’t dented his bank balance too much; he’s now worth a massive $35 million.
7. Virender Sehwag – Net Worth: $40 Million
The next addition to our rich list is Virender Sehwag, an Indian cricketer known as one of the most aggressive batsmen of all time. He began playing international cricket in 2001 and quickly made his mark; in 2009, he became the first Indian to ever win the title of Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World, and in 2010, the first to ever win it again for a second consecutive year. Since retiring from international cricket in 2015, he’s served on the Anti Doping Appeal Panel of the National Anti Doping Agency. His current net worth is believed to be $40 million.
6. Shane Warne – Net Worth: $50 Million
Former Australian cricket team captain Shane Warne ranks as one of the richest cricketers in the history of the sport thanks to a net worth of $50 million. Generally considered to be one of the best bowlers in cricket history, Warne received multiple titles and awards during his time in the sport, including the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in the 1994 Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack, the Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World in 1997, and the Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World for the year 2004. He was also one of just five fellow cricketers to be named to the Wisden Cricketers of the Century. In July 2013, he retired from all forms of cricket but has continued his association with the game as a commentator on the Nine Network.
5. Brian Lara – Net Worth: $60 Million
Trinidadian batsman Brian Lara comes next with a net worth of $60 million. According to espncricinfo.com, Lara learned his craft at Harvard Coaching Clinic, where he studied from the age of just 6 years old. By the time he was 14, his prowess on the field had earned him a place on the Trinidad Under-16 team. Just a year later, he was selected to the West Indies Under-19 side. At the age of 20, he became Trinidad and Tobago’s youngest captain. Since then, he’s gone on to win the record for the highest number of runs, the highest individual score, and the second-highest batting performance in the history of the game. He’s also won a much-coveted place in the ICC Hall of Fame.
4. Virat Kohli – Net Worth: $60 Million
In at number 4 is the current captain of the India national team, Virat Kohli. As timesnext.com notes, Kohli is widely regarded as one of the best batsmen in the world – a fact that may have something to do with his astronomical net worth of $60 million. As captain, he’s led the Indian team to more wins than any of his counterparts in history. Understandably, he’s the most expensive player in IPL, having led the IPL franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore to victory on numerous occasions. As the recipient of multiple awards, his roll call of honors includes winning the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy in 2017, the ICC ODI Player of the Year in 2012, 2017, and 2018, and the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna in 2018.
3. Ricky Ponting – Net Worth: $65 Million
Australian cricketer Ricky Ponting is widely considered one of the most successful captains of all time, having led the Australian team to victory on 220 occasions across 324 matches between 2004 and 2011. Since retiring from the game, he’s kept his place in the limelight thanks to his position as the assistant coach of the Australian national men’s cricket team and as a commentator. He’s also released several books chronicling his experiences as the Australian captain. His current net worth is $65 million.
2. MS Dhoni – Net Worth: $111 Million
Mahendra Singh Dhoni, or MS Dhoni as he usually goes by, led the Indian team to multiple victories during his captaincy, claiming an ICC World Twenty20, two Asia Cups, an ICC Champions Trophy, and the International Cricket World Cup. Despite being widely regarded as one of the greatest wicket-keeper batsmen and captains ever, he hasn’t dedicated himself solely to the game: in addition to owning majority stakes in the Ranchi-based hockey club Ranchi Rays and the Chennai-based football club Chennaiyin FC, he owns the footwear division of SEVEN, and the production company Dhoni Entertainment. His net worth is $111 million.
1. Sachin Tendulkar – Net Worth: $120 Million
Former international cricketer and Indian national team captain Sachin Tendulkar is a legendary batsman who ranks as the highest run-scorer of all time. He’s also the only player to have scored one hundred international centuries, the only player to complete more than 30,000 runs in international cricket, the youngest person and first-ever sportsman to receive the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award, and the first sportsperson to receive the honorary rank of group captain by the Indian Air Force. Despite retiring from all forms of cricket in 2013, both his legend and his fortune continue to grow. His net worth currently stands at a mammoth $120 million.
