Top 5 Richest Cricketers in 2025: Sachin Tendulkar, MS. Dhoni, Virat Kohli and more

The top five richest cricketers in 2025 are not just sports legends. They are financial powerhouses who built lasting wealth through skill, timing, and smart decisions. With Sachin Tendulkar at $170 million and MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli close behind, this group shows how endorsements, IPL success, and investments can transform a cricket career into a lifelong money machine.

1. Sachin Tendulkar: $170 million

Sachin Tendulkar sits at the number one position with a net worth of $170 million in 2025, a figure that has remained stable over the years, thanks to reliable passive income sources. His fortune is largely due to a 24-year international career featuring 100 international centuries, but since retiring, it’s been endorsements and investments that have driven his wealth.

Tendulkar’s endorsement portfolio is nothing short of legendary. As per Forbes’ 2025 athlete earnings list, he rakes in $18 million each year from partnerships with brands like BMW, Coca-Cola, and Adidas.

In a 2024 chat with CricTracker, Tendulkar shared with host Gaurav Kapoor that these collaborations kicked off in the 1990s when he became the first Indian cricketer to ink a global deal with WorldTel. This move changed the game for athlete marketing in India, especially as cricket was shifting from a gentleman’s sport to a commercial phenomenon. This backdrop highlights how his early stardom—ignited by his debut at just 16 in 1989—set the stage for lasting financial stability.

Investments are another key area for him. Tendulkar is a co-owner of Kerala Blasters FC in the Indian Super League and has investments in startups through his company, Sachin Tendulkar Enterprises.

His total worth of ₹1,250 crore ($170 million) includes real estate in Mumbai and London, which he bought during the property boom in India in the 2000s. During a panel discussion at the 2023 Forbes India Summit, he told moderator Harsha Bhogle that branching out into non-cricket assets was a planned move after his 2011 World Cup victory, when his brand value hit $22 million a year, allowing him to navigate market ups and downs.

Tendulkar’s charitable work, such as the Sachin Tendulkar Foundation, may not boost his wealth directly, but it definitely makes him more marketable. In general, his net worth serves as a model for cricketers: gain fame on the pitch, then expand it worldwide off the pitch.

2. MS Dhoni: $127 million

MS Dhoni, who left international cricket in 2020 but is still active in the IPL, boasts a net worth of $127 million in 2025, a slight increase from 2024 thanks to IPL retention and brand growth.

As the face of Chennai Super Kings, his wealth combines sports earnings with smart business ventures.

Dhoni makes a lot of money from the IPL. He was kept by CSK for ₹4 crore in the 2025 auction and has raked in over ₹192 crore from the league since 2008. This retention happened after CSK won the title in 2024, where Dhoni’s leadership during the final against Punjab Kings—chasing 180 with a crucial performance—really showed his worth, as franchise CEO Kasi Viswanathan stated in a post-match press conference to ESPNcricinfo reporters.

Endorsements are a big part of his wealth. Dhoni has deals with more than 30 brands, like Pepsi and TVS, earning between ₹3-6 crore for each deal, which adds up to around $20 million a year, as per MSN’s 2025 report. In a 2025 interview with Storyboard18, he shared with journalist Shailesh Rao that his composed nature, developed during the high-pressure 2007 T20 World Cup under coach Greg Chappell, attracts brands looking for dependability.

Dhoni’s investments really show his foresight. He has shares in CSK through India Cements and co-founded SEVEN apparel, along with putting money into startups like Digit Insurance.

His portfolio is estimated at ₹1,000 crore, which has grown from his early investments in the 2010s when he used his World Cup winnings to dive into real estate in Ranchi.

In a TEDxRanchi talk in 2024, Dhoni told young entrepreneurs, as noted by moderator Priyanka Chopra, to “invest in what you understand,” pointing to his farmhouse project after the 2011 ODI World Cup as a safe way to get into agri-tech.

3. Virat Kohli: $125 million

Virat Kohli boasts a net worth of $125 million in 2025, thanks to his continuing role in the IPL with Royal Challengers Bengaluru and his worldwide popularity. His journey from the Delhi under-19s to becoming a fitness icon has been highly lucrative.

Kohli rakes in $26 million a year from BCCI and IPL which includes a ₹15 crore salary from IPL. This comes after his standout performance in the 2024 T20 World Cup, where he scored a match-winning 76 in the final against South Africa, earning him the Player of the Tournament title, as revealed by ICC chief selector George Bailey during the post-match ceremony reported by Times of India.

Endorsements are his strong suit, raking in $24 million each year from over 20 brands, including Puma and Audi, as per Jagran Josh’s 2025 report.

In a birthday feature by Hindustan Times in 2025, Kohli shared with interviewer Rahul Dev that his fitness journey, beginning in 2015 during a rough patch in a Test series against England, enhanced his market appeal, resulting in Puma’s ₹110 crore lifetime contract in 2017, a significant milestone for Indian sports.

Business ventures consist of co-owning FC Goa and launching WROGN fashion, plus investments in One8 and Chisel gyms. Planify estimates these at ₹300 crore, which adds to his total of ₹1,050 crore.

At the 2024 Forbes Under 30 Summit, Kohli mentioned to host Deepika Padukone that he began investing in startups like Digit after leaving his IPL captaincy in 2018, using that time to study the market and avoid making “emotional decisions” in business.

4. Ricky Ponting: $70 million

Ricky Ponting, who hung up his boots in 2012 and is now a commentator, boasts a net worth of $70 million in 2025, thanks to his coaching and media gigs. As a three-time World Cup champion for Australia, his legacy continues to bring in a reliable income.

Ponting makes a cool ₹3.5 crore annually coaching the IPL team Delhi Capitals, as stated in MyKhel’s 2025 IPL preview. His responsibilities increased following the 2023 season when the Gujarat Titans finished as runners-up, and he acknowledged team strategist Ashish Nehra in a post-season interview with Fox Cricket for the strategic adjustments that got them so close to winning the title.

Endorsements from Adidas and Kookaburra bring in an extra $5 million each year. During a speech at the 2024 Australian Cricket Awards, Ponting shared with presenter Adam Gilchrist how his 2003 World Cup final century against India, his first as captain was the turning point when brands started reaching out to him, leading to deals during Australia’s golden era.

Investments cover Ponting Wines and real estate in Tasmania. BrandVM’s analysis for 2025 links these to $20 million, stemming from his winnings in the 2000s when he led Australia to 48 straight ODIs without a loss.

In 2023, Ponting shared with Decanter, a wine industry magazine, that launching the winery after retiring was like “therapy after the baggy green,” transforming his passion into a profitable venture in Tasmania’s booming wine scene.

5. Brian Lara: $60 million

Brian Lara, who hung up his boots in 2007, is sitting pretty at number 5 with a net worth of $60 million in 2025, thanks to his coaching gigs and running his academy. Famous for his incredible 400* Test score, Lara’s financial elegance is still going strong.

His coaching gigs, like being the head coach for the West Indies until 2020, rake in around $2 million annually, as per SportsBoom’s 2025 rankings.

In 2024, he stepped into an advisory role with Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL, following their stellar performance that took them to the finals in 2023.

Captain Pat Cummins gave a shoutout to Lara in an ECB podcast, emphasizing how he shared valuable tips on spin-friendly pitches, drawing from his legendary 1994 record of 501* for Warwickshire.

Endorsements featuring MRF tires bring in $3 million. During a 2023 chat in the Sky Sports commentary booth with Nasser Hussain, Lara mentioned that his MRF partnership kicked off in the 1990s after his 375 against England, as the brand was looking for Caribbean legends during the West Indies’ heyday.

The Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad makes money from training programs, which also boosts its real estate assets. The 2025 estimate links $15 million to these investments made during the oil boom in Trinidad in the 2000s. Lara shared this with academy students during a virtual session in 2024.