Cricketers’ Lifestyle & Earnings: Endorsements, Investments, and Business Ventures
Introduction
Cricket has grown far beyond the boundaries of the pitch. In 2025, it is not just a sport but a billion-dollar industry where players are more than athletes—they are global brands. From owning luxury mansions and driving exotic cars to signing million-dollar endorsement deals, cricketers’ lifestyles have become as fascinating as their on-field performances.
But what really fuels their wealth? It’s not just match fees. Today’s cricketers earn from endorsements, smart investments, and business ventures, creating fortunes that rival athletes in football, basketball, and tennis. In this blog, we’ll dive deep into how cricketers build their wealth and the glamorous lifestyle that comes with it.
1. Match Salaries: The Foundation of Cricket Earnings
While endorsements and investments dominate headlines, match salaries remain the foundation.
International Contracts: Players representing their national teams earn annual retainers. For example, top-tier BCCI (India) players receive around ₹7 crore annually, excluding match fees.
Match Fees: Payments for Test matches, ODIs, and T20s differ, with Tests usually paying the highest.
Domestic Leagues: The IPL (India), PSL (Pakistan), BBL (Australia), and CPL (Caribbean) have turned many cricketers into millionaires overnight. Some IPL stars earn more in two months than they would in an entire year of international cricket.
👉 Example: Sam Curran’s IPL deal in 2023 made him the most expensive player in auction history, earning $2.2 million in a single season.
2. Endorsements: The Biggest Income Driver
For elite cricketers, endorsements outweigh salaries. With cricket followed by billions of fans worldwide, brands see cricketers as powerful influencers.
Virat Kohli earns millions annually from Puma, MRF, Audi, and his own clothing brand Wrogn.
Sachin Tendulkar became the first cricket “billionaire” in terms of endorsements, with Coca-Cola, Adidas, and Britannia among his long-term partners.
MS Dhoni has endorsed Pepsi, Reebok, Oppo, and Amul, and remains a face of Indian advertising even after retirement.
Global Stars like Ben Stokes and David Warner also bag lucrative deals with sports brands and lifestyle companies.
👉 Fun Fact: Virat Kohli is among the top 5 most followed athletes in the world on Instagram, and each sponsored post earns him $500,000+.
3. Business Ventures: From Athletes to Entrepreneurs
Many cricketers have realized that their careers are short but their brand value can last decades. So, they invest in businesses and startups.
🔹 Virat Kohli
Owns fashion brand Wrogn
Co-owns fitness chain Chisel
Invested in multiple startups, including sports tech
🔹 MS Dhoni
Co-owner of Chennaiyin FC (Indian Super League football club)
Owns fitness chains and sports academies
Invested in lifestyle brands
🔹 Sachin Tendulkar
Co-owner of Kerala Blasters FC
Runs sports academies and restaurants
Investments in real estate
🔹 AB de Villiers & Chris Gayle
Invest in luxury restaurants, endorsements, and sports bars across the world
👉 This shift from cricket to business ensures financial security long after retirement.
4. Investments: Building Long-Term Wealth
Apart from businesses, cricketers build wealth through smart investments.
Real Estate: Luxury homes in Mumbai, London, Sydney, and Dubai are common investments.
Startups: Cricketers like Kohli and Dhoni are active angel investors in fitness and tech startups.
Stocks & Equity: Some players quietly build portfolios in mutual funds, stocks, and private equity.
Franchise Ownership: From IPL teams to football clubs, sports franchise investments are growing popular.
5. Cricketers’ Lifestyle: Mansions, Cars & Luxury
With multi-million-dollar incomes, cricketers live lifestyles fit for royalty.
Homes: Virat Kohli owns luxury properties in Mumbai and Gurgaon worth millions. Sachin Tendulkar’s Bandra home is one of the most iconic celebrity houses in India.
Cars: Dhoni’s garage is legendary, with vintage bikes, Ferraris, Hummers, and custom SUVs. Kohli owns luxury cars like Bentley, Audi, and Lamborghini.
Travel & Leisure: Private jets, luxury holidays in Maldives, Dubai, and Europe are common for top players.
Fashion & Lifestyle: From Louis Vuitton to Rolex, cricketers flaunt global luxury brands as part of their everyday lifestyle.
6. Retired Cricketers Still Earning Millions
Even after retirement, legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, and Sunil Gavaskar continue to make millions.
Commentary & Broadcasting: Ravi Shastri, Harsha Bhogle, and Ian Bishop earn lucrative contracts as cricket analysts.
Coaching: Retired cricketers become coaches for IPL teams or national squads. Ricky Ponting and Anil Kumble earn heavily in coaching roles.
Ambassadorships: Sachin Tendulkar remains the face of several global brands even two decades after retirement.
7. The Future: How Young Cricketers Are Building Wealth Early
The new generation is smarter with money. Players like Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan, and Shaheen Afridi are building brand value early by:
Signing social media deals
Endorsing gaming apps, fintech, and sports tech
Investing in lifestyle businesses and NFTs
Leveraging their youth appeal for Gen-Z-oriented endorsements
Conclusion
Cricketers today are not just sportsmen—they are businessmen, influencers, and entrepreneurs. Their wealth comes from match salaries, endorsements, smart investments, and business ventures. With cricket becoming a global spectacle, future stars are set to become even richer and more influential.
From Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni to Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill, the journey from pitch to boardroom proves that cricket is as much about financial success as it is about sporting glory.
