Virat Kohli could have simply retired from the game, but just when the rumors of his retirement were at their peak, he came out with two back-to-back hundreds to shut his critics up. The king isn't just back; he is really back. Not only is he still playing at his best at 37, but he is also strengthening his position as one of the richest sports celebrities in India. Over a thousand crores, this is the story of how a cricket superstar became a financial powerhouse.
Virat Kohli made a lot of money at the cricket pitch and that is how his huge wealth came about the first place. His pay from the sport is pretty good, that is mainly due to a very lucrative Grade A+ central contract with the BCCI from which he is drawing a total of ₹7 crore every year. Besides this, he is earning from matches as well, that is ₹6 lakh for an ODI. The IPL has been a major factor in his career to become financially very successful; it has been a turning point most of all.
Since he has been with Royal Challengers Bangalore back in 2008, his level of IPL remuneration has shot up from only ₹12 lakh to as much as ₹21 crore in 2025. The ultimate result of his IPL-only haul is as much as ₹212.44 crore because of which he's ranked as a top-paid player on the tournament's ticks list of past and present.
In 2025, Virat Kohli's net worth will be beyond doubt quite a remarkable benchmark: ₹1,050 crore or about $125 million. This gigantic number surely lands him in a very small group of India's most wealthy athletes.
His power isn't built solely on Kohli's cricket skills but a mixture of massive brand endorsements, smart business investment, and oily financial brains that form a formidable whole. The Indian doesn't depend on the 22 yards anymore to make money; he is now leveraging his on-field performance for off-field riches, which is a clear indication of his multi-tasking prowess.
Virat Kohli is not only a cricketer but also a brand and a highly marketable phenomenon. The Kroll’s Celebrity Brand Valuation Report 2023 reckoned his brand worth to be a whopping $227.9 million (close to ₹1,900 crore) which by that estimate places him far ahead of the likes of Ranveer Singh and Shah Rukh Khan of Bollywood.
Even more good stuff is this: despite a very volatile market, Kohli's brand value kept on rising and it went up by a staggering 29% during that single year, thus proving that he is indeed the most loved and trusted celebrity in the market segment that he belongs to.
Virat Kohli is not just limited to an endorsement portfolio but rather it is a career full of successes. Some of more than 40 brands that he has been the face of are MRF Tyres, Audi, Myntra, Tissot, and Pepsi. A landmark deal between Puma and Virat involving ₹100 crore was the very first in India where a cricketer was given a figure of that magnitude and in so creating a new benchmark was set for the industry to follow.
In 2017, MRF Tyres extended their affiliation with him by another eight years in return for ₹100 crore. The signing of these great deals with such brands has literally propelled Kohli to the highest pinnacle of marketing power and hence is now the most bankable cricket star of India.
Virat Kohli is a demonstration of the power, passion, and profit that comes with the mastery.
Kohli’s cricket earnings have been nothing short of massive. From his ₹7 crore annual BCCI A+ central contract to his per-match fees and ₹6 lakh for an ODI, he’s had a steady flow of income from Indian cricket. However, the real jackpot came with the IPL. Since joining Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2008, his salary has surged from ₹12 lakh to ₹21 crore in 2025. His total IPL earnings now sit at a jaw-dropping ₹212.44 crore.
Virat Kohli’s estimated net worth in 2025 is over ₹1,050 crore (approx. $125 million). This makes him one of India’s richest athletes. His massive wealth is a blend of cricketing income, brand endorsements, business ventures, and sharp financial acumen.
According to Kroll’s Celebrity Brand Valuation Report, Kohli’s brand value in 2023 was pegged at $227.9 million (nearly ₹1,900 crore), ahead of Ranveer Singh and Shah Rukh Khan. Despite the ever-changing celebrity market, Kohli’s brand surged 29% in one year, showing his unmatched connection with audiences and brands alike.
Kohli has endorsed over 40 brands across various industries, from MRF Tyres to Audi, Myntra, Tissot, and Pepsi. His ₹100 crore deal with Puma marked the first such mega-deal for an Indian cricketer. MRF, too, renewed their partnership with Kohli in 2017 for ₹100 crore over eight years, sealing his status as a marketing phenomenon.
As Kohli steps away from the red ball, the scoreboard of his financial and brand innings continues to tick at full pace.
