15 Richest Cricketers of World in 2021

Let’s explore the riches of the world of cricket. Talking about cricket, it carries a huge list of top richest cricket players in the world.

We explore here the world’s richest cricketers, their brief bio background, Net worth and sources of revenue, etc.

World’s Richest Cricketers | Top 15 List, Bio & Net Worth

Contents

Cricket is a super rich sport. The following is the list of the World’s top 15 Richest Cricketers as of the Year 2020. Among them, India has produced more richest players in the list of top 15 millionaire cricketers. Following is the list.

Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar
Mahendra Singh Dhoni
Ricky Pointing
Sourav Ganguly
Brian Charles Lara
Virat Kohli
Shane Warne
Virender Sehwag
Shivnarine Chanderpaul
Yuvraj Singh
Shahid Khan Afridi
Rohit Sharma
Shane Watson
Christopher Henry Gayle
Suresh Raina

Let’s read below to find out the top fifteen (15) richest cricketers of the world:

1. Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar

Date and place of birth: 24 April 1973, Bombay (now Mumbai), Maharashtra, India.
Age: 47 years
Net worth: $200 million

2. Mahendra Singh Dhoni

Date and place of birth: 7 July 1981, Ranchi, Bihar, India.
Age: 38 years
Net worth: $170 Million

3. Ricky Pointing

The Australian Hall of Famer, Ricky Ponting, attains 3rd place in our list with a staggering net worth of $95 million. He represented the Baggy Greens for 17 years and played 168 Tests, 375 ODIs, and 17 T20s.

Date & Place of Birth: December 19, 1974, Launceston, Tasmania, Australia.
Age: 45 years
Net Worth $95 million
Income sources: Cricket
Role: Batsman
Teams: Australia, ICC World XI, Kolkata Knight Riders, Mumbai Indians, Antigua Hawksbills, Somerset, Surrey, and Tasmania.
Awards: ICC Hall of Famer, ICC Cricketer of the year, and four Allan Border Medals.
Status: Retired

The most capped captain’s success as a player and captain has been monumental.

As a player, Ricky remained the backbone of Australian batting and continued to chip into the team’s victory by accumulating heaps of runs in all formats.

While as a captain, he rose to prominence by surpassing his predecessor Steve Waugh.

Pointing is the only captain in world cricket to have won 2 World Cups and 2 Champions trophies. Under his captaincy, Aussie cricket witnessed the Golden Era.

The second most centuries holder has played for different leagues in and out of Down Under. He has been a part of Big Bash and IPL. In IPL, he played less but coached more.

Pointing’s associations with KKR, Mumbai Indians, and Delhi Capitals have helped him earn serious money.

Punter is one of those players who have been signed by national as well as international brands.

His current income relies on coaching, commentary, and endorsements with Kookaburra Bats, Rexona deodorant, Pura Milk, and Swisse Vitamins.

Five unknown facts about Ponting:

His nickname is Punter, which he got while playing poker.
He was involved in the most number of victories by any team.
He is the second player in cricket history with 364 catches.
He got his autobiography “Ponting: At the Close of Play,” published in 2013.
He is the highest scorer when coming on a one-down position.

4. Sourav Ganguly

Date and place of birth: 8 July 1972, Behala, Calcutta, West Bengal, India.
Age: 47 years
Net worth: $80 million

5. Brian Charles Lara

The symbol of elegance and sophistication, the breaker and maker of majestic records, Brian Charles Lara, stands exalted at 4th in our list having $60 million under his control.

Date & Place of Birth May 2, 1969, Cantaro, Santa Cruz, Trinidad.
Age 51 years
Net Worth $60 million
Income Sources Cricket
Role Left-handed batsman
Teams West Indies, ICC World XI, Mumbai Champs, Trinidad & Tobago, Marylebone Cricket Club,
Northern Transvaal, Southern Rocks, and Warwickshire.
Awards ICC Hall of Famer, BBC Sports Personality of the Year Overseas Personality Award, and Wisden Cricketers of the Year.
Status Retired

The legendary West Indian southpaw reigned supreme in international cricket for 17 years. His classy cover drives and exquisite hock shots had been a source of consistent fear for the bowlers of opponent teams.

Before getting retired in 2007, the Trinidadian titan had played 131 Tests and 299 ODIs and completed the 10000 mark in both formats.

West Indian Hall of Famer’s outstanding performances in Tests and ODIs made him the most prominent batsman and leader among his competitors.

He is the only batsman in Test cricket to have scored 400 in an innings; he also scored an unimaginable 500 in first-class cricket.

Before doing the unthinkable, Lara held the same record of scoring the highest (375) runs in one inning, surpassed by an Australian left-handed batsman Mathew Hayden, who scored 380 runs.

Interestingly, the West Indian captain regained the status of the highest individual score just one year later. This is Charles Lara for you!

After his remarkable achievement, he shot to the highest ranks in the cricketing fraternity and became the most desirable player around the world.

In his time, there were no lucrative leagues, but he earned hugely through his contract with different brands.

Five facts you must know about The Prince of Port of Spain

He was nominated as the second scariest batsman of the world.
The government of Trinidad & Tobago honored Lara with the construction of ground with his name.
US President Barrack Obama praised Lara for his contribution to the progress of cricket.
He has written his autobiography titled “Beating the field: My own story”.
He holds the record of scoring the most double centuries (09) in Test cricket.

6. Virat Kohli

Date and place of birth: 5 November 1988, Delhi, India.
Age: 31 years
Net worth: $50 million

7. Shane Warne

A legendary leg spinner, who made every batman dance on his fingers, makes this list at 7th. Aussies Hall of Famer, Shane Warne, had been a lethal opponent throughout his 15 years career.

On the whole, he played 145 Tests and 194 ODIs and took 1001 wickets.

Date & Place of Birth September 13, 1969, Ferntree Gully, Victoria, Australia.
Age 50 years
Net Worth $50 million
Income Sources Cricket
Role Bowler (Leg spinner)
Teams Australia, ICC World XI, Rajasthan Royals, Hampshire, Melbourne Stars, Rest of the World XI, and Victoria.
Awards ICC Hall of Famer and Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World
Status Retired

His magical deliveries slithered like a snake and hit the targeted wickets after taking sudden turns on the pitch.

His psychological dominance over his opponents helped him take 708 Test and 293 ODI wickets and contribute predominantly to the triumphs of Kangaroos.

Shane Warne redefined spin bowling along with the likes of Muttiah Muralitharan, Mushtaque Ahmed, Saqlain, and Anil Kumble.

However, his contribution to the phenomenal rise of spin bowling is worthwhile.

Keeping in mind the importance of Shane Warne in his team, many franchises wanted him to be a part of their teams in different leagues. Not only franchises but also sponsorship brands signed him for hefty deals.

He had been a part of the 2008 IPL title-winning team “Rajasthan Royals”, where he captained and coached his team.

Additionally, he has been earning through famous brands and commentary.

Five less known facts about the magician Warne

He was 97 kg when he made his Test debut.
He is a chain smoker.
He suffered from eye color variations known as heterochromia.
He bowled ”the ball of the century” in Ashes.
His first love was football.

8. Virender Sehwag

[su_list icon=”icon: chevron-right” icon_color=”#37e214″]

Date and place of birth: 20 October 1978 Najafgarh, Delhi, India.
Age: 41 years
Net worth: $40 million

9. Shivnarine Chanderpaul

West Indian legendary left-handed batsman Chanderpaul gets 9th place in our list. It might take many by surprise, but the most underrated batsman achieves this status with his dedication to the game.

Date & Place of Birth August 16, 1974, Unity Village, East Coast, Demerara, Guyana.
Age 45 years
Net worth $40 million
Income Sources Cricket
Role Left-handed batsman
Teams West Indies, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Derbyshire, Khulna Royal Bengals, Durham, Guyana, Stanford Superstars, Guyana Amazon Warriors, Lancashire, and Warwickshire.
Awards ICC Cricketer of the Year, Wisden Cricketers of the Year.
Status Retired

The man with a unique stance and magnificent strokes had been a consistent run-getter for the West Indian team. His role after the retirement of his teammate, Brian Lara, is widely praised.

Throughout his marvelous career, he played 164 Tests, 268 ODIs, and 22 T20s.

He is the 2nd West Indian batsman after Brian Lara to score 10000 runs in Test cricket and 8th high scorer in the same format. His role in the success of the West Indian team can never be overlooked.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul made his place on the national side at the age of 19 years and continued to represent it until he was 41 years old.

Before his retirement in 2015, he had played for more than two decades and participated in more Test matches than any other West Indian player—even more than Brian Lara’s career.

Often underestimated by the bowlers for his unusual crab-like stance, Chanderpaul scored a multitude of runs against every side and in every format.

He averaged more than 50 in Tests and more than 40 in ODIs. Besides his international career, he also took part in different leagues and county cricket.

His first and only appearance in IPL was with Royal Challengers Bangalore during the 2008 edition. He later played in Bangladesh Premier League and Caribbean Premier League also.

Five interesting facts about the most underrated legend

He represented West Indies in the most number of Test matches—he played 164 Tests.
He is the second-highest scorer for West Indies in Test after Lara.
He had been the number 1 batsman in Test ranking a couple of times.
He captained West Indies in 16 ODIs and 14 Tests.
He used dark patches under his eyes to save them from the dazzling glare of the shining sun.

10. Yuvraj Singh

Date and place of birth: 12 December 1981, Chandigarh, India.
Age: 38 years.
Net worth: $35.5 million

11. Shahid Khan Afridi

When you want to see a batman who can thrill your day with jaw-dropping strokes and entertain you with aggressive leg-spin bowling, there is no other option than Shahid Khan Afridi.

Holding numerous world records, Boom Boom steals 11th position in our list of wealthiest cricketers around the world.

Date & Place of Birth March 1, 1980, Khyber Agency, Pakistan.
Age 40 years.
Net Worth $30 million
Income Sources Cricket and endorsements
Role All-rounder
Teams: Pakistan, ICC World XI, Asia XI, Deccan Chargers, Peshawar Zalmi, Karachi Kings, Brampton Wolves, Dhaka Gladiators, Hampshire, Leicestershire, Northampton-shire, Jamaica Tallawahs, Melbourne Renegades, Multan Sultans, Rangpur Riders, and Karachi.
Awards Player of the tournament in T20 World Cup 2007, 2 consecutive men of the match awards in the semi-final and final of T20 World Cup 2009, Pride of Performance, Sitara-i-Imtiaz.
Status Retired

Lala gained massive popularity in his only second international match against Sri Lanka in 1996, where he hit the fastest ever international century off just 37 balls.

His unforgettable innings started a new era of aggression and high-scoring games. Many experts claim that Shahid Afridi laid the foundation of the T20 format at the fag end of the 20th century.

The world-class all-rounder has played 27 Tests, 398 ODIs, and 99 T20s for Pakistan, where he scored 11196 runs and took 541 wickets.

Known for his ability to change the complexion of the game in a couple of overs, Shahid Afridi many a time brought priceless smiles to the faces of his fans with his batting and bowling.

His fans will remember him for his thrilling and match-winning performances at the most significant stages, such as T20 World Cup 2007 and 2009 and ODI World Cup 2011.

The holder of the highest strike rate grabbed the attention of many league franchises organized around the world. The leagues in which Lala participated were Big Bash, IPL, PSL, BPL, SPL, CPL, etc.

Even famous sponsors could not help signing him as their promoter. He currently runs a charity organization, “Shahid Afridi Foundation,” in his country.

Five less known facts about Boom Boom

He made the fastest century against Sri Lanka with the bat of Sachin Tendulkar.
He started his career as the leg-spinner—he replaced injured Mushtaque Ahmed.
Though he is not an actor, he has won 2 Lux Style Awards for being charismatic and handsome.
He is the highest Man of the Match Awards winner from Pakistan.
He is the only Pakistani cricketer who won Man of the Match Awards in the Semi and final at the World Cup stage.

12. Rohit Sharma

Date and place of birth: 30 April 1987, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India
Age: 33 years
Net worth: $25 million

13. Shane Watson

A fantastic bowler turned aggressive batsman Shane Watson grabs 13th position.

His career started as a bowler in the Aussies team, but his clinical cameos on a couple of occasions developed his interest as well as importance in batting.

Date and Place of Birth June 17, 1981, Ipswich, Queensland, Australia.
Age 38 years
Net worth $25 million
Income Source Cricket
Role All-rounder
Teams Australia, Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals, Deccan Gladiators, Dhaka Dynamites, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Hampshire, Islamabad United, Sydney Thunder, New South Wales, Quetta Gladiators, Rangpur Rangers, Redlands, Sydney Sixers, and Tasmania.
Awards Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year, Australian ODI Player of the Year, Australian Twenty20
Player of the Year, Australian Test Player of the Year, and Allan Border Medal.
Status Retired from international cricket.

As a whole, Shane Watson is recognized as the best all-rounder Australian cricket has ever produced. He has played 59 Tests, 190 ODIs, and 58 T20s. His performance with the bat and ball left an indelible mark on the minds of fans and cricket experts.

Known for his attacking style and consistency, he has been a much sought-after player in the T20 format and has played in many reputed leagues such as Big Bash, IPL, PSL, BPL, etc. His earning sources include rewarding contracts with league franchises and endorsements.

Five less known facts about Shane Watson:

He is nicknamed Watto.
He is the only cricketer to have achieved ICC player of the year awards in Test, ODI and T20 formats.
During the campaign of the 2006 Champions Trophy, he felt pain close to his heart and mistook it as a minor heart attack.
He scored 185* runs off 96 deliveries against Bangladesh—he hit 15 sixes.
In 2013, he captained Kangaroos in a Test against India.

14. Christopher Henry Gayle

Famous for his effortless six-hitting ability and exuberant demeanor, the Universe Boss possesses $25 million and stands at 14th position.

Date & Place of Birth September 21, 1979, Kingston, Jamaica.
Age 40 years
Net worth $25 million
Income Sources Cricket
Role All-rounder
Teams West Indies, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Chittagong Vikings, Karachi Kings, Kings XI Punjab, Dhaka Gladiators, Kolkata Knight Riders, Lahore Qalandars, Somerset, Sydney Thunder, Worcestershire.
Awards Highest Scorer for West Indies in ODIs.
Status Active

The six-hitting machine has represented his national team in 103 Tests, 301 ODIs, and 58 T20s.

He is the leading run-scorer for West Indies in ODIs with 10480 runs under his belt—more than Brian Lara. His attacking style of play has made him quite a dangerous batsman to bowl to.

Chris Gayle has been maintaining his supremacy since the inception of his career. He has been a standout performer for his national and franchise teams.

Apart from his multiple match-winning innings at the international level, he is remembered for his maiden century in the inaugural T20 World Cup against South Africa, a triple century (333) in Test cricket, and a double century in ODI.

His stats in T20 cricket are staggering. Chris Gayle has played 404 T20 matches and has scored 13296 runs with the help of unbelievable 22 centuries and 82 half-centuries.

Because of being a genuine match-winner, almost every league franchise wants to have him on the team.

Until now, he has been a part of many leagues played around the world, such as Big Bash, IPL, PSL, CPL, BPL, etc. A significant chunk of his income comes from the contract with league franchises across the globe.

Five less known facts about The Boss

He has been lazy since childhood; his friends called him crampy.
He equals Yuvraj’s record of the fastest fifty in T20, but it was not at the international level.
He is the fourth batsman in the Test to score 2 triple centuries.
He hit six 4s off six deliveries against England’s Mathew Hoggard.
He has written his autobiography with the title “Six Machine: I don’t like cricket, I love it.”

15. Suresh Raina

Date and place of birth: 27 November 1986, Muradnagar, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Age: 33 years
Net worth: $25 million

Why are cricketers so rich?

Cricket has many rags to riches stories. There are many on the list who went up dramatically. Cricket, being the second most popular game after soccer, attracts incalculable fans and players to it.

It is not only a source of recreational activity but also an excellent professional opportunity.

Those who opt for cricket as their profession get worldwide fame and substantial wealth for their excellent performances at the global level.

But, about two decades back, cricket was limited to the international and county levels, and the players had limited options to play and showcase their vast talent.

Cricketers Revenue

Moreover, they had fewer sources to earn money through cricket—either from the central contracts with national boards and domestic cricket or from advertisement endorsements.

That was to the prerogative of a few famous cricketers.

How do Cricketers Earn Huge Money?

However, after the revolution of the T20 format and the organization of different Twenty20 leagues such as IPL, PSL, CPL, Big Bash, BPL, etc., more players started to earn a significant amount of money with less effort.

The money earned through hefty deals with the league franchises surpassed the money offered by the national boards in return for a central contract.

As a consequence, many players preferred leagues to international cricket.

No one can deny the contribution of leagues to the ever-increasing wealth of cricketers. Now, they live a luxurious life and have a plentiful of dollars in their bank accounts, which make them the richest athletes of the world.

Conclusion

Finally, we are at the end after reviewing the top richest cricket players in the world with a detailed bio and Net worth.