Friday, March 18, 2016

MS Dhoni, Rich on and off the Field

Mahendra Singh Dhoni is widely considered to be one of the world's best finishers, on top of that he has been included in Time 100's list of the 'Most Influential People in the World', and a Bollywood biopic entitled MS Dhoni: The Untold Story, is currently in the making.

The captain of the Indian cricket team is among the best paid athletes on the planet, bringing in more money per year than the likes of FC Barcelona's Neymar, Formula 1 star Kimi Räikkönen and the fastest man in the world, Usain Bolt. He is also the only cricketer to appear in last year's Forbes top 100 highest paid athletes and his net wealth is estimated at over $100 million.

Despite cricket's global appeal, the sport trails behind the likes of soccer and American Football in terms of money within the game, so just how has MS Dhoni catapulted himself above people like Neymar and Wayne Rooney when it comes to income?

First off, MS Dhoni is a giant of the game. He is widely regarded and believed to be the best Indian captain of all time. Aside from his prowess as a player, he has been noted for his leadership skills, making bold decisions when it came to player selections.

He was the ICC ODI player of the year in 2008 and 2009, has featured in the ICC World ODI team 6 years in a row and was awarded the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, the most prestigious award in Indian sport. This alone made Dhoni a hugely valuable commodity, but there is more behind MS Dhoni's wealth than his prowess on the pitch.

All of the world's biggest sports stars are the face of advertising campaigns, and Dhoni is no different. In 2015 he brought in $27 million from sponsorship alone. He is the face of international Pepsi and Reebok deals, and in 2014 he signed a very lucrative deal with Spartan Sports. Outside of this he also fronts a number of advertising campaigns within India.

In 2010 he signed a $42 million deal with Rhiti Sports, who now manage his image and continue to further his brand inside and outside of India. A keen footballer in his youth, he has since taken up a position as co-owner of ISL side Chennaiyin FC, and has his hand in several other companies.


This means that while his playing career may be drawing to a close, his presence as an international figure will remain, especially if the Indian Super League grows at its predicted rate.

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  1. Umair said...
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