Two-time Olympic medalist Neeraj Chopra, whose name is currently resonating after his powerful performances, is also seeing his fortune grow. With a lone silver medal for India at Paris Olympics 2024 and a wonderful showing in the Diamond League, where his season-best throw of 89.45 meters secured him a spot in the final, Chopra’s valuation is set to skyrocket from $29.6 million to over $40 million, approximately ₹330 crore in Indian rupees.
This means his valuation is expected to see a substantial surge of 40-50%. With this increase, he has surpassed India’s lethal all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who has a brand value of ₹322 crore. In fact, he is the only non-cricketer athlete to feature in the top 5.
Top 5 Indian athletes with highest brand value
Neeraj Chopra
The man with the golden arm, known for his remarkable javelin skills, is currently the talk of the town. He has deservedly acquired top-tier brands such as VISA, Samsung, and Britannia, serving as their brand ambassador. This has boosted his brand value to ₹335 crore, allowing him to surpass Indian legend Hardik Pandya in this race.
Virat Kohli
According to Kroll reports, one of India’s ace batters and former captain, Virat Kohli, is still leading from the front, having surpassed Bollywood mega stars from Shah Rukh Khan to Ranveer Singh. He is at the forefront of the athletes’ pack, with a 29% increase from last year. New reports indicate that he has reached $227.9 million, which is approximately more than ₹1,900 crores. This substantial figure underscores his influence in the world of sports.
MS Dhoni
The “Bahubali” of Indian cricket, MS Dhoni, despite retiring from international cricket, is still ruling the stage with a brand value of $91.3 million. With a calm and composed mind, he led India to three precious ICC trophies. He continues to dominate the endorsement world, representing brands like JioCinema, Panerai, and Indigo Paints. His involvement in various business ventures, including his investment in BluSmart, contributes to his brand value of ₹766 crore.
Sachin Tendulkar
Bharat Ratna Sachin Tendulkar, whose two-decade-long service to Indian cricket earned him the title of the “God of Cricket,” is also not far behind. After retiring from international cricket in 2013, the Master Blaster continues to shine off the field with several big brands, resulting in a substantial brand valuation of ₹766 crore. The legend still endorses 15 brands, including Apollo Tyres, ITC’s Savlon, JioCinema, Spinny, and Ageas Federal Life Insurance.
Rohit Sharma
The captain with the ICC T20 world cup trophy, which quenches India’s 13 year thirst for ICC silverware, also features in the list, but not above the former superstars MS Dhoni and Sachin Tendulkar. The former T20 captain has seen a decent rise in his brand value. Having played for almost 17 years, his growing appeal has attracted endorsements from lifestyle and fashion brands, expanding his influence. The former MI captain has a brand value of $41 million.
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