Fortune India
Yes, Viral Kohli has announced his retirement from Test cricket, bringing an era to a close. But his empire remains intact. Here’s how he built a ₹1,050 crore empire.
A bulk of Kohli's income comes from match fees from BCCI. Here's how they stack up: ₹15L/Test, ₹6L/ODI & ₹3L/T20 match fees.
As the former captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Kohli's earnings from IPL jumped from ₹12 lakh in 2008 to a whopping ₹21 crore in 2025, making him one of the top earners in the tournament.
As a high-value player, Virat Kohli is also one of the top earners when it comes to brand endorsement. At $227.9 million brand value, he is bigger than Shah Rukh & Ranveer Singh.
Virat Kohli has a diverse brand portfolio, comprising of names like Puma and MRF. He is also the first Indian to crack a ₹100 crore endorsement deal for Puma.
Virat Kohli has over 40 brands under his kitty, ranging from sectors like beverages to auto, from Pepsi to Audi, making him the most-sought after celebrity.
He is not known as King Kohli for nothing. With a whopping 270 million + followers on Instagram, his social media presence itself is a money making machine.
Virat Kohli is also a smart money manager, and he's invested in various companies. For example, he owns FC Goa, has a posh restaurant in his name, amongst others.
Virat Kohli the entrepreneur knows that India's startup ecosystem is the future. He has invested in sectors like insuretech and sustainable foods, companies like Digit & Blue Tribe are among his top bets.
Retirement will not slow King Kohli down. It is likely, he will use his time to invest and build even bigger empire through a combination of investments and brand endorsements.