Cricket's top 10 richest players ranked as two England stars boast astronomical net worth
Since the introduction of franchise T20 competitions, several players have become multi-millionaires.
Two England players feature in the top 10 list of cricket’s richest active players, but one man’s earnings dwarf the rest of the stars, with a reported net worth of $125 million (£93.5 million).
Forty years ago, even the best cricketers on the planet did not earn enough from the sport to make it their only profession, with England legend Ian Botham representing Yeovil Town and Scunthorpe United in football during cricket’s off-season.
However, the introduction of T20 franchise cricket changed the sport — and players’ bank balances.
Most countries have their own T20 leagues, with the Indian Premier League (IPL) and Australia’s Big Bash League among the most lucrative for players.
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Australian all-rounder Cameron Green went for £2.09 million in the auction ahead of the 2026 IPL campaign, making him the most expensive overseas player in the history of the competition.
He will receive at least £2.08 million of the fee in line with IPL salary cap regulations.
India’s Rishabh Pant (£2.54 million) and Shreyas Iyer (£2.51 million) were the two most expensive players overall.
Meanwhile, most international cricketers are contracted to their respective nations, with 30 players awarded central contracts by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) in November 2025.
Key players Harry Brook, Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes were among 14 players who signed two-year deals.
But who out of the aforementioned players has earned the most from their cricketing exploits?
In January 2026, Cricket365 ranked the top ten richest active players, and one nation dominated.
Four Australians, two Indians, two Englishmen, one Afghan and one Pakistani featured.
Top 10 richest active cricketers
Pat Cummins – $30 million (£22.5 million)
The Australian Test captain needs no introduction and is widely considered one of the best bowlers of the past decade — and his bank balance likely reflects that.
The Aussie has represented several T20 franchises, including Sydney Sixers, Perth Scorchers, Sydney Thunder and Delhi Daredevils.
Glenn Maxwell – $30 million (£22.5 million)
Like his compatriot Cummins, Maxwell has been a mainstay of the Australian white-ball team for over a decade and helped the side win two World Cups and a T20 World Cup.
Maxwell has represented Melbourne Stars, Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, among others, in franchise tournaments.
Babar Azam – $32 million (£24 million)
Pakistani top-order batter Azam previously captained his nation in all three formats and is one of the greatest players to represent the side. He holds the record for being the fastest Pakistani to 1,000, 2,000 and 5,000 one-day international runs.
Azam has played for Sydney Sixers, Karachi Kings and Rangpur Riders, as well as several others at franchise level.
Rashid Khan – $35 million (£26.25 million)
Afghanistan T20 captain Khan is one of the best leg-spinners in the game and has appeared in over 250 white-ball matches for his nation. The 27-year-old has featured for MI New York, MI Cape Town, Sussex and Barbados Royals in franchise cricket.
Jos Buttler – $38 million (£28.5 million)
England’s greatest-ever white-ball batsman played a central role in guiding the side to the 2019 World Cup as well as the 2022 T20 World Cup triumph. The Lancashire wicketkeeper-batsman has made a fortune from stints with franchises such as Paarl Royals, Sydney Thunder and Rajasthan Royals.
David Warner – $40 million (£30 million)
One of the stalwarts of Australian cricket, Warner opened the batting in all three formats before retiring from international cricket in 2024. Despite this, the 39-year-old recently competed in the 2025/26 Big Bash League, having previously featured for Sunrisers Hyderabad, Dubai Capitals and Sydney Thunder.
Ben Stokes – $42 million (£31.5 million)
Stokes, who is England’s Test captain, is one of the most recognisable players in the country and has produced several historic moments since his debut in August 2011.
The 34-year-old all-rounder has represented Melbourne Renegades, Northern Superchargers and Rajasthan Royals in franchise cricket but has not played white-ball cricket at international level since the 2023 World Cup in India.
Steve Smith – $50 million (£37.5 million)
Smith recently wowed fans in the Big Bash League, putting in several top performances for Sydney Sixers despite initially missing out on selection for the subsequent T20 World Cup.
The Aussie has already stated that he wants to represent his nation at the 2028 LA Olympic Games, with a T20 tournament set to take place.
Rohit Sharma – $55 million (£41.25 million)
Former India captain Sharma is one of the most popular figures in Indian cricket, having played 523 games for his nation across all formats.
The top-order batter has won two World Cups and the Champions Trophy with the subcontinent nation.
Virat Kohli – $125 million (£93.75 million)
In India, Kohli is arguably as popular as film stars and cannot go out in public without being mobbed by adoring fans.
Aside from making 530 appearances for India, the 37-year-old batsman has represented Royal Challengers Bengaluru since 2008.
Throughout his career, Kohli has worked with several global brands, including Puma, Audi, MRF Tyres and PepsiCo, which has supplemented his earnings.
Topics: Cricket, Ben Stokes
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