MS Dhoni tops cricket's rich-list in Forbes magazine

[MenInG]

MS Dhoni, the India captain, has proved to be just as successful off the field as he has been on the field. Forbes magazine has ranked him as the highest-paid cricketer, as well as the highest-paid athlete in India for the period from June 2011 to June 2012.

Dhoni tops not only team-mate Sachin Tendulkar, but also global stars like Olympic 100m champion Usain Bolt, Novak Djokovic, the tennis World No.1, and England and Manchester United striker, Wayne Rooney.

According to the magazine, Dhoni made a total of US$ 26.5 million, of which $23 million was earned from endorsements and $3.5 million from salary and prize money. That puts him 31st on the list while Tendulkar was 78th, with total earnings of $18.6 million, of which $16.5 were from endorsements.

The Forbes list was topped by champion boxer Floyd Mayweather, who made $85 million, followed by his main rival, Manny Pacquiao, with earnings of $62 million, and Tiger Woods, with $59.4 million.

Dhoni's unprecedented success leading India - he is the only captain to have won the ICC World T20 championship, the 50-over World Cup and led his team to the No.1 Test ranking - has made him one of India's most popular celebrities, not just athletes.

A study by Tam Sports of the advertising patterns during the 2011 ICC World Cup showed that ads featuring Dhoni far outstripped those of any other celebrity. Ads involving Dhoni grabbed a 29% share of the total television ads during the tournament, almost three times the frequency of Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan, who was second with 10%. Tendulkar was fourth, with 7%.

In July 2010, Dhoni signed a three-year endorsement deal worth approximately Rs 2.1 billion ($ 42 million) with Rhiti Sports, a sports marketing agency. The deal surpassed the three-year deal worth Rs 1.8 billion ($38 million) that Sachin Tendulkar signed back in 2006, making it the largest such deal in Indian sports history.

Later the same year, he signed a three-year deal worth Rs 260 million (about US$ 5.7 million) to promote McDowell's soda, which is owned by the UB Group headed by Vijay Mallya. Altogether, Dhoni represents more than 20 brands, including Pepsi, Reebok, Aircel and TVS.

Sangeet Shirodkar, who helped put the deal together for Rhiti Sports but is now a director at Offspin Sports and Entertainment, says Dhoni's commercial success is tied not only to his sporting success, but also his surprising rise through the ranks of Indian cricket.

"He comes from a very humble background," Shirodkar said. "That has contributed to the fact that Indian brands are attracted to having him as a brand ambassador. The Indian growth story is targeted at the masses, not the top of the pyramid. [Dhoni is] one among them who has come out and has achieved so much."

In an article for the Hindu BusinessLine last year, Harish Bhat, the Chief Operating Officer - Watches, Titan Industries Ltd and Somprabh Singh, Senior Manager, Marketing, Titan also cited Dhoni's middle-class background as one of the key reasons for his appeal (Titan is one of the brands Dhoni endorses).

"Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Dhoni's brand personality is the respect and humility which he displays, not merely to the cricketing fraternity, but towards everyone he meets and interacts with," they wrote. "This reflects his strong middle-class values, his origins in a part of the country which has been the crucible of Indian culture and civilisation, and, of course, the simple person that he is. It enhances the esteem and love which Indians have for him"

According to the pair, another plus for India's captain is his ability to cut across demographics. "Dhoni symbolises vibrant youthfulness, which is aspirational across age-groups in our country. A large part of India is young, and the rest of India wishes to look and feel young. Therefore, his youthful appeal cuts across India's demography."

India's struggles over the last 12 months - losing eight consecutive away Tests to England and Australia - have clearly not dampened Dhoni's commercial appeal. With India's schedule requiring them to play mainly at home for the near future, his brand is likely to only grow stronger.

[Dazinho]

It's great that the top Indian players are making the kind of money that their world class status deserve. What I'd really be interested in knowing is how the average IPL player gets on, because sloppiness invariably kicks in when mediocrity is too well-rewarded.

The top GB athletes of the 1980s and 1990s consistently stated that the incentive for them was the fact that until you won something major like an Olympic or World Championship medal, the earnings potential was rather ordinary. Guys like Christie and Regis lamented advents like lottery funding for average performers as it killed the hunger and created a culture of comfort.

So if the likes of Dhoni and Sachin are out there by a mile, then it's almost certainly a good thing for Indian cricket in the long run.

[silentstriker]

Well uncapped IPL players don't really make the type of money that would ensure any sort of long term financial security.

[flibbertyjibber]

Dire Straits and Money For Nothing spring to mind.

[GingerFurball]

Originally Posted by flibbertyjibber

Dire Straits and Money For Nothing spring to mind.

Puts him in the same bracket as most of the England football team when it comes to earnings vs talent.

[smalishah84]

[smalishah84]

but wow....never thought that dhoni would earn more than tendy

[8ankitj]

Way to go, Dhoni. The batsman with the most elegant batting technique.

[8ankitj]

Oh and Dhoni was also in the TIME's 100 persons of 2011

[kyear2]

Congrats to him, if he can get it, take it.
Novak and Usain should hire his agent.

[flibbertyjibber]

Originally Posted by GingerFurball

Puts him in the same bracket as most of the England football team when it comes to earnings vs talent.

Won't see me arguing against that.

[silentstriker]

If he still lives in Jharkhand (I doubt it), the cost of living adjustment would probably make him #1 on that list.

[silentstriker]

Mahendra Singh Dhoni Helicopter shot - YouTube

Haha, what a shot...

[silentstriker]

And a shot from the second highest paid: Sachin Tendulkar 160 NZ Hamilton 2009 - YouTube

[8ankitj]

Originally Posted by silentstriker

Mahendra Singh Dhoni Helicopter shot - YouTube

Haha, what a shot...

This one is the most incredible shot by Dhoni...

Dhoni's helicopter shots create a sensation in Chinnaswamy : IPL 2012 - MI vs CSK, Eliminator - YouTube