Virat Kohli Becomes India's Most Valuable Celebrity in 2026, Beats Shah Rukh Khan, MS Dhoni and Sachin Tendulkar

July 25, 2026: Virat Kohli has been named India's most valuable celebrity in 2026, finishing ahead of Shah Rukh Khan, MS Dhoni and Sachin Tendulkar. The Indian cricket superstar secured the top position in the inaugural Fortune India-Interbrand Most Valuable Celebrities 2026 rankings with a brand value of ₹3,542 crore.

The study shows that Kohli's influence goes far beyond cricket. His success on the field, combined with his strong social media presence, brand endorsements and business ventures, has made him the country's biggest celebrity brand.

According to TAM Media Research, Virat Kohli is one of three cricketers in the top 10 list. The other two are former India captain MS Dhoni and cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, while the remaining seven personalities come from the Indian film industry.

Why has Virat Kohli been named India's most valuable celebrity?

Today, a celebrity's value is not measured only by achievements in their profession. The study also considers factors such as brand endorsements, public trust, social media influence, cultural relevance, audience engagement and commercial impact.

Although Virat Kohli retired from T20 Internationals and Test cricket, and now plays only One Day Internationals (ODIs) for India, his popularity continues to grow. He also remains one of the biggest stars of the Indian Premier League (IPL) through Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).

His influence extends well beyond the cricket field. Millions of fans follow him across social media, making him one of the most influential public figures in India. This wide reach has helped him become the country's most valuable celebrity.

🚨 MOST VALUABLE CELEBRITIES IN INDIA IN 2026 [TAM Media]

1) Virat Kohli
2) Shah Rukh Khan
3).Priyanka Chopra
4) MS Dhoni
5) Ranveer Singh

THE GOAT, KOHLI AT THE TOP 🔥 pic.twitter.com/OE2jgYtiNb

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) July 24, 2026

Activities outside cricket have strengthened Kohli's brand

Virat Kohli's success is not limited to cricket. He has built a strong business portfolio while continuing to work with several leading brands.

He owns the One8 lifestyle brand, the WROGN fashion label and the One8 Commune restaurant chain. He has also invested in Agilitas Sports, expanding his presence in the sports business industry.

Apart from his own businesses, Kohli endorses more than 30 major brands across sectors such as sportswear, automobiles, fashion, food and technology. His partnerships include well-known companies like Puma, MRF Tyres, Audi, HSBC, Myntra, Manyavar and Noise.

The report also highlights Kohli's exceptional social media presence. With more than 272 million Instagram followers, he is one of the most-followed athletes in the world. His engagement on social media remains unmatched among Indian celebrities, making him highly valuable for brands.

MS Dhoni and Sachin Tendulkar continue to enjoy massive brand value

Although both MS Dhoni and Sachin Tendulkar retired from international cricket years ago, they continue to rank among India's most valuable celebrities.

Dhoni, who still represents Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the IPL, remains one of the country's most trusted brand ambassadors. According to the study, he endorses 43 brands, the highest among all celebrities featured in the rankings. His endorsement portfolio includes State Bank of India (SBI), Gulf Oil, Indigo Paints, EMotorad, GoDaddy and Garuda Aerospace.

Sachin Tendulkar has also maintained his commercial appeal. His endorsement portfolio includes BMW India, Unacademy, Spinny, Boost and Visa. The report says his increase in endorsement deals has helped him remain one of India's leading celebrity brands despite retiring from international cricket.

Their continued presence in the rankings reflects the lasting trust and admiration they enjoy among Indian fans.

Kohli leads Bollywood stars in the 2026 rankings

The inaugural Fortune India-Interbrand Most Valuable Celebrities 2026 report places Virat Kohli at the top with a brand value of ₹3,542 crore.

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan occupies the second position with a brand value of ₹3,017 crore, while global star Priyanka Chopra Jonas ranks third with ₹2,507 crore.

According to TAM Media Research, celebrities appear in 29% of television advertisements, while Bollywood actors account for 74% of celebrity advertising airtime. Despite the dominance of film stars in advertising, Kohli has emerged as India's biggest celebrity brand because of his influence across sports, business and digital platforms.

Which sports stars feature in India's top 20 most valuable celebrities?

Indian sportspersons have secured six places in the top 20 rankings.

Virat Kohli leads the overall list at No. 1. MS Dhoni is ranked fourth with a brand value of ₹2,141 crore, while Sachin Tendulkar is eighth with ₹1,676 crore.

India fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah is ranked 16th with ₹1,142 crore, followed by Rohit Sharma at No. 18 with ₹1,055 crore. Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra completes the list of sporting stars at No. 19 with a brand value of ₹975 crore.

The rankings underline the growing commercial value of Indian athletes, especially cricketers, whose popularity continues to attract major brands.

Top 20 Most Valuable Celebrities in India 2026