Ajay Jadeja becomes India’s richest athlete, overtaking Kohli with $175 million royal inheritance

Former Indian cricketer Ajay Jadeja has become the wealthiest athlete in India overnight, surpassing Virat Kohli, after being declared the heir to the Jamnagar Royal throne.

Ajay Jadeja’s net worth has now skyrocketed to an astonishing $175 million, overtaking Kohli, whose net worth is estimated at $120 million.

This dramatic change in Ajay Jadeja’s fortune was announced on Dussehra, October 12, 2024, when Maharaja Shatrusalyasinhji Digvijaysinhji Jadeja, the current Jam Saheb of Nawanagar, named Ajay Jadeja as his successor.

Ajay, who is 53 years old, comes from the royal Jamnagar family and is now officially the heir to the royal throne in Gujarat.

In a letter released by the Maharaja, he expressed his happiness at naming Ajay as his successor, stating, “On Dussehra, I am equally happy as I have found a resolution to one of my dileMMAs. Ajay Jadeja has accepted to be my heir. Ajay taking up the responsibility of serving the people of Jamnagar is truly a boon for its people. I express my sincere gratitude to him.”

Ajay Jadeja's link to the royal family is deeply rooted in cricket History.

He is a descendant of the legendary cricketers K.S. Ranjitsinhji and K.S. Duleepsinhji, both of whom have major domestic cricket tournaments named after them, the Ranji Trophy and Duleep Trophy.

Jadeja’s father, Daulatsinghji Jadeja, was also closely connected to the royal family and served as a Member of Parliament from Jamnagar for three terms between 1971 and 1984.

The reigning Maharaja, Shatrusalyasinhji, who took charge as the ceremonial head of Nawanagar in 1966, also captained the Saurashtra cricket team during the Ranji Trophy in the 1966-67 season and later led the Saurashtra Cricket Association.

Ajay Jadeja is known for his fearless approach at the crease and his impactful international career, representing India in 15 Test matches and 196 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) from 1992 to 2000.

He scored nearly 6,000 runs in ODIs, including six centuries and 30 half-centuries.

After retiring from cricket, Jadeja turned to commentary and even served as the mentor for the Afghanistan cricket team.