Indian cricket players, such as Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya, are well-known for their massive wealth. However, have you ever wondered who is India’s highest-paid female athlete?
Despite cricket being the dominant sport in the country, the highest-paid female athlete in the country is not a cricketer. She is a talented sportsperson who has won several medals for India in international competitions, including the Olympics. According to Forbes, India’s highest-paid female athlete has a net worth of $7.1 million (approximately Rs 59 crore). If you guessed Sania Mirza, Saina Nehwal, or Mary Kom, you would be wrong. Here’s another hint: she secured the 16th spot on Forbes’ list of highest-paid female athletes in 2023. Scroll down to learn who it is.
Meet India’s highest-paid female athlete; it’s not Saina Nehwal, Mary Kom or Sania Mirza
The highest-paid female athlete in India is none other than P.V. Sindhu. Born in Hyderabad, Sindhu began playing badminton at the age of eight, and at 22 she made history at the 2016 Rio Olympics by winning the silver medal. In recognition of her contributions to the sport, Sindhu has received many big honours, including the Padma Shri Award in 2016, the fourth-highest civilian honour; and the Padma Bhushan in 2020, the third-highest civilian award in the country. She was also awarded the Arjuna Award and Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, among other sports awards, during her illustrious international career spanning over a decade,
P.V. Sindhu has made it to Forbes’ list of Highest-Paid Female Athletes in the years 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2023 with earnings of $8.5 million (approximately Rs 70 crore), $5.5 million (approximately Rs 45 crore), $7.2 million (approximately Rs 59.8 crore), $7.1 million (approximately Rs 59 crore), and $7.1 million (approximately Rs 59 crore), respectively.
Following her silver medal win in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, P.V. Sindhu, who entered the international circuit at the age of 14 in the year 2009, won the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, which made her the first Indian woman to win two Olympic medals. Her exceptional performances on the court helped her secure sponsorships from prominent brands such as Bank of Baroda, Li-Ning, Spinny, Asian Paints, Bridgestone, Johnson & Johnson, and L’Oréal.
Apart from badminton, the 28-year-old shuttler also makes a significant amount of money from brand endorsements and social media promotions. She’s also made investments in real estate. In addition to owning a lavish house located on a hill in Hyderabad, P.V. Sindhu also owns many luxury vehicles such as BMW X5, BMW 320D, and others.
