Just days before the start of IPL 2026, Rajasthan Royals were sold to an American consortium led by investor Kal Somani for $1.63 billion (approx. ₹15,308 million crowns). The sale made headlines across the cricketing world. But buried within the story was a remarkable investment by the late Shane Warn.
When the Australian spin wizard joined Rajasthan Royals for the inaugural season of the IPL in 2008, he wasn’t just a player. He was given full control as captain, coach and mentor. In return, he negotiated a unique deal. In addition to his salary of $657,000 ( ₹6 million at the current rate), he earned a 0.75% ownership stake for each year he played.
Shane Warne immediately hit the ground running and led his team to a fairytale title win in the very first season. In four seasons with the franchise, his total equity increased to 3%. This means that Shane Warne now owns $48.9 million ( ₹460 crore) in agreement with Rajasthan Royals.
In 2019, the franchise was valued at approximately $400 million ( ₹3,756 crore at the current exchange rate). So Warne had about $12 million from the Royals share.
Warne apparently knew at the time that the value would rise much higher. In an interview, he predicted, “3% of the $400 million is fine.”
What in 2019 seemed like a self-confident boast turned out to be a significant understatement. With the franchise now worth $1.63 billion, Warne’s extraordinary return will be talked about for years to come.
Shane Warne’s wealth has almost doubled
Shane Warne died in March 2022, leaving a fortune worth $20.7 million to his family. That year, Forbes valued the Royals at $1 billion.
His last will and testament, written just months before his death, divided most of his fortune among his three children, each receiving nearly $6.41 million.
If Shane Warne’s will had already included his 3% stake in Rajasthan Royals, it would have been worth about $30 million at the time. After the 2026 deal, the same share will increase to $48.9 million, an increase of $18.9 million.
When this gain is compared to his reported net worth of $20.7 million, it represents an increase of roughly 91%. In other words, the value is nearly equal to his entire reported wealth at the time of his death.
The Rajasthan Royals deal is pending BCCI approval, which is likely to come after the 2026 IPL season.
