The Indian batsman Virat Kohli may not be playing as much cricket as he usually does this year due to the changes in the Indian team, but he is still the highest-paid Indian on the photo and video blogging platform Instagram.
According to a report, Kohli reportedly demanded a hefty INR 14 crore for each sponsored Instagram post he released publicly in the 2023 list. The list was topped by football legend Cristiano Ronaldo, followed by Lionel Messi, his major rival.
Ronaldo billed a staggering amount of USD 3.23 million, or approximately INR 26.75 crore. On the other hand, according to Hopper HQ, Messi charged USD 2.56 million (or INR 21.49 crore) for each Instagram post.
The only Indian to reach the top 20 list worldwide is Virat Kohli. He reportedly charged USD 1.38 million for each Instagram post. For one post, he charged 11.45 crore Indian rupees. Currently, he has 256 million followers on his Instagram handle.
The co-founder of Hopper HQ, Mike Bandar, was surprised to see how the incomes of famous faces have grown on Instagram over time. He also emphasized the influence that sports stars have off the field.
Mr. Bandar stated, “It’s still shocking to me that the annual money made on the platform increases every year. Yet, what fascinates me more is the consistent players at the top.”
“It’s apparent that the glitz and glamour of traditional celebrities still holds power over the new ‘influencer’ status. Ronaldo and Messi not only dominate the pitch, but also the digital sphere as it’s clear they personify the power of personal branding and the influence it holds over us ‘ordinary’ people”, said Mike.
Who is the next Indian in the list?
The next Indian on the list is Priyanka Chopra Jonas, a Hollywood and Bollywood actress’s who is ranked No. 29. According to the report, she charged USD 532,000 (INR 4.40 crore) for each post.
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