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The Indian Premier League (IPL) is not just about cricket matches but a multi-billion-dollar business too. While fans participate in the on-field action, franchise owners shell out plenty to teams in the hope of making massive profits. But just how do franchise owners in the IPL make their money? Let us break down the principal money-makers.
BCCI distributes a considerable part of the core revenue, i.e., media rights and title sponsorships, to the franchises. In the 2023-2027 cycle up to date, the IPL media rights alone sold for a record $6.2 billion. 50% of the media rights and 40% of the sponsorship money goes to the teams and gets distributed across the 10 teams.
According to reports, for the year 2024, each franchise of IPL earned about ₹300 crores ($36 million) from this alone. This steady source of revenue ensures financial stability regardless of performance on the field.
Match day receipts are a function of stadium capacity, ticket price, and fan loyalty. Franchises like CSK and KKR, who regularly sell 50,000+ seats, receive up to ₹4–5 crore ($480,000–$600,000) per home game. Playoffs and finals earn them even higher prices. Franchises do have the privilege of sharing 20% of ticketing revenue with the BCCI.
Franchise sponsorships are a major source of income. Franchises acquire deals for the jerseys' front and sleeves, helmets, as well as the name of the stadiums. For instance, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) get ₹100 crores ($12 million) as their principal sponsor yearly through UAE-based DP World.
Besides that, the teams also work together with brands for the "associate" and "academy" sponsorships. Reliance Industries' Mumbai Indians tap into the parent group's network to get the high-value deals.
From jerseys to phone covers, merchandise for the teams is a source of rising revenue. Official sites and other e-retailers such as Amazon and Fan-Code see spikes in sales when the IPL season comes along. The Rajasthan Royals themselves saw sales of their merchandise rise by 200% in 2023 after their playoff push.
They earn revenue through YouTube advertisements, exclusive OTT content and social media associations. MI's YouTube channel, which has 10 million subscribers, earns revenue through match highlights and behind the scenes content. Fantasy cricket associations, for example, the Dream11 association of KKR also help.
| Rank | Team | Brand Value (USD) |
| 1 | Chennai Super Kings (CSK) | $122 million |
| 2 | Mumbai Indians (MI) | $119 million |
| 3 | Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) | $117 million |
| 4 | Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) | $109 million |
| 5 | Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) | $85 million |
| 6 | Rajasthan Royals (RR) | $81 million |
| 7 | Delhi Capitals (DC) | $80 million |
| 8 | Gujarat Titans (GT) | $69 million |
| 9 | Punjab Kings (PBKS) | $68 million |
| 10 | Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) | $60 million |
The IPL is a cash spinner with owners earning money from a range of revenue streams including the BCCI central revenue pool (sponsorships & media rights), ticketing, franchise sponsorships, merchandise, and digital media. Media rights generate steady revenue, while strong fan connect through stadium visiting, brand partnerships, and e-commerce sales add to revenues. With growing franchise values and growing online potential, IPL franchises continue to increase as lucrative business ventures, and the league is among the world's highest-revenue sports enterprises.
Also Check: IPL Team Owners List 2025
Mukesh Ambani, owner of Mumbai Indians, is the richest IPL team owner, with a net worth exceeding $90 billion.
While CSK holds the highest brand value, Mumbai Indians are the most profitable IPL team, earning approximately ₹737 crore in 2024.
The IPL 2024 champion, Kolkata Knight Riders, received ₹20 crore in prize money.
