Warne was signed by RR as an icon player in 2008 with a modest contract that netted him around ₹9 crore during his four years with the franchise.
While taking full control of the cricketing operations of the franchise, the iconic cricketer secured a deal that granted him 0.75% stake in RR for each year he played.
Since Warne was active from 2008-2011, he ended up with a 3% ownership share in RR.
“Part of my deal… they asked me to be the captain, coach, and manage the cricket team as I saw fit… I was the one-stop shop,” Warne disclosed in a 2019 interview with The Herald Sun. He added, “Three percent of USD 400 million is decent.”
On March 24, it was revealed that Somani, along with Walmart heir Rob Walton and the Ford-backed Hamp family, finalized a $1.63 billion (approximately ₹15,290 crore) agreement for complete control over RR, pending BCCI approval. The ownership will commence after the conclusion of the upcoming IPL season.
A significant factor behind Warne’s negotiations was his return from retirement to play for RR. He had retired from professional cricket following the Ashes series of 2006-07.
However, the excitement of the IPL motivated him to make a temporary comeback, leading him to guide an underdog RR squad to triumph in the inaugural season of the tournament.
Over 55 matches, Warne claimed 57 wickets with an economy rate of 7.27, easily adapting to the modern demands of T20 cricket.
Since Warne’s passing due to a heart attack in 2022, the proceeds from the RR sale are likely to benefit his three children, Brooke, Jackson, and Summer, along with his ex-wife, Simone Callahan, whom he was married to from 1995 to 2005.
First Published: Mar 25, 2026 3:56 PM IST
