Ben Stokes has given English cricket some of its most unforgettable moments: the 2019 World Cup final, that knock at Headingley and four years of “Bazball” as Test captain. In June 2026, he shocked fans by retiring from international cricket mid-Test, and he’s now being tipped by bookies as a possible I’m A Celebrity contestant. So with his England career over, what is Ben Stokes’ net worth, and how did he make his money?
What is Ben Stokes’ net worth?
Unifresher estimates Ben Stokes’ net worth at around £12 million in 2026, within a likely range of £9 million to £15 million.
Here’s how we got there. Stokes has been one of the world’s most in-demand cricketers for a decade, and the Indian Premier League (IPL) has been his biggest single earner. Rising Pune Supergiant paid ₹14.5 crore (about £1.7 million) for him in 2017, Rajasthan Royals signed him for ₹12.5 crore (roughly £1.4 million) a season from 2018, and Chennai Super Kings paid ₹16.25 crore (about £1.6 million) in 2023. Even allowing for seasons he missed or cut short, his IPL earnings are likely to total well over £6 million.
Then there’s England. ECB central contracts in recent years have been reported to range from around £130,000 up to roughly £800,000 a year at the top end, and as Test captain and an all-format star, Stokes would have been among the best-paid players for most of his career, before match fees are added on. Sponsorship deals (he was a Red Bull athlete and his New Balance kit deal was reported to be worth £200,000 a year before it ended in 2017), his 2019 book On Fire, his Prime Video documentary and his new Big Bash contract all add to the pot.
That points to career earnings of somewhere around £20 million before tax. Once you take off top-rate income tax, agent fees and the cost of family life, and allow for some savings and property growth, we think around £12 million is a fair estimate. As with any private individual, the exact figure is known only to Stokes and his advisers.
Who is Ben Stokes?
Benjamin Andrew Stokes was born on 4 June 1991 in Christchurch, New Zealand. His father, Gerard, was a rugby league player and coach, and the family moved to Cockermouth in Cumbria when Ben was 12. He joined Durham, and has played county cricket for them ever since.
Stokes married Clare Ratcliffe in 2017 and the couple have two children. He was made an OBE in the 2020 New Year Honours and won BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 2019.
Ben Stokes’ cricket career
Early England years
Stokes made his England debut in white-ball cricket in 2011 and his Test debut in Adelaide during the 2013–14 Ashes. In only his second Test he scored his first century, in Perth. In 2016, he hit 258 against South Africa in Cape Town, which is still his highest Test score.
The summer of 2019
Stokes’ unbeaten 84 in the 2019 World Cup final, followed by his role in the Super Over, helped England beat New Zealand to win their first men’s 50-over World Cup. A few weeks later, his unbeaten 135 at Headingley won an Ashes Test England looked certain to lose, and it’s still regarded as one of the greatest Test innings ever played. He also hit an unbeaten 52 in the final as England won the 2022 T20 World Cup.
Test captain
Stokes was named England Test captain in April 2022 and, alongside head coach Brendon McCullum, led a famously aggressive style of play nicknamed “Bazball”. He played his 100th Test in February 2024. However, England lost the 2025–26 Ashes 4–1 in Australia.
Retirement in 2026
On the fourth day of the third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge in June 2026, Stokes announced his retirement from international cricket and the Test captaincy. England lost the match by 160 runs on 29 June and the series 2–1, but Stokes signed off with 4–70 in the first innings and his 252nd and final Test wicket. He backed Harry Brook to succeed him as captain.
Is Ben Stokes still playing cricket?
Yes, just not for England. He has carried on playing for Durham, and in September 2026 the Adelaide Strikers announced that he will play the full 2026–27 Big Bash League season in Australia, which starts in mid-December. Australian reports put his deal at around AUD 500,000 (roughly £250,000).
Off the pitch: books, TV and tough times
Stokes’ book On Fire, about England’s 2019 summer, was published by Headline in 2019. In 2022, Prime Video released Ben Stokes: Phoenix from the Ashes, a documentary executive-produced by Sam Mendes that looks at his career and mental health.
The film covers some difficult chapters. In September 2017, Stokes was arrested after an incident outside a Bristol nightclub. He was charged with affray and was found not guilty in August 2018. The ECB later fined him £30,000 and gave him an eight-match ban for bringing the game into disrepute, which he had already served. New Balance ended his sponsorship deal in 2017.
In July 2021, Stokes took an indefinite break from cricket to prioritise his mental wellbeing, months after his father died of brain cancer. He has since spoken openly about anxiety and therapy, and returned to lead England.
Is Ben Stokes going on I’m A Celebrity 2026?
Nothing is confirmed. In September 2026, bookmakers began tipping Stokes for this year’s series of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, mostly because his international retirement frees up his schedule. ITV has said that any names suggested are “just speculation”, and Stokes hasn’t commented.
Timing could be tricky, too: the show usually starts in mid-November, while his Big Bash commitments begin in mid-December. For a look at the money behind past jungle line-ups, see our guide to the I’m A Celebrity 2025 cast net worths.
FAQs about Ben Stokes
What is Ben Stokes’ net worth?
Unifresher estimates Ben Stokes’ net worth at around £12 million in 2026, within a range of £9 million to £15 million, based on his IPL fees, England contracts, sponsorship, book and TV deals, minus tax and costs.
Has Ben Stokes retired?
Stokes retired from international cricket in June 2026, with the third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge his final England match. He still plays for Durham and has signed for the Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash League.
Who is England’s Test captain after Ben Stokes?
Stokes publicly backed his vice-captain, Harry Brook, to take over from him as England Test captain.
How old is Ben Stokes?
Ben Stokes was born on 4 June 1991, so he is 35 in 2026.
How much did Ben Stokes earn in the IPL?
His biggest IPL deals were ₹14.5 crore (about £1.7 million) with Rising Pune Supergiant in 2017, ₹12.5 crore (about £1.4 million) a season with Rajasthan Royals from 2018, and ₹16.25 crore (about £1.6 million) with Chennai Super Kings in 2023.
For another sporting legend who has built a fortune beyond his playing days, read our guide to Sir Mo Farah’s net worth.