Business is not easy; though you have crores mounting in your bank and have immense fame and reach, you cannot easily win in business. Business is something not everyone can do. That’s why even people with money and celebrities with fame often fail.
There are hundreds of examples for us to discuss the celebrity-led business. Start with Hollywood actors to Indian cricketers and Indian film celebrities. Many people have ventured into businesses, but many didn’t work. Yet there are some examples that were extremely successful.
If we dig deeper, fame and money are common amongst all the celebrities and sports people, but that’s not enough. There is one extra element that is required to win in business. And very few people figured it out. And when we look at the list, Virat Kohli definitely tops the list in India.
We all know Virat as a cricketer and know him for his aggression and boldness. There are hundreds of records and achievements in his name, and he brought a lot of respect to the country. But what very few people recognize is his parallel journey: that of an entrepreneur, investor, and brand builder. While many celebrities have failed to create sustainable business ventures, Kohli has quietly built an empire that not only complements his cricketing legacy but also reflects his personality.
From Wrogn to One8, from carefully chosen investments to becoming one of the most valuable athletes in the world, Virat’s entrepreneurial journey is a masterclass in strategy, brand-building, and vision. This article dives deep into how Virat Kohli crafted his business identity, the lessons entrepreneurs can learn, and why his model stands out in a world filled with celebrity-backed failures.
Before diving into his ventures, let’s understand the base: Brand Virat Kohli. Unlike many celebrities who treat endorsements as a money-making thing, Virat always aligned himself with brands that fit his personality. This selective approach became the cornerstone of his entrepreneurial ventures. Because when he launched businesses like Wrogn and One8, they weren’t random experiments. They were natural extensions of his personality.
First, he started with Wrogn, which was launched in 2014 by Universal Sportsbiz Pvt Ltd (USPL), co-founded by Anjana Reddy. Wrogn was designed to be a youth-focused fashion label. It reached the audience in a perfect manner, and as a result, today it is present in major retail stores, online platforms like Myntra, and even exclusive brand outlets.
If Wrogn was Kohli’s first major entrepreneurial step, One8 is where he expanded his empire. One8 started with a collaboration with Puma for footwear and apparel. The name itself, derived from Virat’s jersey number 18, reflects his personal identity. But One8 didn’t stop at fashion. Virat ventured into hospitality with One8 Commune, a chain of resto-bars across India. Unlike random celebrity restaurants that open and shut down, One8 Commune positioned itself as a youth-centric, premium-yet-approachable space. Locations in Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, and more have made it a buzzing brand.
Well, when we talk about his business, these are some must-discuss areas, but another under-covered angle is his investments. His recent investment agility is one more example to show his entrepreneurial spirit.
So, if we try to dig into the reasons behind his successful ventures. We will understand the clear picture. Celebrities often get excited about launching businesses but disappear once the initial hype fades. We’ve seen countless actor-backed restaurants, clothing lines, and tech startups that didn’t survive beyond a year. Why? Because they lacked consistent involvement and brand reinforcement.
Virat, on the other hand, has been extremely disciplined with his business image: He has consistently worn and promoted Wrogn since its inception. Fans often associate his airport looks and casual wear with the brand. With One8, he doesn’t treat it as a one-time launch. He constantly integrates it into his lifestyle branding, from Puma campaigns to One8 Commune expansions. Then when we talk about investments, he considers equity. Most celebs take an endorsement fee and move on, but Virat did it differently. He takes skin in the game by taking equity and sometimes even investing his own money.
Now, as a result of his selected endorsements and promotions, he carefully built his brand. Virat Kohli’s brand value stood at $231.1 million in 2024, making him the most valuable celebrity in India for two years in a row. He ranks ahead of Bollywood stars like Ranveer Singh ($170.7M) and Shah Rukh Khan ($145.7M).
Virat Kohli’s journey as an entrepreneur teaches us that fame and money alone are never enough to succeed in business. By carefully aligning his ventures with his personality, taking equity stakes instead of just endorsement fees, and consistently nurturing his brands, he has built an empire that goes far beyond cricket. For aspiring entrepreneurs, the lesson is clear: build businesses that reflect your identity, own a stake in what you believe in, stay consistent, and think long-term.
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