Insta-Garam: Despite Refuting Earnings Report, Kohli India No. 1 By Far

Virat Kohli, who joined Instagram on June 23, 2015, has denied reports that he earns Rs 11.4 crore for each sponsored post through Instagram. 

"While I am grateful and indebted to all that I've received in life, the news that has been making rounds about my social media earnings is not true,” Kohli tweeted on Saturday.

Point taken, Cheeku. Also, he did not say whether the amount quoted in the Instagram Rich List 2023 report is too high or low. He is on No. 14 in the list.

Whatever the case might be, one thing is beyond doubt. Kohli is two heads, and four shoulders above any other Indian when it comes to his following. He has 256 million followers, which is more than the population of some countries. 

A distant second is Priyanka Chopra, who has 88.8 million followers.  

Shraddha Kapoor and Alia Bhatt are at No. 3 and 4 with 82 million and 78.7 million followers, respectively. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the fifth most followed Indian with 77.4 million followers.

Chopra is No. 29 in the Instagram Rich List 2023. The top two names, not surprisingly, are football icons Cristiano Ronaldo (around Rs 26 crore per post) and Lionel Messi (around Rs 21 crore per post). 

Kohli has been quite regular on the Insta Rich list. He figured in it in 2019 and 2021. In 2019, Kohli’s was the 'Most Engaged Account Of The Year.' 

Kohli’s stature and cricketing feats make him an automatic draw on social media. His Instagram feed is also an interesting mix of pictures and videos of travel and workouts, among other things. Recently, he once again spoke about the importance of fitness in an interview. 

“Fitness has always been a top priority for me. It is not just about being a professional athlete — it is also about leading a healthy and fulfilling life. My fitness routine is quite comprehensive, and I make sure to dedicate time every day to stay in top condition,” the former India captain said.