Neeraj Chopra

Neeraj Chopra is an Indian javelin thrower, Olympic champion, world champion and entrepreneur who has become one of the most recognisable athletes in India. Born on 24 December 1997 in Khandra, Haryana, Chopra began competing in javelin as a teenager and rose rapidly through India's athletics system. He became the first Indian athlete to win an Olympic gold medal in athletics when he won the men's javelin throw at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Neeraj Chopra's career includes some of the most significant achievements in Indian athletics. He won gold at the 2018 Asian Games and Commonwealth Games, became India's first World Athletics Championships gold medallist in 2023, and won Olympic silver at the Paris 2024 Games. In May 2025, he became the first Indian javelin thrower to cross the 90-metre mark, recording a national record of 90.23 metres at the Doha Diamond League.

Chopra has also established himself as a major global sports personality. His achievements have led to partnerships with brands including Tata AIA, Audi India, Visa, Under Armour and other major companies. Kroll estimated his brand value at approximately US$30 million in 2025, reflecting the commercial strength of his personal brand outside cricket.

In 2025, Chopra launched the Neeraj Chopra Classic, India's first international marquee javelin competition, bringing elite international javelin athletes to Bengaluru. In January 2026, he launched Vel Sports, his own athlete management company, marking a move into sports entrepreneurship while continuing his competitive athletics career.

Neeraj Chopra's wealth comes primarily from prize money, government awards, salary and benefits associated with his Indian Army service, high-value endorsements, investments and entrepreneurial ventures. He has also taken an equity stake in regional OTT platform Stage. His combination of Olympic success, global endorsements, business ventures and athletics achievements has made him one of India's most commercially successful non-cricket athletes.