AB De Villiers retired from all forms of international cricket in May 2018. He made the announcement through a video uploaded to Twitter and thanks to his successful career, he has an estimated net worth of $21 million. The athlete got married to his longtime girlfriend, Danielle Swarts, in March 2013.
In a day and age where there seems to be very short memory span, and where words like legend and genius are loosely thrown around when people are describing their favorite sportsman, it appears that anyone who puts in a few notable performances can qualify to be regarded in the same mold as people like Micheal Jordan, Mohammad Ali, and Pele. One person who would, however, fit to stand alongside such people even though they are still actively playing today is South African cricketer, AB de Villiers.
Described as one of the most destructive batsmen in the world, and widely regarded as one of the greatest players of modern-day cricket, AB de Villiers is a name that surely needs no introduction to fans of the sport. The Warmbad, Transvaal native has gone a long way in enshrining his name amongst the greatest players to ever play the sport thanks to his unmatched batting skills and athleticism in the field that has allowed him to set a number of records that enthusiasts of cricket believe would never be broken.
Born Abraham Benjamin de Villiers to a doctor father who played rugby union in his youth and encouraged his son to pursue his sporting interests, the cricketer’s journey to legendary status began at a young age. He first played a variety of sports while attending Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool in Pretoria before later deciding to focus on cricket. This decision has turned out to be a great one as he soon featured for his country’s youth cricket team as he was also snapped up by top-level cricket franchises in South Africa.
In December 2004, AB de Villiers, who was at the time just 20 years of age, made his first appearance for South Africa in a test match against England at Port Elizabeth. He went on to make his One Day International (ODI) debut in early 2005 and then his Twenty20 International cricket debut in 2006.
As his career progressed, de Villiers became the second-youngest and second-fastest South African to reach 1,000 test runs before later going ahead to captain South Africa in not just test matches, but all three formats.
Is AB De Villiers Retired?
In May 2018, AB de Villiers shocked the world as he announced his retirement from all forms of international cricket through a video uploaded to Twitter. This came as a surprise because it was believed that the legendary cricketer would wait until after the 2019 World Cup before deciding to quit. In the video, he said the major reason why he retired sooner than expected was because of exhaustion. He further went on to clarify that he would continue playing T20 leagues like the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the Big Bash League for a few more years.
Meet AB De Villiers’ Wife
AB De Villiers is married to his longtime girlfriend Danielle Swarts. The pair dated for five years before the famous cricketer took to one knee at the Taj Mahal in India in 2012 to ask for his girlfriend’s hand in marriage. A year later, in March 2013, they exchanged marital vows in Bela-Bela, South Africa. The couple has so far welcomed two sons to the world. Their first child, Abraham De Villiers, was born in 2015. Details of the birth date and name of their second child are not public knowledge.
What is His Net Worth?
A few celebrity wealth calculating websites have estimated that AB de Villiers has a net worth of around $21 million. The South African, who certainly ranks amongst the richest cricketers in the world, as well as among the wealthiest athletes from his country, has been able to make bank thanks to his outstanding talent that has allowed him to enjoy a flourishing career over the years.
De Villiers reportedly earns a net annual income of $3 million. He is one of the highest-paid foreign players in the IPL even though he is the second-highest-paid player in the Royal Challengers Bangalore squad due to the fact he plays alongside the most valuable player in world cricket at the moment, Virat Kohli. As of 2019, Bangalore pays him just over $1.5 million to keep him as a part of their team.
In addition to these earnings and what he takes home for playing for other teams such as the Brisbane Heat of the Big Bash League, AB de Villiers also takes home huge amounts of money from endorsement deals. Some of the brands in which he has deals with include Audi, Montblanc, Puma, and MRF among others. These deals and his salary has afforded him a very lavish lifestyle that includes him owning a mansion in a choice Durban area as well as a fleet of luxury cars.
Not one to keep all his earnings to himself, de Villiers does some excellent charity work, particularly with the Make a Difference Foundation which aims to provide underprivileged kids with free education.
See Also: 5 South African Footballers To Watch In The African Cup Of Nations
Height and Body Measurements
AB de Villiers, who is nicknamed both Mr. 360 and Superman by fans due to his ability to play shots all around the wicket and for his acrobatic fielding, stands at a height of 5 feet 8 inches (1.76 m). His weight is further listed at 77 kg while his other body measurements are Chest – 40 inches, Waist – 32 inches, and Biceps – 14 inches.
