# From ₹67 Crore to ₹15,286 Crore — Rajasthan Royals Are Now the Most Expensive IPL Franchise Ever!

URL: https://technosports.co.in/from-67-crore-to-15286-crore-rajasthan-royals/  
Published: 2026-03-25  
Updated: 2026-03-25  
Author: Reetam Bodhak

The Pink Army just made history — off the pitch. The ownership of Rajasthan Royals has officially changed hands, with a US-based consortium led by entrepreneur Kal Somani acquiring the franchise for a record-breaking $1.63 billion (₹15,286 crore). [The Assam Tribune](https://assamtribune.com/business/swiggy-raises-platform-fee-by-17-to-rs-1758-per-order-1609770) Yes, the same team that was once the cheapest buy in the room is now IPL’s crown jewel.

## Who Are the New Owners of Rajasthan Royals?

Leading the acquisition is Kal Somani, a US-based technology entrepreneur who was already a minority shareholder in the franchise. The ownership consortium includes Rob Walton, heir to the Walmart fortune, and Shields Hamp, a member of the iconic Ford family. [The Tribune](https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/india/after-zomato-swiggy-hikes-platform-fee-by-17-pc-to-rs-17-58-per-order)

| Partner | Background |
| --- | --- |
| **Kal Somani** | Founder, IntraEdge, Truyo.AI, Academian |
| **Rob Walton** | Walmart family heir |
| **Sheila Ford Hamp** | Ford family; majority owner, Detroit Lions (NFL) |

The new owners are expected to take charge after the IPL 2026 season concludes, with current management continuing operations in the interim. [Entrackr](https://entrackr.com/news/swiggy-follows-zomato-hikes-platform-fee-by-17-to-rs-1758-11258272)

## A 24x Return — The Extraordinary Value Journey

When the IPL held its first franchise auction in 2008, Rajasthan Royals were sold for just $67 million — the cheapest team in the room. Eighteen years later, the same franchise is fetching $1.63 billion — a growth of roughly 24 times.

![Rajasthan Royals](https://technosports.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Rrarjaj.webp)

The previous IPL record for a franchise sale was held by Lucknow Super Giants, bought by the RP-SG Group for ₹7,090 crore. Rajasthan Royals have now more than doubled that figure. [Business Today](https://www.businesstoday.in/technology/story/swiggy-hikes-platform-fee-to-rs-1758-per-order-follows-zomatos-recent-increase-522031-2026-03-24)

Learn more about the IPL’s evolution into a global sports business on [Wikipedia’s Indian Premier League page](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Premier_League).

For a deep dive into the IPL 2026 season and team analysis, visit [technosports.co.in](https://technosports.co.in).

## Why Are IPL Franchises Worth Billions Now?

The 2023–27 media rights cycle was sold for approximately $6.2 billion, with each franchise receiving roughly $55 million annually from the central pool — before their own sponsorships, ticketing, and local commercial income. [Kashmir Observer](https://kashmirobserver.net/2026/03/24/after-zomato-swiggy-hikes-platform-fee-by-17-to-rs-17-58-per-order/)

When Blackstone and the Walmart family start bidding for cricket franchises, the benchmark stops being other cricket teams and starts being NBA franchises and Premier League clubs.

## On the Field: Shanaka Replaces Curran for IPL 2026

Off-field drama aside, RR have also made a squad update. Sri Lankan all-rounder Dasun Shanaka has been named as the replacement for injured Sam Curran for the upcoming IPL 2026 season. [The Assam Tribune](https://assamtribune.com/business/swiggy-raises-platform-fee-by-17-to-rs-1758-per-order-1609770) Follow all the latest RR squad updates and match previews at [technosports.co.in](https://technosports.co.in/category/cricket).

## ❓ FAQs

### **Q: Who bought Rajasthan Royals and for how much?**

Kal Somani led a US-based consortium including the Walmart and Ford families to acquire 100% of Rajasthan Royals for ₹15,286 crore ($1.63 billion) — the highest price ever paid for an IPL franchise.

### **Q: When will the new owners take over Rajasthan Royals?**

 The ownership transition is expected after IPL 2026 concludes, with the current management continuing to run the franchise through the ongoing season.