Vinesh Phogat Biography, Wikipedia, Career, Net Worth, Cars, Family, Personal Life

Co-authorLast Updated: May 12, 2025

1 5 minutes read

Vinesh Phogat is a celebrated Indian wrestler turned politician, widely regarded as one of India’s finest female athletes. Born on August 25, 1994, in Charkhi Dadri, Haryana, she hails from a family deeply rooted in wrestling. Her journey from a small village to international stardom and now a political career is a testament to her resilience, determination, and versatility.

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Profile

Attribute	Details
Full Name	Vinesh Phogat
Date of Birth	25 August 1994
Place of Birth	Charkhi Dadri, Haryana, India
Height	1.68 cm
Weight	50 kg
Sport	Wrestling
Weight Categories	48 kg, 50 kg, 53 kg
Family	Daughter of Rajpal and Premlata Phogat; niece of coach Mahavir Singh Phogat
Spouse	Married fellow wrestler Somvir Rathee on 13 December 2018
Major Achievements	3× Commonwealth Games Gold Medalist (2014, 2018, 2022)
	1× Asian Games Gold Medalist (2018)
	2× World Wrestling Championships Bronze Medalist
	First Indian woman wrestler to win gold at both Commonwealth and Asian Games
Olympic Participation	2016 Rio (48 kg)
	2020 Tokyo (53 kg)
	2024 Paris (50 kg)
Retirement	Announced retirement in August 2024 after disqualification at Paris Olympics
Political Career	Elected as MLA from Julana constituency, Haryana, representing Indian National Congress in October 2024
Awards & Honors	Arjuna Award (2016)
	Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna (2020)
	Nominated for Padma Shri (2018)
	First Indian nominated for Laureus World Sports Awards (2019)
	Featured in BBC 100 Women list (2024)
Activism	Led protests against sexual harassment in Indian wrestling (2023)
	Supported 2024 Indian farmers’ protest

Early Life and Family

Vinesh was born into a renowned wrestling family, the daughter of Rajpal Phogat and Premlata Phogat. Her father, Rajpal, was a freestyle wrestler, and her uncle, Mahavir Singh Phogat, a Dronacharya Awardee and respected coach, played a pivotal role in her training. Tragically, when Vinesh was nine, her father was killed in a family dispute, a loss that profoundly impacted her. Mahavir stepped in, adopting and training Vinesh alongside her cousins, Geeta Phogat, Babita Kumari, Ritu Phogat, and Sangeeta Phogat, all accomplished wrestlers. Her sister, Priyanka Phogat, also won a silver medal at the 2016 Asian Wrestling Championships.

Growing up in a conservative village, Vinesh faced societal opposition to women in wrestling, considered a male-dominated sport. Despite these challenges, Mahavir’s encouragement and rigorous training helped her break barriers. Vinesh completed her early education at KCM Senior Secondary School in Jhojhu Kalan, Haryana, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak.

Vinesh Phogat

Vinesh Phogat Wrestling Career

Vinesh’s wrestling career is illustrious, marked by numerous accolades and historic milestones. She began competing internationally at 19, winning a bronze medal in the 51kg category at the 2013 Asian Wrestling Championships in New Delhi. Her breakthrough came in 2014 when she clinched gold in the 48kg category at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, defeating England’s Yana Rattigan. That same year, she won a bronze medal at Nedal at the Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea.

Vinesh made history in 2018 by becoming the first Indian woman to win gold at both the Commonwealth Games (Gold Coast) and the Asian Games (Jakarta) in the 50kg category. She continued her dominance with gold medals at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and a bronze at the 2019 and 2022 World Wrestling Championships. She is a three-time Olympian, competing in the 48kg category at Rio 2016, 53kg at Tokyo 2020, and 50kg at Paris 2024.

Her Olympic journey, however, faced setbacks. At Rio 2016, a severe knee injury (ACL tear) forced her to retire during the quarterfinals. In Tokyo 2020, despite being seeded first in the 53kg category, she was knocked out in the quarterfinals. The most heartbreaking moment came at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where she became the first Indian woman wrestler to reach an Olympic final in the 50kg category, defeating top seed Yui Susaki of Japan. However, she was disqualified for being 100 grams over the weight limit, missing the gold medal match. This led to her announcing her retirement from wrestling, though she challenged the disqualification at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Vinesh’s contributions extend beyond the mat. In 2023, she led protests against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, alleging sexual harassment, showcasing her commitment to women’s rights in sports.

Vinesh Phogat Political Career

In September 2024, Vinesh transitioned to politics, joining the Indian National Congress (INC) and contesting the Haryana Legislative Assembly election from the Julana constituency. She won with over 6,000 votes, defeating BJP’s Yogesh Kumar, marking a significant new chapter. Her political journey reflects her desire to serve society beyond sports.

Vinesh Phogat Net Worth

Vinesh Phogat’s net worth reflects her remarkable success as a wrestler, brand ambassador, and now a politician. As of 2025, her estimated net worth stands at approximately ₹36.5 crore. Her wealth is derived from multiple income streams, showcasing her ability to capitalize on her athletic achievements and public persona.

Her primary income sources include a government salary, brand endorsements, awards, and public appearances. Vinesh earns ₹50,000 monthly (₹6 lakh annually) from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, a steady income for her contributions to Indian sports. However, her endorsement deals are a major contributor to her wealth. As a brand ambassador for companies like Baseline Ventures, Cornerstone Sport, Tata Motors, and JSW Sports, she commands ₹75 lakh to ₹1 crore per deal, with her market value surging post-Paris 2024. Additionally, she has received financial rewards from the Indian government for her medals, including gold at the 2018 Asian Games and Commonwealth Games, as well as bronze at the World Wrestling Championships.

Her financial portfolio is further detailed in her 2024 Haryana election affidavit, which declared movable assets worth ₹1.1 crore, immovable assets at ₹1.85 crore, and liabilities of ₹13.6 lakh, resulting in a net worth of approximately ₹2.81 crore. The discrepancy between this figure and the reported ₹36.5 crore may stem from differing valuation methods, such as market-based estimates versus self-declared assets, or undisclosed income from endorsements. Vinesh’s luxurious lifestyle, including a ₹2 crore villa in Kharkhoda, Haryana, and a car collection featuring a Mercedes GLE (₹1.8 crore), Toyota Fortuner (₹35 lakh), and others, underscores her financial success. With her recent entry into politics, her net worth may continue to grow as she leverages her influence in new arenas.

Vinesh Phogat Cars and Lifestyle

Vinesh’s success is reflected in her luxurious lifestyle. She owns a villa in Kharkhoda, Haryana, valued at ₹2 crore, and reportedly other properties. Her car collection includes:

Mercedes GLE: ₹1.8 crore
Toyota Fortuner: ₹35 lakh
Toyota Innova: ₹28 lakh
Volvo XC60: ₹60 lakh (approximate)
Hyundai Creta: ₹15 lakh (approximate)
TVS Scooty: ₹40,000

She also owns jewelry worth ₹2.25 lakh and has a bank balance of nearly ₹40 lakh with ₹1.95 lakh in cash.

Vinesh Phogat Personal Life

Vinesh married fellow wrestler Somvir Rathee on December 13, 2018, in a private ceremony. Somvir, a two-time national championship gold medalist, met Vinesh in 2011 while working at Indian Railways, where their shared passion for wrestling blossomed into love. The couple, who do not have children, continues to support each other’s careers. Vinesh enjoys photography and is an advocate for women’s empowerment, using her platform to inspire young athletes.