Hey, let’s dive into Steve Smith, the Aussie cricket legend who’s still smashing records in 2026 at age 36. From his quirky batting style to his epic comebacks, this guy’s story is packed with grit and stats that keep fans hooked.
Steve Smith’s Biography
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Steven Peter Devereux Smith |
| Nickname | “The Wall” |
| Date of Birth | June 2, 1989 |
| Age | 36 years |
| Birthplace | Sydney, New South Wales |
| Height | 5’9″ (176 cm) |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Citizenship | Dual British-Australian |
| Religion | N/A |
| Education | Menai High School |
| Turned Pro | 2008 |
| Spouse | Dani Willis |
| Marriage Date | September 15, 2018 |
| Children | N/A |
| Relationship Status | Married |
| Instagram Profile | @steve_smith49 |
| Twitter/X | @stevesmith49 |
| Net Worth (2026) | $32-35 million USD |
Early Career
Steve Smith kicked off as a fast bowler before switching to leg-spin at 15. He played junior cricket for Sutherland and headed to England in 2007 for Sevenoaks Vine, earning Surrey seconds selection. Back home, he debuted for NSW Blues in first-class cricket in 2008 at 18, scoring 33 on debut.
By 2009-10, his batting average topped 50 in 13 matches, with Shane Warne mentoring his spin. He shone in the 2008 U19 World Cup (114 runs, 7 wickets) and helped NSW win the 2009 Champions League T20. Smith captained NSW to domestic titles early too.
Professional Career
Steve Smith burst onto the international scene in 2010 as a leg-spinning all-rounder, debuting in T20Is and ODIs against Pakistan, then Tests at Lord’s. Early roles had him batting low, but by 2013, he locked in as a top-order star during India’s tour, scoring 92 in Mohali. The 2013-14 Ashes turnaround was huge—his Oval ton helped retain the urn, followed by home Ashes success with back-to-back centuries.
He exploded in 2014-15, smashing four straight Test tons against India (769 runs at 128 avg), earning vice-captaincy and captaincy under Clarke. Smith hit No.1 Test ranking after a 199 vs West Indies in 2015, then dominated the Ashes in England with 215 at Lord’s and 143 at Oval amid team retirements. By 2017, he peaked with ICC awards, but the 2018 ball-tampering scandal in South Africa led to a 12-month ban and captaincy loss—replaced by Paine.
Smith roared back in 2019 Ashes, twin tons at Edgbaston (144 & 142), then piled on in 2021 WTC final and 2023 WTC win. He opened in Tests from 2024, adapting seamlessly. ODIs saw him retire as captain in March 2025 after series wins over India, West Indies, England, and Champions Trophy lead—5,800 runs, 12 tons. T20Is ended earlier; now Test vice-captain under Cummins, with 10,763 runs and 37 tons in 123 matches by 2026.
Recent highlights: Galle double ton vs Sri Lanka (2025), Sydney 138 vs England in 2026 Ashes. BBL opener for Sixers with record 4 centuries, MLC title as Washington Freedom captain (2024). IPL peaks included RPS final run (2017), but unsold for 2026 after base price miss. Still elite at No.4/3, his shuffle technique baffles bowlers.
Wife
Steve Smith is happily married to Dani Willis since September 2018 in Berrima, NSW. They met in 2011; she studied commerce/law at Macquarie Uni and works as a solicitor. No children as of 2026—the couple has said they’re not rushing family plans. Dani’s his rock, especially post-2018 ban.
Steve Smith’s Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Steve Smith’s net worth is estimated between $32 to $35 million USD, making him one of Australia’s wealthiest cricketers. The bulk of his wealth originates from his extensive cricket career spanning multiple lucrative income streams. His Cricket Australia central contract remains his primary income source, valued at approximately $1.5 to $2 million AUD annually, supplemented by per-match fees totaling around $20,000 per Test, $15,000 per ODI, and $10,000 per T20I. International franchise cricket has contributed substantially to his earnings, with historical IPL contracts reaching INR 12.50 crore annually with Rajasthan Royals (2019-2020). His endorsement portfolio generates an estimated $3 to $5 million USD annually from brands including Gillette, New Balance, Fitbit, and Sanitarium. However, Smith’s most impressive financial achievement stems from a prescient investment decision in 2015, when he invested just $100,000 for a 10 percent equity stake in Koala Mattresses.
Contracts
Smith holds a Cricket Australia central contract for 2026, worth about $1.5-2 Million base plus Test/ODI fees (pre-ODI retirement). He’s locked in with Sydney Sixers on a three-year BBL deal through 2027, as a marquee opener—key for his T20 push post-T20I retirement. No IPL for 2026 after going unsold at ₹2 crore base in Dec 2025 auction. Plays The Hundred with Welsh Fire and eyes more franchise gigs.
Career Earnings
| Income Source | Annual Amount | Notes |
| Cricket Australia Contract | $1.5-2 Million AUD | Elite contract with match fees |
| Test Match Fees | $20,000 per match | Plus performance bonuses |
| ODI Match Fees | $15,000 per match | (Retired from ODIs March 2025) |
| T20I Match Fees | $10,000 per match | Still available for selection |
| Sydney Sixers (BBL) | ~$400,000+ AUD | 3-year contract from August 2024 |
| IPL (Historical) | $2-3 Million AUD | Highest: INR 12.50 crore (2019-2020) |
| Global T20 Canada | $100,000 USD | Marquee player rate |
| Pakistan Super League | $250,000 USD | Per season |
| Caribbean Premier League | $100,000+ USD | Per season |
| Endorsements | $3-5 Million USD | Annual, from major brands |
| Koala Mattress Investment | $12.18 Million | Current value of 2015 investment |
| OMG Oat Milk | Undisclosed | Co-founder stake |
Endorsements
- Gillette – Long-standing partnership for grooming products
- New Balance – Apparel and footwear sponsorship
- Fitbit – Wearable technology and health devices
- Weet-Bix – Breakfast cereal and wellness products
- Sanitarium – Nutritional and health-focused brand
- Commonwealth Bank – Financial services and banking
- Koala Mattresses – Sleep products (also shareholder and investor)
- Toyota – Automotive brand partnership
- OMG Oat Milk – Dairy alternative (co-founder)
- Bamboo Proudly – Sustainable products line
Career Records
| Achievement | Details | Date/Status |
| Test Runs | 10,477 runs from 123 matches | As of January 2026 |
| Test Centuries | 37 centuries at 56.03 average | Career milestone |
| Test Highest Score | 239 runs against England | Highest individual Test score |
| ODI Runs | 5,800 runs from 170 matches | Career total (retired March 2025) |
| ODI Centuries | 12 centuries at 43.28 average | Four consecutive centuries vs India 2014-15 |
| ODI Highest Score | 164 runs vs New Zealand | December 4, 2016 |
| Fastest to 10,000 Test Runs | 115 Tests (joint 2nd with Kumar Sangakkara) | January 29, 2025 |
| ICC Test Rating | 947 (all-time 2nd highest) | Behind Don Bradman’s 961 |
| Consecutive Tests Averaging 55+ | 78 consecutive Test matches | Unique record |
| Four Consecutive Test Centuries | vs India 2014-15 series | Historic achievement |
| BBL Centuries | 4 centuries (most all-time in BBL) | Career milestone |
| IPL Runs | 2,485 runs from 103 matches | With strike rate of 128.09 |
| World Cup Wins | 2015 ICC ODI World Cup, 2021 T20 World Cup, 2023 ODI World Cup | Three tournament victories |
| World Test Championship | 2021-23 ICC World Test Championship winner | Player and squad contributor |
| MLC Title | Washington Freedom champion 2024 | 88* in final as captain |
| Test Vice-Captain | Since November 2021 | Current leadership role |
| Former Captain | All three formats (2015-2017) | Relinquished after ball-tampering controversy |
FAQs
1. What is Steve Smith’s net worth in 2026?
Public estimates from cricket finance sites, business media and rich‑list style articles broadly put Steve Smith’s net worth between USD 32 and 35 million as of 2024–26, with one detailed 2026 breakdown stating it is “around USD 35 million.” These figures include his CA and franchise salaries, endorsements, real estate and his highly successful Koala investment. The exact number is not officially disclosed, but all credible sources place him firmly in the multi‑millionaire bracket.
2. Is Steve Smith still playing international cricket in 2026?
Yes, but not in every format. Smith retired from ODI cricket in March 2025 right after Australia’s Champions Trophy semi‑final loss to India, announcing that he was done with 50‑over internationals. However, he is still committed to Test cricket and remains available for T20Is, aiming for further World Test Championship success and potentially a T20 Olympic spot in 2028.
3. Who is Steve Smith’s wife and does he have any children?
Steve Smith’s wife is Dani Willis, a Sydney‑based lawyer and former commerce/law student from Macquarie University. They met around 2011, got engaged in New York in 2017 and married on 15 September 2018 at Bandooley Estate in New South Wales. As of late 2025 and early 2026, multiple reports confirm they do not have children yet, and the couple has not publicly announced any plans on that topic.
4. What is Steve Smith’s batting style and why is it considered unusual?
Smith bats right‑handed with a very distinctive technique: heavy initial movement across the crease, an exaggerated back‑lift, and a big movement over towards off stump before the ball is released. Coaches and analysts often point out that while it looks “wrong” by coaching‑manual standards, it perfectly suits his eye and balance. The technique lets him line up straight balls, dominate anything on his pads and manipulate lines from world‑class quicks. The proof is in the numbers: a Test average around the mid‑50s and long spells where he topped almost every modern batting metric.
5. How much has Steve Smith earned from the IPL?
Based on detailed salary tables from IPL contract trackers and cricket finance sites, Steve Smith’s total IPL salary earnings are around INR 50.2 crore across his career. His biggest paydays came with Rajasthan Royals (about INR 12.5 crore each in 2019 and 2020), plus earlier good‑value contracts with Rising Pune Supergiant and a smaller deal with Delhi Capitals in 2021. These figures cover salary only and do not include bonuses or off‑field deals.
6. What are Steve Smith’s main business and investment interests?
Smith is one of the more financially savvy cricketers of his generation. His most famous investment was in Koala, an Australian mattress and furniture start‑up, where he reportedly put in about AUD 100,000 in 2015 for a 10% stake, later valued around AUD 12 million as the company grew. He has also invested in other start‑ups like Snappr (a photography marketplace) and built a sizeable real‑estate portfolio with properties in several Sydney suburbs and Toowoomba, estimated collectively near AUD 10 million. In short, a substantial chunk of his fortune comes from off‑field investments, not just match fees.
7. Did the 2018 ball‑tampering scandal affect his money and sponsors long‑term?
In the short term, yes. After the 2018 Cape Town ball‑tampering incident, Smith was banned for 12 months and lost his Rajasthan Royals IPL contract and several sponsorships, including Weet‑Bix and Commonwealth Bank, while Cricket Australia also lost a major sponsor. He reportedly missed out on millions in that period. However, in the longer run he recovered strongly: New Balance stayed with him, Koala remained a big success, and by the mid‑2020s his net worth and endorsement portfolio were again among the strongest in Australian cricket.
8. What are Steve Smith’s biggest Test records?
The full list is long, but the standout Test achievements as of early 2026 are: over 10,700 Test runs, 37 Test centuries, an average around the mid‑50s and multiple double hundreds, including 239 against England. For a six‑year peak from 2014 to 2019 he averaged over 70 in Tests, with 24 centuries in 56 matches – a level only seriously compared with Don Bradman in modern analysis. He has also been particularly brutal in the Ashes and against India, stacking up centuries across home and away series.
9. Which teams does Steve Smith play for in domestic and franchise cricket now?
As of the 2024–25 and 2025–26 seasons, Smith’s main teams are: Australia (Tests and T20Is), New South Wales in domestic cricket, and Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League, with a three‑year BBL contract starting from BBL|14.
He has also been involved with Welsh Fire in The Hundred in England and has appeared for various T20 franchises across the world over the years, but IPL franchises have not picked him since 2021.
10. What is Steve Smith’s official Instagram and how active is he?
Steve Smith’s official Instagram handle is @steve_smith49. He is quite active there, posting a mix of cricket content (Ashes celebrations, training clips), life with Dani and their dog Bailey, travel shots, and branded or partner content linked to his endorsements and start‑ups. Big milestones – such as his ODI retirement note or major series wins – also tend to appear first or very quickly on that account.