Rishab Shetty, with the power of his storytelling took over the entire film industry in 2022 and 2025 with his blockbuster movies which became the second-highest-grossing Kannada film of all time, bringing him national recognition and major financial success. His name is currently listed among the Top 5 highest-paid Kannada actors.
But, did you know that this pan-India actor once worked as a driver at a production house in Mumbai, eating vada pav on the roadside? Coming from a small village, Keradi, in coastal Karnataka, with zero connections in the huge industry, Rishab’s success story reads like a folktale of its own. So, what is his worth right now? Scroll down to know the breakdown of how rich Kantara’s star is.
Rishab Shetty’s Net Worth
Stepping into the mainstream spotlight, Rishab’s new worth isn’t just in crores but in cultural capital. According to trusted sources, his current net worth is estimated to be around Rs 12 crore to Rs 18 crore. Rishab’s income is not totally dependent on just movies but his major income portions come from multiple creative and business streams.
- Rishab being an all rounder, earns from all three roles- actor, writer and director. Besides Kantara, he receives royalties and payments from directing films like Ricky, Kirk Party, and Sarkari.
- Rishab owns ‘Rishab Shetty Fims’, a banner through which he earns backend profits from every successful release.
- Income from producer credits, OTT rights, office profit shares and regional distribution.
- He has become a major face of Karnataka cinema which brings in luxury brand endorsements and event appearance income. Each of which earns him between 25-50 lakh.
Rise in Net Worth after the ‘Kantara Success’
Rishab Shetty struggled a lot in his initial stage. He used to work for odd jobs as a driver and auto-rikshaw driver. He has spoken about it in several interviews that he used to earn Rs. 300 per day.
Side by side, he was active in Yakshagana (traditional theatre form) and came forward as a supporting actor in films like Thuglak (2012) and Attahasa (2013). He directed his first movie Ricky (2016) which gained him some recognition as a director but his major breakthrough came with Krik Party (2016) which became a superhit, grossing over Rs. 50 crore. Several reports suggest that his net worth before kantara was around Rs 3-8 crore.
The financial success of Kantara and its sequel/prequel has led to a remarkable increase in Shetty’s net worth.
Kantara(2022) became one of the highest-grossing Kannada films, collecting over Rs 400 crore worldwide. Several sources suggest that he earned around Rs. 4 crore for this movie in 2022 as an actor/writer and director.
After the success, his fees increased to a great height and he reportedly charged up to Rs 100 crore for Kantara: Chapter 1.
Kantara: Chapter 1(2025) crossed 500 crore in its first week and in 40 days it crossed the mark of 618.5 crore in India itself. It was sold to Amazon Prime video for around Rs 35 crore – 40 crore.
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Lifestyle and luxury collections
Rishab rose from bare wheels to billion dreams in the past 3-4 years. Today, after Kantara’s thunderous success he is living a life mixed with luxury and simplicity. From steering someone else’s car to owning a luxury collection, here is a list of his real estate expenses.
- He owns a massive house in Kundapura, Karnataka which is worth Rs 12 crore. The house is designed with red-tiled roofing, an open courtyard and a temple corner.
- He owns plots of agricultural land near Kundapura and Udupi worth 3-5 crore.
- Rishab has an impressive luxury car collection, including an Audi Q7 – Rs 83 lakh, a Toyota Fortuner – Rs 45 lakh, and a Mahindra Thar – Rs 20 lakh.
- Rishab is popular for his flashy accessories and owns a few pieces of gold gifted during ceremonies.
Even after achieving the stardom and immense fame wealth, Rishab stands as a down-to-earth superstar. He continues to travel in local cars and prefers local food over fine dining. That’s why he is adored and loved by the audience across India. His journey is a perfect reminder of fame built on faith, talent and humility.
Rishab is currently busy shooting for a lead role in Prasanth Varma’s ‘Jai Hanuman’. The movie is built around mythological themes and is scheduled for release in 2026. He is also working on major projects like ‘The Pride of Bharat: Chhatrapati Shivaji’ which set to release in 2027, directed by Sandeep Singh.
Written by: Supriya