Cristiano Ronaldo has officially become the first footballer to reach billionaire status, according to a valuation by the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
The financial analysis estimates the net worth of the 40-year-old Portugal and Al-Nassr striker at $1.4 billion (£1.04bn), taking into account his massive career earnings, investments, and endorsements.
Key Financials
- Career Salary: Over $550 million (£410m) earned in salary between 2002 and 2023.
- Endorsements: Includes a decade-long Nike deal worth almost $18 million (£13.4m) annually.
- Al-Nassr Contracts: His 2022 move to the Saudi Pro League made him the best-paid player globally, and a new deal will keep him at the club past his 42nd birthday, reportedly worth over $400 million (£298m).
Ronaldo’s longtime rival, Lionel Messi, has earned more than $600 million (£447m) in pre-tax salary.
His current guaranteed annual pay at Inter Miami since 2023 is $20 million (£15m), about one-tenth of Ronaldo’s income during the same period. Messi is set to receive a stake in Inter Miami upon his retirement.
Ronaldo joins an elite global group of athletes who have achieved the ten-figure financial milestone.