Portuguese football legend Cristiano Ronaldo has officially entered the billionaire club, the first player in history to do so.
According to the latest Bloomberg Billionaires Index, the 40-year-old Al-Nassr forward boasts an estimated net worth of $1.4 billion (£1.04bn), driven by a mix of record-breaking salaries, sponsorships, and savvy investments.
Bloomberg estimates Ronaldo has pocketed over $550 million (£410m) in salaries since his professional debut in 2002, alongside lucrative endorsement deals — including a decade-long partnership with Nike worth nearly $18 million (£13.4m) per year.
Ronaldo shattered pay records in 2022 after joining Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr, where his £177 million annual salary made him the highest-paid player in football history. His latest two-year contract extension, reportedly exceeding $400 million (£298m), will keep him at the club beyond his 42nd birthday.
By comparison, rival Lionel Messi of Inter Miami has earned more than $600 million (£447m) in pre-tax salaries throughout his career with a guaranteed annual pay of $20 million (£15m) since 2023, roughly a tenth of Ronaldo’s recent earnings.
Ronaldo’s billionaire milestone cements his legacy not just on the pitch, but as one of the most commercially successful athletes of all time.
