Cristiano Ronaldo has made football history by becoming the sport’s first ever billionaire player, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
The 40-year-old Portuguese star reached the milestone after signing a new two-year contract with Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr earlier this year. The deal is reportedly worth more than $400 million in tax-free earnings.
Ronaldo, who has played for Real Madrid, Manchester United, and Juventus, already earned a record salary of around $200 million a year when he joined Al Nassr in 2023.
Bloomberg now estimates his total net worth at $1.4 billion.
His fortune doesn’t just come from football. Ronaldo has a $18 million-a-year deal with Nike and sponsorships with brands like Armani and Castrol, adding about $175 million to his wealth. He also owns several properties and invests in businesses across Europe.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner now joins Michael Jordan and Roger Federer as one of the few billionaire athletes in the world.
As his playing career nears its end, Ronaldo has hinted at a new dream — owning football clubs. “If I can be a club owner, why would I be a manager or CEO? I hope to own several clubs one day,” he told Portugal’s Canal 11.
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