According to the financial information and media company Bloomberg, Cristiano Ronaldo has become the first football player to reach billionaire status.
The Bloomberg Billionaires Index, external which monitors the wealth of the world’s richest individuals, has recorded the net worth of the 40-year-old Portugal and Al-Nassr striker for the first time.
Ronaldo’s net worth is estimated at $1.4 billion (£1.04 billion) based on an assessment of his career earnings, investments, and endorsements.
According to the information, he made over $550 million (£410 million) in salary from 2002 to 2023. It details his reported earnings from deals and sponsorships, including a ten-year agreement with Nike valued at nearly $18 million (£13.4 million) annually.
Upon Ronaldo’s 2022 transfer to Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, it was reported that he became the highest-paid player in football history, earning £177m per year.
Although his contract was set to expire in June 2025, he agreed to a new two-year deal allegedly valued at over $400 million (£298 million) which will extend his stay at the club past his 42nd birthday.
According to Bloomberg, Lionel Messi, the forward for Argentina and Inter Miami who faced off against Ronaldo during their years in Spain, has accumulated over $600 million (£447 million) in pre-tax earnings throughout his career.
This comprises $20m (£15m) in guaranteed annual earnings since 2023, which constitutes roughly 10% of Ronaldo’s income for that period.
Messi, who is 38 years old, will acquire a stake in Inter Miami upon his retirement.
