The First Billionaire Footballer: Cristiano Ronaldo Sets a New Record

Cristiano Ronaldo has made history in world football, becoming the first billionaire football player. According to Bloomberg.com/news/features/2025-10-08/cristiano-ronaldo-is-first-football-billionaire-after-saudi-al-nassr-deal?srnd=homepage-europe">Bloomberg, the 40-year-old Portuguese player's fortune reached $1.4 billion thanks to a new contract with Saudi club Al-Nassr.

How Ronaldo Outpaced Lionel Messi in Wealth

For much of their careers, Ronaldo and Lionel Messi earned roughly equivalent sums, competing not only for the title of the best player but also for the highest salaries. However, in 2023 their financial trajectories diverged sharply: Ronaldo moved to Saudi Arabia while Messi joined Inter Miami in MLS. In June, the Portuguese player extended his contract with Al-Nassr for over $400 million, catapulting him into the elite ranks of the world’s richest athletes.

Ronaldo surprised many with his move to a relatively unknown club in Riyadh, confidently stating that he was seeking new challenges after having "won everything" in Europe. 

What Bonuses Does Ronaldo Get at Al-Nassr FC?

Earnings in Saudi Arabia are tax-free, and the contract includes the following bonuses:

• a stake in the club's equity (reportedly 15% of Al-Nassr);
• access to a private jet;
• a signing bonus of $30 million;
• an annual salary and bonuses of around $200 million.

Ronaldo's Rise to Wealth

Ronaldo's financial rise looks particularly impressive against the backdrop of his upbringing. He grew up in poverty on the island of Madeira, dropping out of school at 14 to pursue football. Aureliano Pereira, who discovered Ronaldo for Sporting, recalls him as a shy, skinny boy whose extraordinary talent earned him the nickname "UFO." Now Madeira has an international airport named after Cristiano Ronaldo, a CR7 museum, and a Pestana CR7 hotel.

From 2002 to 2023, Ronaldo earned over $550 million in salaries from clubs like Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus. A ten-year contract with Nike brought him nearly $18 million annually, while deals with Armani and Castrol added over $175 million to his fortune. Since 2023, he has been earning around $200 million a year at Al-Nassr without tax deductions.

How Much Have Famous Footballers Earned?

Messi has earned over $600 million in his career before taxes, including a guaranteed annual salary of $20 million from 2023 and a revenue-sharing deal with Apple. However, the Argentine's guaranteed salary over the past two seasons is only a tenth of Ronaldo's earnings over the same period. Both players have benefitted from significant salary inflation, far surpassing the lifetime earnings of previous stars like David Beckham, who earned around $100 million before retiring in 2013.

Who Manages Cristiano Ronaldo's Wealth?

Ronaldo's wealth is managed by Miguel Marques of Lisbon's LMcapital Wealth Management, whose firm has accumulated €1.4 billion in assets under management since 2018. The Portuguese primarily invests in his home country, assessing businesses alongside a close circle of friends and advisors. His business portfolio includes the CR7 brand, a hotel chain, gyms, and a media group, though these are not his main sources of wealth.

Ronaldo has also assembled a significant real estate portfolio, including a mansion in Madeira and a penthouse in Lisbon that broke records for price per square meter in the capital. He is currently finishing the construction of a mansion in Quinta da Marinha, a luxury golf resort near Lisbon, worth about €20 million.

Ronaldo is one of the oldest professional players in the game and has stated that he plans to end his career at Al-Nassr. His dream is to own several football clubs, following in Beckham's footsteps as a co-owner of Inter Miami. Part of this dream has already come true: reportedly, Ronaldo received 15% of Al-Nassr shares as part of his contract extension.

Earlier, we reported that Cristiano Ronaldo gave his beloved a ring worth $5 million.