Cristiano Ronaldo has officially become football’s first billionaire, according to financial information and media firm Bloomberg.
[Bloomberg reports] that the 40-year-old Al-Nassr and Portugal striker has been valued at $1.4bn (£1.04bn) in the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, which tracks the world’s richest people.
– ADEVERTISEMENT –
The valuation includes his career earnings, investments, and endorsements. Bloomberg says Ronaldo earned more than $550m (£410m) in salary between 2002 and 2023, alongside major sponsorships like a decade-long Nike deal worth around $18m (£13.4m) per year.
When he joined Al-Nassr in 2022, Ronaldo reportedly became the highest-paid player in football history with a £177m annual salary.
He has since signed a new two-year deal, said to be worth more than $400m (£298m), extending his stay beyond his 42nd birthday.
– ADEVERTISEMENT –
[Bloomberg adds] that Lionel Messi has earned over $600m (£447m) in pre-tax salary during his career, including a $20m (£15m) annual deal since 2023 — about 10% of Ronaldo’s income over the same period.
Messi, now 38, is set to receive a stake in Inter Miami upon retirement.