Following a new contract, Cristiano Ronaldo is officially a billionaire now, with his estimated net worth now crossing the billion-dollar mark. Moreover, the 40-year-old sports icon has reportedly become the first footballer to achieve this incredible feat.
Cristiano is reportedly the first billionaire footballer
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has now become the first billionaire footballer worldwide, with his net worth standing at $1.4 billion.
According to a report by the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Cristiano Ronaldo was able to achieve this after he signed an exclusive contract in June with Saudi Arabian club team Al Nassr. The deal was reportedly worth a staggering $400 million.
The soccer star moved from Manchester United to Al Nassr in 2023 and earned a mammoth annual salary of $358 million, coupled with bonuses and a 15 percent stake in Al Nassr. This made him the highest-paid player in football history.
Additionally, Bloomberg detailed that Ronaldo has earned more than $550 million in salary between 2002 and 2023. This lucrative pay package includes a decade-long deal with Nike, priced at nearly $18 million annually.
The Portuguese footballer is an advertiser’s favorite and endorses brands like Armani, TAG Heuer, Castrol, Herbalife, Clear, and American Tourister. These brands have added nearly $175 million to his wealth.
With this achievement, Cristiano Ronaldo now joins great athletes like Lakers legend LeBron James, Tiger Woods, Roger Federer, Michael Jordan, and Magic Johnson in the billionaire athletes club.
Meanwhile, in a recent interview with Canal 11, the soccer legend confirmed he had no plans of retiring anytime soon. “People, especially my family, say: ‘It’s time for you to stop. You’ve done everything. Why do you want to score a thousand goals?’ But I don’t think so. I think I’m still producing good things, I’m helping my club and the national team, and why not keep going?” he quipped. (translation via ESPN)
Furthermore, Cristiano Ronaldo confessed his desire to make the most of the few more years of playing he has left. His home country, Portugal, will be hosting Ireland in Saturday’s World Cup qualifier.
Notably, the celebrated athlete has not commented on his newfound billionaire status at the time of this writing.
