Cristiano Ronaldo has become the first footballer to achieve billionaire status, according to the latest Bloomberg Billionaires Index, which estimates the Portugal star's net worth at $1.4 billion.
The 40-year-old striker's financial milestone follows his move to Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr in 2023, where he signed a contract reportedly worth more than $400 million. Bloomberg reports that Ronaldo earned over $550 million in salary between 2002 and 2023, supplemented by a decade-long Nike deal worth nearly $18 million annually and endorsements with brands such as Armani and Castrol, adding more than $175 million.
Ronaldo's move from Manchester United to Al-Nassr made him the highest-paid player in football history, with an annual salary of £177 million ($358 million), plus bonuses and a reported 15% share in the club. His billionaire status places him among a select group of athletes including Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Tiger Woods and Roger Federer.
Argentina and Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi has earned more than $600 million in pre-tax salary during his career, though he has not yet reached the billionaire mark according to the index.
At the Portugal Football Globes gala on Tuesday, Ronaldo suggested he is not considering retirement, stating: “I still have a passion for this. I’m still producing good things, I’m helping my club and the national team. Why not continue? I am sure that when I finish I will leave full because I gave everything of myself.”
