CR7 becomes football’s first billionaire: fortune at $1.4bn, Bloomberg | OneFootball

The Bloomberg Billionaires Index, the daily ranking that tracks the wealth of the world’s richest people, confirms it.

Al-Nassr, CR7 is the world’s first billionaire footballer: $1.4 billion net worth according to Bloomberg

According to the most recent estimates, the Portuguese ace—currently starring at Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia—boasts a net worth of $1.4 billion. The news, reported by the Telegraph, marks a new milestone not only in Ronaldo’s career but also in the economic history of world football.

Over $550 million in salaries and record-breaking contracts

Bloomberg calculates that between 2002 and 2023, Ronaldo earned over $550 million in salaries alone, across Sporting Lisbon, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, and Al-Nassr.

To these figures are added multimillion-dollar endorsement deals:

a ten-year contract with Nike, worth about $18 million per year;

partnerships with international brands such as Armani, Castrol, Clear, and Herbalife;

bonuses and image rights that, altogether, have added over $175 million to his net worth.

With his arrival in the Saudi Pro League in 2023, Ronaldo signed a contract worth about $200 million per year, including a tax-free salary, bonuses, and additional benefits, such as a $30 million signing bonus and a 15% stake in the Al-Nassr club.

Messi earns a tenth of Ronaldo: Bloomberg’s data

The comparison with Lionel Messi is clear. According to Bloomberg, the Argentine—now at Inter Miami—has accumulated about $600 million gross in salary over his career, $20 million of which comes from his current MLS contract.

“Messi’s guaranteed salary amounts to about a tenth of Ronaldo’s income over the same period,” writes Bloomberg, highlighting the economic gap between the two superstars.

Both, however, have benefited from exponential salary growth compared to the previous generation. For comparison, David Beckham—who retired in 2013—had earned about $100 million total in his career.

Ronaldo, a billionaire on the field: the difference compared to Federer and Jordan

What makes Cristiano Ronaldo’s fortune unique is the composition of his wealth. Unlike other billionaire athletes like Roger Federer or Michael Jordan, the Portuguese star’s wealth comes mainly from sports salaries, not from investments or company shares.

Bloomberg explains:

“Federer’s wealth is tied to a stake in the brand On Holdings AG. Jordan, on the other hand, built his fortune with Nike and his stake in the Charlotte Hornets.”

In Ronaldo’s case, however, the accumulated value comes almost entirely from contracts signed during his career, a testament to his sporting and commercial longevity.

Messi on the chase: the Inter Miami stake as a future lever

Despite the current gap, Bloomberg believes Lionel Messi could catch up to Ronaldo in the coming years. His contract with Inter Miami, in fact, includes a future equity stake in the club upon retirement, as well as bonuses tied to partnerships with Apple and Adidas.

A prospect that could also make the Argentine one of the very few billionaire athletes in history.

A historic milestone for football and the modern era of sport

The milestone reached by Cristiano Ronaldo is not just a financial curiosity, but represents the symbol of the economic evolution of global football. With a salary and personal brand that continue to grow, CR7 becomes the emblem of the 21st-century athlete-entrepreneur, capable of combining sporting success, marketing, and strategic investments.

A record that definitively cements his name not only among the greatest footballers of all time, but also among the richest and most influential men in world sport.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.