Cristiano Ronaldo Becomes Football's First Billionaire

Cristiano Ronaldo has officially become the first footballer in history to reach billionaire status. According to Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index, his accumulated wealth from his career, investments, and endorsements now tops $1.4 billion, marking a groundbreaking milestone in the world of sport.

Central to this feat is his contract with Al Nassr. After signing a new deal worth over $400 million, Ronaldo locked in his place in Saudi Arabia while securing the financial boost that pushed him past the billion-dollar mark.  

From earlier in his career, he earned over $550 million in salary between 2002 and 2023 during stints at Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, and elsewhere. 

His wealth isn’t solely from playing contracts. Ronaldo’s business acumen and endorsements have also played major roles. He holds a long-standing partnership with Nike, reportedly earning nearly $18 million annually from that deal alone.  

Beyond sportswear, he invests and lends his image across sectors, while also monetizing his massive social media presence and digital platforms. 

At age 40, this landmark comes as a testament not only to his longevity on the field but also to his off-field strategy. Ronaldo’s leap to billionaire status sets a new benchmark for footballers and raises the bar for how athletes can integrate sport and business at the highest level.

As the first footballer ever to breach the “billion-dollar athlete” threshold, Cristiano Ronaldo has redefined what’s possible within the sport’s financial landscape—and left even his fiercest rivals chasing the legacy he continues to build.