Khaberni - The Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo has achieved an unprecedented achievement off the field, after becoming the first football player to enter the billionaires' club, driven by his contract with the Saudi club Al Nassr.
After more than 20 years of brilliance in the biggest European clubs, from Manchester United to Real Madrid and Juventus, Ronaldo has not stopped leveraging his stardom in huge endorsement deals with brands like "Nike" and "Armani".
But the real leap in his wealth came last June, when he signed an extension to his contract with Al Nassr worth more than $400 million, raising his net worth to $1.4 billion, according to the "Bloomberg Billionaires Index".
Competition with Messi
Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have long shared the top salaries in football, but 2023 saw a significant shift; while Ronaldo moved to Saudi Arabia, Messi chose to play in the American league with Inter Miami.
Although the Argentine star will get a share in the American club after he retires, his income in the last two years is less than what Ronaldo earns, who receives about $200 million annually, along with several other privileges, according to Bloomberg.
From poverty to a billion... an amazing journey of ascent
Ronaldo was born on the Portuguese island of Madeira, amidst difficult living conditions, and had to leave school at the age of fourteen to dedicate himself to football. After shining at Sporting Lisbon, he moved to Manchester United in 2003, then to Real Madrid in a record-breaking deal in 2009, starting a journey of huge contracts and record numbers.
Aurelio Pereira, his discoverer at Sporting, described him as an "alien" due to his extraordinary talent, and today airports, museums, and hotels in Madeira bear his name, reflecting his profound impact in his homeland.
Wealth from contracts, endorsements, and real estate
From 2002 to 2023, Ronaldo amassed more than $550 million in salaries, alongside an endorsement deal with "Nike" worth $18 million annually, and other deals with "Castrol" and "Armani" added $175 million to his wealth. He also received a signing bonus of $30 million when he moved to Al Nassr.
As for Messi, he has amassed more than $600 million before taxes, but he is still far from Ronaldo's wealth, despite owning a revenue-sharing agreement with "Apple".
Meanwhile, Ronaldo’s wealth is managed by his financial advisor Miguel Marquez, who works from a luxurious office in the heart of Lisbon. Ronaldo is known for his loyalty to his friends in his investments, participating in local projects such as the "City of Padel" club, and he acquired "Lisboa Racquet Center" in 2024, with the help of his friend Miguel Paishao dos Santos.
Despite owning a chain of hotels, gyms, and the "CR7" brand, these ventures are not the main source of his wealth.
Luxurious real estate... and tourist tours to see his house
Furthermore, Ronaldo owns luxurious properties, most notably a mansion in Madeira, and a penthouse in Lisbon that broke the record for the price per square meter, and he is currently finishing the construction of a luxury villa in the resort "Quinta da Marinha" near Lisbon, costing nearly 20 million euros.
The new house has sparked the curiosity of residents and tourists, who flock to the nearby golf course trying to see the mansion. Even the landowner, Miguel Champalimaud, had to stop unofficial tours that try to take pictures of the house.
And Cristiano is the most followed personality on Instagram globally, with more than 660 million followers.
Ronaldo's arrival in Saudi Arabia ignited fan enthusiasm, where the stands filled up in his first matches, and he quickly became the top scorer for Al Nassr.
While Ronaldo continues to defend the Saudi league, he said it is "better than the French league," praising the beauty and safety of the kingdom, and he regularly shares photos from his trips, especially on the shores of the Red Sea.
Wealth from salary.. not from investments
What distinguishes Ronaldo's wealth from other billionaire athletes is that the bulk of it comes from salaries, not from investments. For instance, tennis legend Roger Federer amassed his wealth from his stake in the sportswear company "On", while Michael Jordan built his financial empire from long-term endorsement deals with "Nike" and his stake in the "Charlotte Hornets" American team, although his salary as a player did not exceed $100 million.
As for Ronaldo, his wealth primarily depends on his sports income, making him a unique case among billionaire athletes.
As he ages, Ronaldo is nearing retirement, and he previously stated that he expects his career to end at Al Nassr. However, he does not intend to distance himself from football; instead, he dreams of owning several clubs, following in the footsteps of David Beckham, owner of Inter Miami.
But with the wealth he has accumulated, his options after retirement will be numerous and possibly more exciting than his career on the field.
