Cristiano Ronaldo Joins the Billionaire Club with a Wealth of $1.4 Billion

SadaNews - The Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo has made history once again, but this time off the pitch, as he became the first football player in the world to reach a net worth of one billion dollars, according to Bloomberg's billionaire index, which estimated his net worth at $1.4 billion.

Over more than two decades of success at major European clubs like Real Madrid, Manchester United, and Juventus, the 40-year-old Ronaldo has amassed his fortune through a combination of massive sports contracts and lucrative business and advertising ventures.

Ronaldo began his professional career at an early age with Sporting Lisbon before moving to Manchester United in 2003, where he quickly rose to stardom thanks to his exceptional individual skills and goal-scoring ability.

In 2009 he joined Real Madrid in a then-record deal worth €94 million, starting a golden era in which he won four Champions League titles and numerous individual accolades, including five Ballon d'Or awards as the best player in the world.

Throughout his career, Ronaldo realized that stardom is not limited to the pitch, therefore he invested in building a massive personal brand known as CR7, which includes clothing lines, fragrances, and hotels, along with significant advertising deals with global brands like Armani and Nike, providing him with revenues exceeding hundreds of millions of dollars.

Although most of his wealth accumulated during his European career, his most significant financial leap came in recent years after his move to Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia in 2022. In June 2025, he signed a new contract extension valued at over $400 million, making him one of the highest-paid athletes in the world.

Bloomberg stated that this deal was the decisive factor in Ronaldo's entry into the club of sporting billionaires, placing him among legends like Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods in terms of personal wealth.

In addition to his sports achievements, Ronaldo is known for his ability to turn his popularity into an economic power, as he has the largest fan base among athletes on social media, enhancing his marketing value and ensuring his income continues even after retirement.