Cristiano Ronaldo becomes football’s first billionaire – Bloomberg

The Portuguese star’s wealth rose sharply after he signed a new $400 million deal in Saudi Arabia, the agency has said

Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo has become the first footballer to join the ranks of billionaires, according to Bloomberg’s calculations.

The agency reported on Wednesday that the 40-year-old athlete has made it into the Bloomberg Billionaires Index after his net worth climbed to $1.4 billion.

Ronaldo’s wealth rose dramatically after he signed a new two-year contract with Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr, reportedly worth more than $400 million, it said.

Over his career, the Portuguese star has played for some of Europe’s top clubs – including Manchester United and Real Madrid – winning the UEFA Champions League five times along with dozens of other titles. He has also received the Ballon d’Or, awarded to the world’s best footballer, on five occasions.

Ronaldo's unexpected move to Al-Nassr in 2023 earned him around $200 million annually and allowed him to overtake his longtime rival, Argentina’s Lionel Messi, in earnings.

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Besides his football salary, Ronaldo – nicknamed CR7 – derives much of his wealth from lucrative endorsement deals with brands such as Nike and Armani, Bloomberg noted. The outlet added that he also owns an extensive real-estate portfolio.

In late August, Forbes reported that retired Swiss tennis star Roger Federer had become the seventh athlete in history to surpass the billion-dollar mark, joining basketball players Michael Jordan and LeBron James, golfer Tiger Woods, boxing champ Floyd Mayweather, and others.