Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo is now the world’s first billionaire football player in the sport. According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, his net worth is $1.4 billion.
Multiple factors have contributed to the surge in net worth for the professional footballer, including lucrative contracts with Real Madrid, Manchester United, Juventus, and now Al Nassr F.C. in Saudi Arabia, a club for which he has been playing for close to 3 years. He plays an ambassador role for the country as part of the country’s efforts to broaden its international outlook and economy through Saudi Vision 2030.
A substantial portion of his income comes from other sources due to his partnerships with brands such as Nike and Armani. His Instagram account, which boasts over 600 million followers, has been used to promote products, which also earns him a sizeable income. He is also in a multi-year partnership with cryptocurrency exchange Binance.
Ronaldo’s professional journey as a footballer began in 2002 when he started playing for Sporting CP in Lisbon at the age of 17. His accolades in football include 5 Ballon d’Ors, 4 European Golden Shoes, and more than 900 goals scored in his career.