Cristiano Ronaldo becomes football’s first billionaire after lucrative Al Nassr deal

Bloomberg analysis says the Portuguese forward’s Saudi contract and commercial earnings push his net worth beyond £1 billion.

Cristiano Ronaldo has become the first footballer to reach billionaire status, according to an analysis by Bloomberg. The 40-year-old’s contract with Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr — reported to be worth around $400 million — helps place his estimated net worth at roughly $1.4 billion (about £1.04 billion).

Ronaldo has long been regarded as one of football’s shrewdest businessmen. While other sporting icons such as Roger Federer and Michael Jordan reached billionaire status largely through off-field ventures, Ronaldo’s decision to join Al Nassr has been pivotal to his ascent.

He left Manchester United for a second time at the end of 2022 to join Al Nassr, a club that was little known outside Saudi Arabia at the time. Within six months, the Saudi Pro League experienced an extraordinary influx of talent, including then-Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema — a movement many observers trace back to Ronaldo’s arrival. Bloomberg’s analysis suggests Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund shares that view.

Reports state that his initial Al Nassr contract was worth an estimated £150 million a year and included a signing-on fee of around £22 million, making him one of the highest-paid athletes globally. The deal is reportedly tax-free and includes access to a private jet, keeping his net income at exceptionally high levels.

Bloomberg also estimates that, between his professional debut at Sporting in 2002 and his last appearance in Europe in 2022, Ronaldo earned approximately $550 million (£409 million) in wages during spells at Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus.

Business interests and commercial portfolio

Ronaldo’s commercial income is substantial. Bloomberg credits Miguel Marques of Lisbon-based LMcapital Wealth Management as a key figure in managing the player’s wealth. A reported ten-year deal with Nike is estimated at about £13 million and contributes to a wider portfolio said to generate roughly £130 million annually. Other commercial partners include Castrol and Armani.

Off the pitch, Ronaldo invests in a range of Portuguese businesses — from ceramics and padel clubs to hotels, gyms and a hair restoration firm — although these ventures are not considered the primary drivers of his overall wealth.

Despite his financial success, Ronaldo remains vocally proud of playing for Portugal. Accepting the Globo Prestígio award at the Portugal Football Globes gala, he said:

“I often say: if I could, I would play football only for the national team; I wouldn't play for any other club because it's the culmination and the peak of a football player.
That's why I'm still here. I want to thank everyone who's here. So many generations have passed through the national team. I see so many former players here who were my teammates, and seeing them, I say: ‘I'm still here.’
I know you're probably tired of seeing me here, at these ceremonies. But I think I still have a lot to contribute to the national team and to football.
I want to keep playing for a few years, not many, I have to be honest. I want to thank all my teammates, for having learned from all of them — and even from this younger generation as well. For me, it's a privilege to be with you.
Our goal is to win the next two games and be in the World Cup. The World Cup will come soon. We have to think solely and exclusively about the present, but with our thoughts ahead. It would be a dream. But step by step.”