Cristiano Ronaldo becomes a football billionaire: CR7 Empire

Surpassing a player, Cristiano Ronaldo became the first football billionaire in history and formed his own CR7 empire.

Billionaire Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo 's football career has been filled with glory . Now, he has conquered another peak off the field: becoming the first billionaire footballer in history.

During more than two decades playing for top European clubs such as MU, Real Madrid and Juventus, Ronaldo always knew how to take advantage of his reputation to sign lucrative commercial contracts with big brands.

Ronaldo becomes the first football billionaire in history. Photo: Instagram

It was at the tail end of his career that Ronaldo was propelled to the top of the rankings of the world's richest athletes, after signing a contract extension with Al-Nassr in the summer, said to be worth more than $400 million.

Following the deal, Ronaldo's fortune rose to $1.4 billion, according to Bloomberg's billionaires index – where he made his debut, becoming the first footballer to enter the rankings.

Throughout their careers, Ronaldo and Lionel Messi – his greatest rival – have often had similar salaries.

The turning point comes in 2023, when Ronaldo moves to Saudi Arabia and Messi moves to Inter Miami (USA). However, Messi is expected to receive shares in the American club after retiring, which could help him catch up with his rival.

Ronaldo made a surprise move to Al-Nassr , a little-known team in Riyadh, claiming he needed “a new challenge” after “winning everything in Europe” .

Although many doubted his sporting ambitions, the deal opened up one of the biggest deals in football history, and also brought the highest average salary in the world of sport.

Here, income is also tax-free, and his contract also includes shares in the club and the right to use a private jet.

Ronaldo's wealth manager, Miguel Marques (LMcapital Wealth Management, Lisbon), declined to comment on the exact figure, but according to Bloomberg, the valuation is based on his total income, investments and advertising contracts after adjusting for taxes and market profits.

From a poor childhood to financial greatness

Born in Madeira to a poor family, Ronaldo dropped out of school at the age of 14 to pursue football . Having just emerged at Sporting Lisbon, he moved to MU (2003), then Real Madrid (2009).

The hotel is owned by Ronaldo. Photo: PestanaCR7

The man who discovered him, Aurelio Pereira, recalled that Ronaldo was “skinny and shy, but talented like an alien” . Today, Madeira has an airport, a museum and a hotel named after CR7.

Ronaldo – named after former US President Ronald Reagan – earned more than $550 million in salary from 2002 to 2023, plus a 10-year Nike contract worth $18 million a year and deals with Armani, Castrol...

In total, the endorsements earned him more than $175 million. When he joined Al-Nassr, he received $200 million a year (tax-free), plus a $30 million signing fee.

Investment and life after football

Ronaldo entrusted his finances to Marques – a former Swiss banker. He invested mainly in Portugal, with close friends, and valued loyalty.

Notable projects include City of Padel, Lisboa Racket Center, CR7 hotel and gym chain, and CMTV – the very place where he threw a reporter's microphone into a lake in 2016.

Ronaldo also owns a large real estate portfolio: a villa in Madeira, a penthouse in Lisbon (record price/m²), and a 20 million euro mansion in Quinta da Marinha – where people flocked just to see his new home.

Ronaldo turns CR7 into an empire. Photo: UFL

He is now the world's most popular person on Instagram with more than 660 million followers, an advantage that Saudi Arabia uses to promote the country's image.

He regularly praises the safety and beauty of the place, posting photos by the Red Sea and claiming “Saudi Pro League is stronger than Ligue 1” .

Ronaldo's fortune differs from other sports billionaires like Roger Federer or Michael Jordan – whose wealth is mainly due to brand equity – because the majority of his wealth comes directly from salary and bonuses.

Despite being 40 years old, Ronaldo still plays at the top level and has said that he wants to retire at Al-Nassr, even dreaming of owning many football clubs. That dream has partly come true when he is said to own 15% of Al-Nassr shares.

CR7 redefines what it means to be an elite athlete in the 21st century: it's not just about playing on the pitch, it's about building an empire.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/cristiano-ronaldo-thanh-ty-phu-bong-da-de-che-cr7-2450668.html