How Cristiano Ronaldo Became A Billionaire

The 41-year-old superstar has earned more during his playing career than any other athlete in history and now enters the World Cup as the newest member of the three-comma club, alongside his longtime rival Lionel Messi.Heading into the 2022 World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo’s storied career suddenly seemed uncertain. Benched by Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag and facing questions about his advancing age, the Portuguese superstar forward said in a bombshell interview with Piers Morgan that November that he felt “betrayed” by the club. Days after the interview aired and just as the World Cup was kicking off in Qatar, Ronaldo and Manchester United mutually agreed to terminate his contract.

While Ronaldo is still seeking his first World Cup trophy as he makes his record-setting sixth appearance in the tournament this summer at age 41, his unemployment was short-lived, and his abrupt divorce with the Premier League was a blessing in disguise for his bank account. The contract he ended up signing with Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr in January 2023—and renewed for another two years in 2025—is believed to pay him more than $200 million annually, a jaw-dropping figure even for a player who was already raking in $60 million or more on the field each year in England, according to Forbes estimates.

Now, factoring in endorsements and other business endeavors as well as his playing salary and performance bonuses, Ronaldo is the first athlete ever to cross $2 billion in career earnings while still active in his sport (before taxes and agent fees and without adjusting for inflation). He is also now a billionaire, with a net worth Forbes estimates at $1.2 billion.