Cristiano Ronaldo is soccer’s first-ever billionaire: He went from begging for burgers outside McDonald’s to landing a $400 million contract

Cristiano Ronaldo has long been one of soccer’s (or football’s) greatest goal-scorers, dazzling millions of fans at top European clubs including Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus—as well as the all-time top scorer for the Portuguese national team. But he also recently reached another milestone: becoming the sport’s first-ever billionaire. Fueled by lucrative endorsements, savvy investments, and a record-breaking salary, Ronaldo’s net worth has topped $1.4 billion, according Bloomberg‘s October 2025 calculation. His latest contract renewal with Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr is reportedly worth more than $400 million alone—all tax-free. But Ronaldo’s current life of extreme wealth and fame is a far cry from his humble beginnings. He has spoken openly about living in poverty, while growing up on the island of Madeira, Portugal. “When I was a kid, 11 or 12 years old, we didn’t have money,” he recalled to ITV in 2019. As the youngest of four with a father with alcoholism, his family struggled so much financially that his mother wanted to abort him. He and his siblings would often wait outside a local McDonald’s late at night, hoping the workers might sneak them leftover Big Macs. The 41-year-old said he’ll never forget those moments—even decades after waiting hungry outside a fast-food restaurant, now sitting atop his billion-dollar global empire. Ronaldo’s big-name endorsements: $18 million a year just from Nike Off the pitch, Ronaldo’s global recognition has made him one of the most marketable athletes in history. With more than 669 million Instagram followers—the most of any person on the platform—brands are lining up to partner with him. Ronaldo reportedly earns nearly $18 million each year from a decade-long deal with Nike, while other endorsement campaigns with companies like Armani and Castrol have added more than $175 million to his net worth, according to Bloomberg. Major brands like Binance, Tag Heuer, Samsung, Unilever, and Lou