Cristiano Ronaldo has made history by becoming the first footballer to achieve billionaire status, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. The milestone is largely attributed to his lucrative contract with Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr earlier this year.
Although Ronaldo, formerly of Real Madrid, Manchester United, and Juventus, is in the final stages of his playing career, it is his current tenure at Al Nassr that has propelled him onto the exclusive list of billionaire athletes.
After joining the Saudi Pro League in January 2023, Ronaldo became the highest-paid footballer in history, with an annual salary reported at around US$200 million by Saudi state media. In June 2025, the 40-year-old signed a new two-year contract with the club, reportedly bringing his tax-free earnings to more than US$400 million.
That contract has increased Ronaldo’s net worth to approximately US$1.4 billion, according to Bloomberg.
Ronaldo’s playing salary is not the only contributor to his wealth. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has a decade-long contract with Nike worth nearly US$18 million annually. Additional sponsorships with brands including Armani and Castrol have added more than US$175 million to his net worth, Bloomberg reports.
The footballer has also built a global real estate portfolio and invested in businesses across several countries, including Portugal and Spain.
Ronaldo now joins a select group of billionaire athletes, alongside basketball legend Michael Jordan and former tennis star Roger Federer. Federer achieved billionaire status primarily through a stake in Swiss sportswear brand On, while Jordan amassed much of his fortune through Nike sponsorship deals and by owning a majority stake in the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets until 2023.
As he nears retirement, Ronaldo has expressed ambitions to own a football club. In an interview with Portuguese TV channel Channel 11 earlier this year, he said:
“If I can be a club owner, why would I be a manager, sporting director or CEO? That is a dream of mine and I am sure I’ll be a club owner. And I’ll tell you more: I hope to have not just one club, but several clubs.”