RIYADH: Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo has become football’s first billionaire player, according to figures released Wednesday in the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
The 40-year-old Al-Nassr striker has been added to Bloomberg’s list of the world’s richest people, with an estimated net worth of $1.4 billion.
The valuation includes his career earnings, endorsements, and investments.
Bloomberg reported that Ronaldo earned more than $550 million in salary between 2002 and 2023, alongside lucrative sponsorships, including his decade-long deal with Nike, worth almost $18 million annually.
Ronaldo joined Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr in 2022, reportedly becoming the highest-paid footballer in history. His contract, originally set to expire in June 2025, was recently extended by two years in a deal reportedly worth more than $400 million, which will keep him at the Riyadh club beyond his 42nd birthday.
