Cristiano Ronaldo has officially become the first footballer to attain billionaire status after the Bloomberg Billionaires Index valued his net worth at $1.4 billion.
The milestone confirms Ronaldo's position among the world's richest athletes and marks another historic achievement in a career already defined by records and longevity.
The 40-year-old forward, who plays for Al-Nassr FC in Saudi Arabia, has spent more than two decades at Europe's elite clubs including Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus.
Over that period, he has combined on-field earnings with a consistent flow of endorsement and brand income from global companies such as Nike, Armani, and Castrol, along with commercial ventures under his personal CR7 brand.
Ronaldo's latest contract extension with Al-Nassr, signed in June 2025, is reportedly worth more than $400 million, making it one of the largest player deals in professional sports.
His annual compensation is estimated at around $200 million, paid tax-free under Saudi Arabia's financial system.
The agreement is believed to include equity participation in the club and lifestyle benefits such as private jet access.
The Bloomberg valuation, which ranks individual wealth based on career earnings, investments, endorsement income, and asset performance, identifies Ronaldo as the first footballer to surpass the billion-dollar threshold.
His inclusion underscores the transformation of modern sport into a global entertainment and commercial industry capable of generating lifetime fortunes comparable to corporate founders and technology executives.
Ronaldo's rise has been remarkable given his modest beginnings on the island of Madeira, where he grew up in a low-income household before leaving school at 14 to pursue professional football.
His move from Sporting Lisbon to Manchester United in 2003 and later to Real Madrid in 2009 established him as one of the game's most marketable figures, earning more than $550 million in salary between 2002 and 2023.
Long-term partnerships with Nike and other brands added more than $175 million to his income over the same period.
Beyond football, Ronaldo has invested heavily in real estate and hospitality. His holdings include the CR7 Hotels in partnership with the Pestana Group, fitness centres, and residential properties in Lisbon, Madeira, and Quinta da Marinha.
His Lisbon penthouse once set a record for the city's highest price per square metre, while his ongoing estate development near the Oitavos Dunes Golf Course has drawn global attention.
Ronaldo manages his assets primarily through LMcapital Wealth Management, a Lisbon-based firm founded by former Swiss banker Miguel Marques.
The firm oversees approximately €1.4 billion in assets and advises Ronaldo on domestic and international investments.
Comparisons between Ronaldo and long-time rival Lionel Messi continue, yet Bloomberg's analysis shows their financial trajectories diverged sharply after 2023.
Messi joined Inter Miami in Major League Soccer with a package involving Apple TV revenue sharing and a future equity stake, while Ronaldo's Saudi move multiplied his annual income several times over.
Ronaldo's fortune remains distinct among billionaire athletes for being largely salary-driven, unlike peers such as Roger Federer or Michael Jordan, whose fortunes are rooted in equity holdings and post-career brand ventures.
With more than 660 million followers on Instagram, Ronaldo remains the world's most-followed individual on social media, giving him unrivalled global marketing reach.
His presence has also elevated Saudi Arabia's sporting ambitions, helping the kingdom promote the Saudi Pro League as part of its broader Vision 2030 strategy to diversify its economy through entertainment and tourism.
Now in the twilight of his career, Ronaldo has indicated plans to retire at Al-Nassr and later invest in club ownership, following in the footsteps of David Beckham.
Having already secured a reported 15 percent stake in Al-Nassr as part of his current deal, Ronaldo's transition from player to investor appears well underway.
Cristiano Ronaldo's journey from a small island in the Atlantic to global superstardom and billionaire status represents not only personal triumph but also the changing economics of sport, where global talent, branding, and digital influence now intersect to create unprecedented wealth.