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What is Cristiano Ronaldo's net worth?
Cristiano Ronaldo is football’s first billionaire. We take a look at his illustrious sporting career, his legacy beyond the sport, and when he could retire.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s net worth and goal tally have one thing in common – they’re both incredibly high.
According to Forbes, Ronaldo’s net worth is $1.2 billion, making him the world’s highest-paid athlete and the first sports star to surpass $2 billion in career earnings while still playing.
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Widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers ever to lace up a pair of boots, Ronaldo’s skills have cemented his status as a global icon whose influence stretches far beyond the sport.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s net worth
(Image credit: James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)
Cristiano Ronaldo’s football career is up there with the game’s greatest. Born in Madeira, Portugal, on 5 February 1985, he started playing football from a young age and quickly caught the eye of scouts from Europe’s biggest clubs.
In 2003, Ronaldo joined Manchester United for £12 million, which was a record transfer fee for a teenager at the time. Over the following seasons, he helped the Red Devils win three consecutive Premier League titles and a Champions League trophy, among many more. In 2008, he lifted his first Ballon d'Or, with another four between 2013 and 2017.
In 2009, he secured a dream move to Real Madrid, who paid £80 million for the player. During nine extraordinary seasons in Spain, Ronaldo led Los Blancos to multiple league titles and four Champions League triumphs, while becoming the club’s all-time leading goalscorer.
Ronaldo returned to Manchester United in 2021, but his second stint was short-lived. In December 2022, he signed for Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr on a deal reportedly worth £177 million a year, including commercial agreements, making it the most lucrative contract ever awarded to a footballer.
His arrival paved the way for other big names in the sport, including Brazil’s Neymar, to head to the Saudi Pro League.
In June 2025, Ronaldo put an end to speculation over his future by signing a new contract with Al-Nassr until June 2027, meaning he’ll still be playing professionally at 42 if he sees out the deal. Forbes estimates he now earns more than $200 million annually.
Cristiano Ronaldo's business ventures
(Image credit: Octavio Passos/Getty Images)
Ronaldo isn’t just a talented football player, he’s also a savvy businessman. One of his best-known ventures is his partnership with the Pestana Hotel Group. In 2015, he teamed up with the luxury chain to launch the first Pestana CR7 hotel in his hometown of Funchal, Madeira.
His property portfolio is worth around $90 million and includes homes across Europe and the Middle East. Among them are a $30 million mansion and an $8 million waterfront property in Portugal, and a $1.6 million holiday home in Spain. Plus, in Dubai, he owns two luxury villas at the Ritz-Carlton Reserve and another at the elite Jumeirah Bay Island.
Ronaldo has also built a successful fashion brand, CR7, which sells everything from underwear to fragrances. He has partnered with global brands including Tag Heuer, KFC and Armani, while his lifetime deal with Nike is believed to be worth as much as $1 billion, per Forbes.
Then there’s his impressive car collection, featuring an £8.5 million Bugatti Centodieci, a Ferrari F12 TDF, a Porsche 911 and a Lamborghini Aventador, according to the duPont Registry.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s legacy
(Image credit: NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Few living legends can say they’ve had a museum, an airport and even a galaxy named after them.
In 2013, Ronaldo opened Museu CR7 in Funchal, showcasing his trophies and memorabilia, while also sponsoring the local football club.
Two years later, astronomers named a galaxy Cosmos Redshift 7 (CR7) in his honour. In 2017, Madeira Airport was officially renamed Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport.
On the pitch, Ronaldo has scored more goals at club and international level than any other footballer in history. He holds the record for the most goals in UEFA Champions League history, with 140 goals in 183 appearances.
His trademark ‘Siu’ celebration has become one of the most recognisable in the world. Having already played well over 1,300 matches, Ronaldo is closing in on scoring 1,000 career goals.
Off the pitch, he’s one of the most followed people on social media, with close to one billion followers across Facebook, Instagram and X.
His influence has only expanded since launching his own YouTube channel, UR Cristiano, which has amassed more than 83 million subscribers. The channel became the fastest ever to reach one million subscribers, doing so in just 90 minutes.
Will Cristiano Ronaldo retire in 2026?
(Image credit: Ryan Pierse/FIFA/Getty Images)
Ronaldo married his longtime partner, Georgina Rodriguez, on 11 August in an intimate civil ceremony at their home in Cascais, Portugal.
A few days before their wedding, Ronaldo gave his clearest indication yet regarding his retirement to Vogue. He said: “This is probably my last year of football, and I want to leave a spectacular legacy. I have my future all mapped out.”
Ronaldo’s hopes of finally lifting the World Cup trophy ended when Portugal were knocked out by Spain in the round of 16 match on 6 July, bringing the curtain down on what is expected to be his final appearance at the tournament.
After the match, Ronaldo confirmed his departure: “I’m sad to be leaving the World Cup like this. I gave it my all. I did my best, and I’m leaving with a clear conscience. It was my last World Cup, yes, but I’ll now have time to reflect and be with my family. I won’t be making any rash decisions.”
At 41, Ronaldo is well beyond the age at which most footballers hang up their boots. David Beckham retired at 38, and Wayne Rooney called time on his playing career at 35.
Regardless of his next move, Ronaldo's sizeable business interests off the pitch should stand him in good stead to remain one of the richest sports stars in the world.
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Oojal has a background in consumer journalism and is interested in helping people make the most of their money.
Oojal has an MA in international journalism from Cardiff University, and before joining MoneyWeek, she worked for Look After My Bills, a personal finance website, where she covered guides on household bills and money-saving deals.
Her bylines can be found on Newsquest, Voice.Cymru, DIVA and Sony Music, and she has explored subjects ranging from politics and LGBTQIA+ issues to food and entertainment.
Outside of work, Oojal enjoys travelling, going to the movies and learning Spanish with a little green owl.
