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.
While he isn’t the richest person in the world, Ronaldo sits comfortably alongside sporting greats like David Beckham, Lewis Hamilton and Rory McIlroy in being extremely wealthy.
Try 6 free issues of MoneyWeek today
Get unparalleled financial insight, analysis and expert opinion you can profit from.
Sign up to Money Morning
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
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.
His dream of winning the 2026 FIFA World Cup came to an end when Portugal were knocked out by Spain, bringing the curtain down on what is expected to be his final appearance at the tournament.
We take a closer look at how Ronaldo built his vast fortune, and whether he’s ready to call time on his remarkable career.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s net worth
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, at the time a record transfer fee for a teenager. 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.
In 2018, he joined Juventus in a €100 million deal, winning two Serie A titles and every domestic honour during his spell in Italy.
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 investment portfolio
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, a $1.6 million holiday home in Spain, two luxury villas at the Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Dubai, 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
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; his 976th was scored against Croatia in the World Cup on 2 July.
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 81 million subscribers. The channel became the fastest ever to reach one million subscribers, doing so in just 90 minutes, before smashing through the 50 million mark not long after.
Will Cristiano Ronaldo retire in 2026?
Ronaldo’s hopes of finally lifting the World Cup trophy ended when Portugal were beaten by Spain in the round of 16 match on 6 July.
After the match, Ronaldo confirmed his farewell, “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.
