Cristiano Ronaldo’s net worth and number of goals scored have one thing in common – they’re both incredibly high.
Regarded as one of the greatest footballers to have ever graced the sport, Ronaldo’s skills have cemented his status as a global icon, far beyond the world of football. He is edging closer to scoring 1,000 goals and has played over 1,250 matches – and it doesn’t stop there.
Forbes estimates Ronaldo’s net worth to be an astonishing $275 million, making him the highest-paid athlete in the world – and the first footballer to surpass $1 billion in career earnings.
Last year, Ronaldo’s social media channels exceeded 1 billion followers across Instagram, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter), making him the world’s most-followed athlete and the first person to ever achieve this feat, according to the BBC.
Ronaldo’s reach has only expanded since launching his own YouTube channel, UR Cristiano, which now has over 75 million followers. Ronaldo’s brand partnerships, including his CR7 enterprise, have added to his wealth.
We explore how Cristiano Ronaldo built his fortune, what his latest pay package with Al-Nassr looks like, and whether he’s set to retire anytime soon.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s net worth
Cristiano Ronaldo's football career is one of the most storied in the history of the sport. Born in Madeira, Portugal, in 1985, Ronaldo began playing football at a young age and quickly caught the attention of top scouts from some of Europe's elite football clubs.
Ronaldo didn’t waste any time rising to the top of the game, signing up with Manchester United in 2003. Over the next few years, he helped the Red Devils win numerous league titles and Champions League trophies. In 2008, he claimed his first Ballon d'Or award.
The next year, Ronaldo achieved the first of what would become a string of world-record transfer fees. Real Madrid paid £80 million for the player – a move that led the football club to numerous victories, including multiple league titles and four Champions League trophies. Along the way, Ronaldo added three more Ballon d'Or awards to his name, solidifying his status as one of the sport’s all-time greats.
As he entered his 30s, Ronaldo continued to dominate the field. In 2018, he transferred to Juventus, where he led the team to two Serie A titles.
He returned to Manchester United in August 2021, but just a year later, he made his most lucrative switch, signing with Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr. According to Goal.com, the player earns a whopping £3.18 million per week, or well over £165 million in a year, although he's reportedly set to get a big pay rise (more on that later).
Cristiano Ronaldo's investment portfolio
Ronaldo is not just a talented football player, he’s also a savvy businessman.
One of his most notable business ventures is his partnership with the Pestana Hotel Group. In 2015, Ronaldo teamed up with the luxury hotel chain to open his first hotel, Pestana CR7, in his hometown of Funchal, Madeira. The hotel features 48 rooms and suites, and a rooftop pool and bar. It has been a popular destination for tourists and football fans alike. Ronaldo has since opened hotels in Lisbon and Madrid.
His real estate portfolio is worth over £80 million, according to Hello! magazine. His most recent addition is a £22 million mansion in his home country. His other properties include a £6 million penthouse apartment in Portugal, a riverside mansion in the Peneda-Gerês National Park, and a warehouse-turned-mansion in Madeira renovated for £7 million, among several others.
Ronaldo also has a large presence in the fashion industry, with his underwear brand, CR7. He’s also collaborated with other fashion brands, including Tag Heuer, KFC and Armani, and has a lifetime deal with Nike worth as much as $1 billion, per Forbes. Meanwhile, Ronaldo has invested in a football app zujuGP and crypto platform Binance.
There’s also his impressive car collection that includes a limited edition £8.5 million Bugatti Centodieci, a Ferrari F12 TDF, a Porsche 911 and a Lamborghini Aventador, according to the duPont Registry.
How much is Ronaldo’s new Al-Nassr deal worth?
Ronaldo’s latest contract with Al-Nassr is one of the most lucrative deals signed in the history of the sport
(Image credit: Abdullah Ahmed/Getty Images)
The Portuguese player ended speculation about his future by signing a new deal with Al-Nassr, extending his time at the Saudi Pro League team until June 2027. He will be 42 when the deal ends.
According to The Sun, Ronaldo’s latest contract with Al-Nassr could take his income to over half a billion in the next two years. It is one of the most lucrative deals signed in the history of the sport.
Ronaldo will reportedly be receiving £178 million a year in wages (or £3.4 million a week) as well as a £24.5 million signing bonus — that will go up to £38 million if he activates the second year of his contract.
The publication also reports that Ronaldo will be given a 15% stake in the club (worth £33 million), a £4 million bonus for winning the Golden Boot, £8 million if Al-Nassr wins the Saudi Pro League title, and potential sponsorships that could be worth £60 million.
Among many other perks, he will also receive an £80,000 bonus per goal, and £40,000 per assist – both of which increase by 20% in the second year.
Will Cristiano Ronaldo retire in 2025?
At 40, Ronaldo is older than the typical age for a football player to retire. David Beckham hung up his boots at the age of 38, and Wayne Rooney stopped playing at 35. Luis Nani, another famed Portuguese footballer who was teammates with Ronaldo at Manchester United, announced his retirement last year at 38.
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 Wales, 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.
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