Cristiano Ronaldo has been declared football’s first billionaire after his staggering net worth was calculated.
The 40-year-old is said to be worth £1.04bn after finance experts Bloomberg took a deep dive into his career earnings, investments and endorsement deals and they were all adjusted for prevailing tax rates and market performance.
They report that Ronaldo’s astronomical money in Saudi Arabia has ‘catapulted him to the top of the rankings for highest-earning sportspeople’.
He is the first footballer in their new Bloomberg Billionaires Index and they note that his wealth now significantly eclipses long-time rival Lionel Messi after the Argentine opted to move to the US with Inter Miami.
Ronaldo has a lifetime deal with Nike that is reported to be worth £745m in total – by far his biggest agreement with any company. There are partnerships with Tag Heur, Armani, PokerStars, Samsung, Unilever, Louis Vuitton and many, many more. He is currently building an extraordinary, sprawling complex back home costing £28m, of which the lavish renderings have been shared and is often seen draped in the world’s most expensive jewellery and watches, including a Franck Muller Invisible Baguette Diamonds Imperial Tourbillon – worth £1.13m.
Ronaldo is making a remarkable £300-a-minute in Saudi Arabia but on Tuesday night admitted he wishes he could leave and only play for Portugal.
DAILY MAIL UK