In addition to his undeniable football talent, Cristiano Ronaldo is also known as a “money printing machine” thanks to his reputation and influence in many fields. The Portuguese superstar is the first soccer player to earn $1 billion, according to Forbes.
In 2019, Ronaldo’s income before taxes and other fees was $105 million. Thanks to that, the former MU striker ranked 4th on Forbes’ highest-earning stars list. During 17 years of playing professionally, Ronaldo pocketed $650 million and is expected to increase this figure to $765 million after his contract with Juventus expires in June 2022.
In January, Ronaldo’s Instagram account reached a record 200 million followers. Including Facebook and Twitter platforms, the Portuguese superstar has 427 million followers, thereby becoming the world’s most watched sportsman. These posts on social networks bring Ronaldo a desirable additional source of income, in addition to the main income from football-related activities.
In the field of sports, Nike pays Ronaldo $ 20 million a year and has signed a lifetime contract with the 35-year-old superstar since 2016. Ronaldo is also the third case, after basketball legends Michael Jordan and LeBron James, signed by a famous American sports company for life. In addition, Ronaldo’s personal brand CR7 with fashion products, perfumery and shoes also brings in a profit, accounting for a quarter of total annual income.
In total, Ronaldo’s fortune reaches $ 1 billion, making the Juventus striker the first footballer to reach this milestone. The contemporary football legend is also the 3rd sports athlete in history to do this while playing. Before that, golfer Tiger Woods set a similar record in 2009 and then boxer Floyd Mayweather in 2017.
