This is where Cristiano Ronaldo's more than one billion euros comes from

C ristiano Ronaldo is still looking for the 1,000-goal mark (he reached 946 with Al-Nassr, as well as more than 700 wins with clubs throughout his career); off the pitch, he continues to make history. According to Bloomberg, the Portuguese star has become the first billionaire in football history, reaching an estimated net worth of $1.4 billion. This record was achieved thanks to the renewal of his new contract with Al-Nassr, equivalent to more than $400 million.

According to the publication, throughout his career, CR7 earned more than $550 million in salaries between 2002 and 2023 . In addition, just in commercial contracts with Nike, Armani and Castrol , for example, he reached more than $175 million.

But beyond his achievements on the field, what has allowed him to reach this level of success? The answer is simple. For several years now, Cristiano has ventured into entrepreneurship , taking advantage, of course, of the reputation he has forged throughout his career and partnering with prominent figures. One of his most recent initiatives was the creation of an independent film studio , in collaboration with one of the most renowned directors in the industry, Britain's Matthew Vaughn, whose works include "Layer Cake" (2004), "Kick-Ass" (2010) and "X-Men: First Class" (2011).

But it goes further. The striker has investments in a wide range of sectors, from beverages to hotels, fashion and tourism . In recent years he has driven a number of launches, such as the CR7 clothing brand, which sells shoes and perfumes, investments in hotels in Europe, Asia and Latin America , luxury properties in different parts of the world, a stake in Chrono24 , a German luxury watch sales platform, a stake in Confina Media , one of Portugal's most popular audiovisual groups, and a stake in Vista Alegre Atlantis SGPS , a Portuguese porcelain and ceramics manufacturer.

CR7's influence transcends football

The most followed personality in the world

In addition to his YouTube channel, UR - Cristiano, with more than 77 million subscribers , CR7 innovated this year by live streaming the finals of the Premier Padel P1 , a professional padel tournament held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The broadcast reached more than 130 countries. On Instagram, he is the most followed personality in the world, with 665 million followers, ahead of Messi, with 506 million . He is also followed by Selena Gomez, with 418 million, Dwayne Johnson, aka The Rock, with 393 million, Kylie Jenner, with 393 million, Ariana Grande, with 374 million, and Kim Kardashian, with 356 million.

"CR7's influence transcends football, cementing him as a global brand of immense value . The combination of his on-field performance, his dominant social media presence and lucrative sponsorship deals cements his position as one of the world's most valuable and influential athletes. He is a perfect example of how top athletes can become true entrepreneurs, generating millions in revenue that far exceeds their salaries as players," says Joaquim Lo Prete, managing director of Absolut Sport in Brazil, CONMEBOL's official sports experience agency.

"CR7 is the biggest marketing phenomenon in the history of world football. " Talent, intense and constant training, exceptional discipline combined with a unique strategic image positioning ," says Fabio Wolff, managing partner of Wolff Sports and a specialist in sports marketing.

"Cristiano Ronaldo is a sporting icon; in fact, we could say that he is a global entertainment icon. His audience is huge due to a combination of factors, one of which is his great professionalism in everything he does, which obviously translates into record figures across the board," said Rene Salviano, CEO of Heatmap and sports marketing specialist who manages brand deals with professional athletes.

According to a study by IPAM (Portuguese Institute of Management and Marketing), published this year, the "CR7 brand" reached a record value of 850 million euros in 2025. These values cover a combination of 28 variables distributed across six dimensions: income, media, social networks, recognition, social influence and impact.

200 million a year at Al Nassr

A statement from the Portuguese Institute of Administration and Marketing indicates that, in terms of income, Cristiano Ronaldo currently earns 200 million euros a year at Al Nassr , in addition to more than 150 million euros in advertising contracts with global brands such as Nike, Tag Heuer and Louis Vuitton . On social media, the Portuguese has become the most followed public figure in the world, with more than one billion followers on his platforms.

"Cristiano Ronaldo remains relevant on the pitch, but with a legacy consolidated by the transformations that have taken place in others over the last decade. He changed the way young people around the world prepare to become professional sportsmen and women , and this means that he is no longer seen as one among several personal brands of sportsmen and women, but as the brand, the unique reference among footballers. Cristiano is, off the pitch, what Pele was on it . The one who puts an end to any discussion about comparisons," reinforces Thiago Freitas, chief operating officer of Roc Nation Sports.

"Cristiano Ronaldo's influence, forged through impressive records, transcends the pitch, extends into the business world and reaches every corner of the globe . The value described reflects a global brand that inspires, shapes behaviour around the world and has reach and frequency," explains Ivan Martinho, professor of sports marketing at ESPM.

Cristiano is, off the pitch, what Pele was on it

Another significant finding of the study is that CR7 generates an average of 22.3 million news stories a year worldwide, as well as a further 187 million Google searches a year . He is also mentioned in 4,000 books on Amazon and appears in 63,000 scientific articles.

"Ronaldo's long career and constant reinvention, both on and off the pitch, serve as a model for our market. He has always been deeply committed to his main tool of the trade: his body. By maintaining his excellent performance as a sportsman, Cristiano has created a solid foundation to support his personal brand strategy, which includes collaborations with luxury brands, investments in various sectors and an impressive digital presence . "He is a sportsman who demonstrates the importance of taking a holistic approach to developing a successful sports brand," says Jorge Duarte, marketing and sports manager at Somos Young, a company that supports Cruzeiro, Vasco, Coritiba and Vitoria supporters' clubs.

It's a clear example of how today's athletes can build and monetize their personal brands

"Cristiano Ronaldo not only remains a legend on the pitch, but has also established himself as a true empire off it. His ability to transform sporting success into a global phenomenon is a clear example of how today's athletes can strategically and exponentially build and monetise their personal brands . The combination of substantial income, a massive social media presence and constant media impact reinforces CR7's power, making him not only a sporting benchmark, but also a global marketing asset with an influence that transcends borders and generates impressive figures every year," adds Bruno Brum, marketing director of End to End Agency, a company that connects fans with their passion and is a hub for solutions and engagement in the sports market.