It pays to be soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo—more so than any other athlete on the planet.
According to multiple reports, the Portuguese sports icon was the world’s highest-paid athlete in 2024. His earnings were estimated between $260 million and $275 million. The 39-year-old, whose current contract with Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr FC is reportedly worth up to around $200 million per year, was tens of millions of dollars ahead of golfer Jon Rahm in second place on Sportico’s and Forbes’ rankings.
Generally, soccer players dominated the top of the lists though. Lionel Messi was a distant third, with Kylian Mbappé and Neymar snagging spots within the top 10. The Sportico estimate of $275 million for Ronaldo marked a significant jump in earnings for the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, more than double what he made in 2022 according to a similar list from Forbes.
Ronaldo’s contract expires in June 2025, and he’s reportedly negotiating a lucrative extension with Al-Nassr worth around $200 million per year with performance incentives—which would keep him among the biggest earners for the foreseeable future.
In addition to Ronaldo’s large playing salary with Al-Nassr, Forbes has estimated he makes around $60 million through off-field means like image rights, appearance fees, and endorsements. So with Ronaldo clearly winning on and away from the pitch, what is his actual net worth?
Cristiano Ronaldo’s net worth, explained
According to The Sporting News, Ronaldo’s total net worth is around $500 million as of January 2025. Given his enormous deal with Al-Nassr, Celebrity Net Worth has generously bumped the estimated value of the Portugal national team captain to $800 million as of September 2024.
Ronaldo, who began his senior club career in 2002, became the first active team-sport athlete to pass $1 billion in career earnings in 2020. The only two athletes from any sport to reach the mark before him were golfer Tiger Woods and boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr., according to CBS Sports.
Endorsement deals with a variety of companies, most notably Nike, have helped pad Ronaldo’s net worth. The shoe and athletic wear giant inked Ronaldo to a lifetime contract in 2016 that pays him at least $20 million annually. Business Insider reported that in just the first year of the deal, Ronaldo’s social media presence alone generated $476 million in media value for Nike, making the company’s investment a no-brainer.
Ronaldo’s expansive audience—he has 170 million followers on Facebook, 647 million on Instagram, and another 114.4 million on X (formerly Twitter)—has made him a key target for other brands. According to the Daily Mail, Ronaldo has had partnerships with Tag Heuer, KFC, Armani, Herbalife, and Emirates airline.
Ronaldo hasn’t been afraid to dip into his net worth and spend a lot of his earnings, either. According to The US Sun, the father of five has a car collection worth $21 million, including a rare Bugatti Centodieci that cost him $10.5 million. The duPont Registry lists a Ferrari F12 TDF, Lamborghini Aventador, and a Porsche 911 among his other vehicles.
Ronaldo also owns a $602 million Madrid villa among his collection of properties and collects watches. According to the Daily Mail, one of his favorite timepieces is a Jacob and Co. Grand Baguette with an estimated price tag of $1 million.
Who are the other highest-paid athletes?
NBA superstar LeBron James is fourth in estimated earnings on the Forbes list. He makes between $128.2 million, ahead of fellow basketball player Giannis Antetokounmpo at $111 million.
Behind No. 6 Mbappé ($110 million) and No. 7 Neymar ($108 million), these athletes round out the top 10 sports earners of 2024:
- soccer player Karim Benzema, $106 million;
- NBA player Stephen Curry, $102 million; and
- NFL MVP-winning quarterback Lamar Jackson, $100.5 million.
Tyler Piccotti joined the Biography.com staff as an Associate News Editor and is now the News and Culture Editor. He previously worked as a reporter and copy editor for a daily newspaper recognized by the Associated Press Sports Editors. In his current role, he shares the true stories behind your favorite movies and TV shows and profiles rising musicians, actors, and athletes. When he's not working, you can find him at the nearest amusement park or movie theater and cheering on his favorite teams.
