[Saba Sports News] On June 6, according to the latest report from Forbes, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have both seen their net worth exceed 1 billion US dollars, earning them spots on the Forbes Billionaires List. Only four active athletes in history have hit this milestone. Apart from Ronaldo and Messi, the other two are NBA star LeBron James and golfer Tiger Woods. Statistics show Ronaldo’s net worth stands at 1.2 billion US dollars, making him the second-richest person in Portugal.
Ronaldo’s team declined to comment on his wealth. However, in an interview with Morgan in November 2025, he sounded more confident than he did three years prior. He said he keeps a close eye on his finances and claimed he had already become a billionaire many years ago.
Ronaldo has long been expanding his business empire. His CR7 brand covers gyms, perfumes, watches and apparel. In 2016, he launched a luxury hotel chain in partnership with Pestana Hotel Group based in Madeira. The brand now runs five hotels, including one opened in New York’s Times Square in 2021. Though his playing career is drawing to a close, Ronaldo shows no intention of slowing down or stepping out of the spotlight.
In my view, a net worth of 1.2 billion US dollars is testament to Ronaldo’s outstanding ability to monetize his influence and sustain brand operation over the years. He has realized wealth appreciation in advance through high salaries earned during his prime, lifelong endorsement deals and self-owned business ventures, setting a prime example of personal brand building in the sports industry.