How Cristiano Ronaldo became football’s first billionaire – from record-breaking Manchester United merchandise sales to charging US$1 million per paid Instagram post
But how does one of footie’s hottest players earn the big bucks? From leveraging his social media power to signing multimillion-dollar deals, Ronaldo sure knows his way around balancing the books.
How did Naomi Osaka become the ‘highest-paid female athlete ever’?
That impressive Manchester United move
He has been called the world’s most popular athlete and he has more than half a billion followers across all of his social media platforms at the time of writing, including Facebook (149 million), Instagram (348 million) and Twitter (94.5 million).
This summer, 12 years after he left Manchester United for Real Madrid, it was announced that Ronaldo would be returning “home”. Forbes reports the Ronaldo/Man United deal is worth US$70 million, which includes his salary and bonus agreements.
Ronaldo was confirmed as United’s new No 7 and the August 31 announcement set off a series of astonishing records being broken.
How does tennis star Rafael Nadal spend his US$200 million fortune?
No 7 earns the cash
So popular did Ronaldo remain at “home” that more than a decade after leaving United his name was still sung in the Old Trafford stadium terraces. And boy, did his loyal fans show up for their idol’s return. There were long lines outside Old Trafford after his team number was confirmed, according to British media, with people wanting to get their hands on the new merchandise as soon as they could.
According to SportBible, some retailers recorded United kits with Ronaldo’s number as selling more than US$44 million worth of goods. Remarkably, this was within just 12 hours of the announcement being made.
Forbes reports that Ronaldo’s merchandise was the fastest-selling shirt online in Premier League history.
6 things to know about Indian former billionaire B.R. Shetty
Influencing half a billion
Nothing shows the power of Ronaldo – and his strong fan base – more than the infamous shade he threw at Coca-Cola during a June press conference at the European Championship. The Portuguese captain removed two bottles of Coke that were on the table in front of him – despite the brand being the event’s sponsor – and picked up a bottle of water instead, and encouraged the audience to “drink water”.
The move cost Coca-Cola billions – but created an opportunity for water brands. Goal reported that Evian promoted Ronaldo’s comment and the World Health Organization even weighed in, reiterating its anti-sugar stance.
8 billionaires whose kids won’t inherit their fortunes
His endorsement deal with Nike
Yes, Ronaldo earns his keep on social media, but it is still his lifetime deal with Nike that brings home the dosh. And which will continue to do so for, er, his lifetime.
According to Investopedia, Nike recognised the power of Ronaldo’s social media presence early on and considered him to be a “mega-influencer”. The website also reports that Ronaldo made US$474 million for Nike in just a year.
- Topping Forbes’ ‘World’s Highest-Paid Soccer Players 2021’ list, Ronaldo recently returned ‘home’ to Manchester United after lucrative stints at Real Madrid and Juventus
- The football star inked a lifetime deal with Nike, a feat only achieved by NBA legends Michael Jordan and LeBron James, and boasts over half a billion social media followers
