Cristiano Ronaldo has already become the first-ever active footballer to become a billionaire, but his net worth could be set to soar even further in the US
Cristiano Ronaldo’s net worth could be boosted by an additional £76.5m(Image: PA)
Cristiano Ronaldo could be poised to boost his earnings by an additional $100m (£76.5m) in the United States following his appearance at the White House.
The Portuguese superstar has built an extraordinary reputation through a remarkable footballing journey spanning Sporting CP, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus and most recently, Al-Nassr. Yet according to Professor Rob Wilson, Director of Executive Education at University Campus of Football Business, the 40-year-old’s activities away from the pitch may enable him to develop a more substantial brand than the likes of David Beckham and long-standing rival, Lionel Messi.
Speaking to Vegas Insider after Ronaldo was seen at the White House State Banquet, the specialist said: “Ronaldo already operates as a billion-dollar global asset. But that White House moment will add political relevance and some hugely important US visibility which are powerful brand signals.
“When Donald Trump frames Ronaldo as a family favourite of his son, it humanises his image and broadens sponsor appeal. The earned media impact from such exposure would likely sit in the mid eight-figure range, with a small uplift to endorsement pricing in a portfolio already producing well over $60m (£45.9m) a year.
“We can expect CR7 to press on toward $100m (£76.5m) endorsements in the US as a result of his invitation and appearance at the banquet.”
Professor Wilson also drew comparisons between Ronaldo’s American presence and Messi, who has taken comparable measures recently to feature alongside the US president. He continued: “Messi’s shift into high-level business forums, such as his appearance at the America Business Forum alongside Donald Trump, helps reframe him from elite athlete to national economic ambassador.
“Messi’s brand is already approaching $1bn (£765m) in value with demonstrable commercial impact as shown by Inter Miami’s revenue doubling and valuation jumping past $1bn (£765m) itself. His presence signals reliability to investors and governments. It positions him for equity stakes, long-term partnerships and sovereign-level ventures rather than conventional sponsorships.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are long-term rivals in football.(Image: Getty Images)
“Beckham still sets the standard for turning fame into a lifestyle empire, backed by a half-billion-pound image rights business and a stake in a billion-dollar club. But Messi and Ronaldo now sit on larger global platforms with bigger fan ecosystems and deeper earning power.
“Each has the scale to become a long-term institutional brand, Ronaldo as a luxury fitness, Gulf-backed platform with Messi acting as a soft-power bridge across the Americas and the global football economy. Both have the potential to surpass Beckham’s long-term commercial footprint with carefully curated activations and appearances.”
This year, Ronaldo made history by becoming the first active footballer to reach billionaire status. This is in part due to his lucrative contract with Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, which is reportedly worth over $400m (£306m).
Currently, it’s estimated that Ronaldo’s net worth stands at around $1.4billion (£1bn).
To put this into perspective, Ronaldo’s wealth far surpasses that of David and Victoria Beckham, who have a combined net worth of £500m, as well as Lionel Messi, whose fortune is reported to be around $850m (£650m).