Sports Fans Discuss Cristiano Ronaldo's Astronomical Rise to $1.4 Billion Amid Saudi Investment Boom

Forbes has monitored the world’s billionaires since 1987, and by 2025, this elite group comprises merely 3,028 individuals globally. Among them, billionaire athletes are particularly rare. Iconic NBA players Michael Jordan and LeBron James have attained this remarkable status, but tennis champion Roger Federer joined their ranks in August of 2025.Cristiano Ronaldo has made history as football's first billionaire player, courtesy of a lucrative deal with Saudi club Al Nassr. Despite soccer's worldwide popularity, it remains less prominent in the U.S. Ronaldo’s transition to the Saudi Pro League in January 2023 led to his historic $200 million annual contract, later doubling to $400 million in June 2025, elevating his net worth to $1.4 billion, per Bloomberg.Alongside Ronaldo, other billionaire athletes include Jordan and Federer, both of whom amassed their fortunes through strategic endorsements and investments. Ronaldo now aspires to soccer club ownership, envisioning a broad portfolio beyond mere management roles.