Cristiano Ronaldo is football’s first billionaire, Bloomberg confirms.

The Portuguese star’s fortune significantly increased after he signed a new $400 million contract in Saudi Arabia, the agency has stated

Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo has become the first footballer to reach billionaire status, according to Bloomberg’s calculations.

On Wednesday, the agency reported that the 40-year-old athlete joined the Bloomberg Billionaires Index after his net worth escalated to $1.4 billion.

Ronaldo’s wealth saw a dramatic rise after he agreed to a new two-year deal with Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr, reportedly valued at over $400 million, it mentioned.

Throughout his career, the Portuguese icon has played for some of Europe’s leading clubs – including Manchester United and Real Madrid – securing the UEFA Champions League five times along with dozens of other accolades. He has also been awarded the Ballon d’Or, given to the world’s best footballer, on five occasions.

Ronaldo’s unexpected transfer to Al-Nassr in 2023 reportedly earned him approximately $200 million annually, allowing him to surpass his long-standing rival, Argentina’s Lionel Messi, in yearly earnings.

Aside from his football salary, Ronaldo – known as CR7 – derives a large portion of his wealth from lucrative endorsement partnerships with brands such as Nike and Armani, Bloomberg observed. The outlet also noted that he possesses an extensive real-estate portfolio.

In late August, Forbes reported that retired Swiss tennis legend Roger Federer had become the seventh athlete in history to cross the billion-dollar mark, joining basketball players Michael Jordan and LeBron James, golfer Tiger Woods, boxing champion Floyd Mayweather, and others.