At 16 years old Ronaldo was targeted by Manchester United who dished out over $14 million to sign the player. At the time, it was a record fee which Ronaldo would later justify with three goals in Manchester’s 2004 FA Cup Final. Ronaldo gave Manchester a lot more than $14 million in performances on the field. He gave his blood, sweat, and tears to the game and the game gave him as much if not more.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Early Beginnings
Ronaldo’s love for the game of football was clear. At the age of 10, he would miss meals or escape out of his bedroom window with a ball when he was meant to be doing his homework. 6 years later, and Ronaldo developed his skills as a left winger with lethal scoring abilities. Ronaldo won several trophies for Manchester United before moving to Real Madrid where he sealed his name as one of the greatest to ever walk on a field. Before his move, he signed a $31 million extension in 2007 with Manchester United. He nabbed himself $120,000 a week from the team.
Before leaving Manchester United, Ronaldo scored 100 goals. While at Real Madrid, he became the first player in the world to score 40 goals in 40 consecutive seasons. He also became the only player to score 43 hat tricks. While at Madrid, Ronaldo earned €11 million euros per year. Several extensions were signed over his years with the team including a salary of €17 million for the 2015-2018 seasons and $21 million in the 2016-2021 seasons.
Trophies and Endorsements
Twenty-eight trophies is a solid way to leave your mark on the game of soccer (or football if you’re a real fan). Ronaldo earned handsomely for his unforgettable contributions to the sporting world. In 2017, he was the highest paid athlete with $93 million, above many other sporting legends like King James and Usain Bolt.
Ronaldo earned a salary of $61 million between June 2017 and June 2018. He also earned $47 million from endorsements. The earnings resulted in a total of $108 million earned. Ronaldo’s lifetime contract with Nike is reportedly worth $1 billion. He has worn over 60 different boots by the brand. This was only the third lifetime deal after its deal with Lebron James and Michael Jordan. The star’s CR7 branded clothing wear and shoe line earned him $6 million to $10 million a year.
Hotels and Bugattis
Believe it or not, Ronaldo owns two hotels in Portugal. One of the hotels is situated in Lisbon while the other is located in Funchal. He also branched into fitness lines. The CR7 Fitness Club venture with Crunch Fitness was designed to give members the opportunity to use the same fitness equipment that Ronaldo uses.
Ronaldo was able to use his earnings to purchase a Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport worth $1.97 million. He also acquired an Aston Martin DB9, a Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe and a Bentley Continental GTC, as well as a $300,000 Lamborghini Aventador. Ronaldo has also acquired several homes including a $7.1 million luxury vill in Madrid and an $18.5 million apartment in New York.
When he isn’t on the field, Ronaldo is making the world a better place with his foundation. The Cristiano Ronaldo Foundation has served different members of society from school children to the hospitalized.
Other Athletes’ Net Worth
- Kobe Bryant’s Net Worth
- Allen Crabbe’s Net Worth
- Kawhi Leonard’s Net Worth
- Nene Hilario’s Net Worth
- Joakim Noah’s Net Worth
- Hassan Whiteside’s Net Worth
Calvin Ebun-Amu is passionate about finance and technology. While studying his bachelor’s degree, he found himself using his spare time to research and write about finance. Calvin is particularly fascinated by economics and risk management. When he’s not writing, he’s reading a book or article on risk and uncertainty by his favourite non-fiction author, Nassim Nicholas Taleb. Calvin has a bachelors degree in law and a post-graduate diploma in business.