Al Nassr superstar Cristiano Ronaldo’s new title as the world’s first b’naire footballer has drawn global media attention, with Bloomberg pointing at his record contract with the club. Bloomberg B’naire Index valued the 40-year-old’s fortune at USD 1.4 bn, following his June contract renewal with the Saudi Pro League Club — reportedly valued at more than USD 400 mn.

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Ronaldo’s fortune is primarily driven by his salary, setting him apart from other b’naire athletes like Roger Federer and Michael Jordan, whose fortunes mainly came from brand stakes and endorsements. Al Nassr contract reportedly nets the player around USD 200 mn annually in tax-free pay and bonuses, a USD 30 mn signing bonus, and a 15% stake in the Riyadh-based club. Ronaldo had earned over USD 550 mn in salary between 2002 and 2023, with a decade-long Nike agreement worth nearly USD 18 mn a year and additional endorsements with brands like Armani and Castrol that generated another USD 175 mn.

Messi next to join the club? Bloomberg also noted that Lionel Messi could soon join his long-time rival in the b’naire ranks, mainly through a post-retirement ownership stake linked to his Inter Miami agreement. Although Messi’s guaranteed salary since 2023 stands at about USD 20 mn a year — roughly one-tenth of Ronaldo’s recent income — his commercial agreements, including a revenue-sharing agreement with Apple, continue to elevate his wealth.

The story also got ink from The Telegraph, BBC, and Reuters.

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