The highest paid athlete in the world, soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo, this week compared his net worth to winning the Ballon d’Or, revealed his custom private jet to be the most expensive purchase he’s ever made and admitted he doesn’t know how many luxury cars are in his extensive collection—but he estimates it to be more than three dozen.
Key Facts
- In an interview on “Piers Morgan Uncensored,” Ronaldo, 40, said it was a goal of his to become a billionaire, which he claims he did when he was 39 years old.
- He said he sees hitting the milestone as “just another” record he’s set in his sport: “I reached that number and I was very proud,” he said.
- The athlete revealed the most expensive item he’s ever purchased to be his private jet, a Bombardier Global Express XRS he said he bought about a year ago.
- The plane boasts a custom black and grey paint job with Ronaldo’s silhouette and “CR7” nickname emblazoned on the side, and photos show a cream interior with wood paneling.
- The 15-year-old plane, which can reportedly seat 14 passengers and sleep up to five, was refurbished last year and is estimated to be worth about $57 million.
- The Global Express plane replaced a Gulfstream G200 jet he bought for roughly $22 million in 2015.
Big Number
42. That’s how many luxury cars Ronaldo thinks he has in his collection, but he admits he doesn’t really know. He said he bought a car three days before his interview with Morgan, and said “it’s like buying a painting. I’m not going to drive that car, it’s an investment. I don’t know how many cars I have, I don’t count.” His collection reportedly includes a $12 million Bugatti Centodieci, an ultra-rare McLaren Senna worth more than $1 million, five Ferraris and and a $850,000 Mercedes G-Wagon Brabus he was gifted for his 35th birthday.
Surprising Fact
Ronaldo bought a $7 million yacht in 2020 to celebrate winning a second consecutive Serie A title with the Italian soccer team Juventus. The Azimut Grande is a 27-meter vessel with five bedrooms and six bathrooms.
Crucial Quote
“I can buy whatever I want, but I don’t need it,” Ronaldo told Morgan.
Forbes Valuation
Ronaldo became the first active team-sport athlete to surpass $1 billion in career earnings in 2020. He was ranked No. 1 on Forbes’ list of the world’s highest paid athletes last year, with $275 million in total earnings. He signed a record breaking deal with Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr team in 2022, estimated to be worth about $200 million per year. He also has a lifetime deal with Nike and makes money with his CR7-branded clothing, accessories, hotels and gyms.
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This story was originally published on forbes.com and all figures are in USD.
