The Top 10 Richest Footballers of All Time [Ranked]

Football used to be simple. You scored goals, lifted trophies, and retired to a pundit job. Now? Players are mini-corporations. They own hotels, fashion lines, NFTs, and entire football clubs. Some even have their own fragrances. Before we jump in, we have to talk about the one guy who technically beats them all.

The Royal Exception: Faiq Bolkiah ($20 Billion)

 
💰 Net worth: $150 million 

Pique might be the only player who can drop out of football and straight into Forbes’ business pages. His company, Kosmos Holding, has invested in sports media, tennis, and NFTs. He’s co-owned FC Andorra, developed lifestyle brands, and made some savvy exits. 

Even after his high-profile split from Shakira, Pique remains one of football’s sharpest business minds, the rare defender whose portfolio defends itself.

💰 Net worth: $180 million 

Benzema’s late-career Saudi move multiplied his lifetime earnings in one go. Years at Real Madrid built the foundation; Saudi contracts turned it into a small empire. He’s not loud about his wealth, but make no mistake, Benzema’s deals with Adidas and his recent endorsements in the Middle East have made him a silent mogul.

💰 Net worth: $180 million 

The original Ronaldo didn’t just dominate defenses; he’s now dominating boardrooms. He owns majority stakes in Real Valladolid (Spain) and Cruzeiro (Brazil), has built fitness and media ventures, and continues to be a commercial force. 

He made his fortune early through Nike and Pepsi deals, but his second act as a club owner shows how the new wave of ex-players can turn experience into equity.

💰Net worth: $180 million 

At just 26, Mbappe is already football’s most marketable athlete. He’s the face of Nike, Dior, and EA Sports, and has used his image rights leverage to negotiate club-level autonomy most players dream of. 

Mbappe runs his own production company, owns a football team called Caen, and is rumored to be looking into equity-based partnerships instead of traditional endorsement deals. If Ronaldo was the prototype of the modern athlete-mogul, Mbappe is the upgraded version.

💰Net worth: $190 million 

When Zlatan says, “I came, I saw, I conquered,” he’s not exaggerating. From Milan to LA Galaxy, every stop came with big wages and bigger endorsement deals. He invested in his own sportswear and tech projects, dabbled in esports, and even owned a chunk of Hammarby IF in Sweden. 

Zlatan’s wealth mirrors his persona: bold, self-made, and slightly chaotic, but undeniably successful.

💰 Net worth: $200 million

Rooney’s on-pitch ferocity turned into quiet business sense off it. His long Manchester United contract and Nike deals made him rich early, but he’s doubled down post-retirement through property, coaching, and broadcasting. 

He’s also reportedly diversified into hospitality and football consultancy. For someone who was once seen as “old school,” Rooney has aged into a surprisingly forward-thinking entrepreneur.

💰 Net worth: $250–300 million 

He might live like a rockstar, but Neymar’s finances are as organised as a Swiss watch. Between PSG, Barcelona, Al Hilal and now Santos, he’s made over half a billion in career earnings. Endorsements with Puma, Netflix specials, NFTs, and a digital content empire keep the flow steady. 

Behind the flashy cars and private jets sits a quiet network of smart managers who’ve turned his image into an investment machine. His mansion collection? Paris, Sao Paulo, Rio, and Riyadh, that’s one for each career chapter.

💰 Net worth: around $500 million 

No one did brand-building before Beckham. Long after hanging up his boots, he’s still printing money through Inter Miami (where he co-owns a franchise now worth over $1 billion), a fashion empire, and partnerships stretching from Tudor watches to Adidas. He was the prototype for every modern marketing-savvy player: good looks, timing, and business acumen. Beckham didn’t just retire; he franchised himself.

💰 Net worth: about $650 million 

Messi’s genius was always quiet, less about flash, more about impact. But off the field, he’s built an empire just as graceful. After leaving PSG, his move to Inter Miami came with an Apple TV+ revenue-sharing deal, a slice of MLS’ global rights, and personal endorsement renewals with Adidas and Pepsi.

Add his sprawling hotel chain (MiM Hotels), multi-million real estate portfolio, and global licensing deals, and you understand why Messi’s bank balance rivals his trophy cabinet. He’s proof that you don’t need to shout to cash in; you just need to keep scoring.

💰 Net worth: around $1.4 billion 

The Al Nassr captain isn’t just breaking records in goals; he’s breaking banking systems. In October 2025, Bloomberg confirmed what we all suspected: Ronaldo officially became football’s first self-made billionaire. He’s got his fingers in everything: CR7 Hotels, gyms, fragrances, and a lifetime Nike deal worth hundreds of millions.

On Instagram alone, he earns more than some clubs make from sponsorships. Ronaldo’s empire is built on three pillars: performance, persona, and property. He owns luxury homes in Madrid, Lisbon, Manchester, and Madeira, and reportedly makes seven figures monthly just from social media partnerships. Football gave him fame; business turned it into generational wealth.