Lionel Messi has officially crossed the $1 billion net worth threshold, joining his long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo as the only footballers in history to achieve billionaire status.
According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, the 38-year-old Argentine World Cup winner has surpassed the ten-figure mark, propelled by over $700 million in career earnings, lucrative MLS incentives, and a diverse portfolio of global business ventures .
Messi reaches this milestone just three years after Ronaldo, who broke the football billionaire barrier in 2023 following his blockbuster move to Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr. However, Messi’s path to the fortune represents a very different strategy—one rooted in the American market rather than the Middle East.
The “Apple” Advantage
Much of Messi’s recent financial surge is tied to his 2023 decision to join Inter Miami. While his guaranteed MLS compensation currently sits at $28.3 million, his total annual take-home from the club is estimated to be between $70 million and $80 million . This discrepancy is explained by a unique revenue-sharing agreement with Apple and the league.
As part of his deal, Messi receives a cut of new subscriptions to the MLS Season Pass streaming package on Apple TV+. Given that subscriptions doubled immediately following his arrival, the revenue stream has been substantial . He also secured an equity stake in Inter Miami—a clause that has paid dividends as the club’s valuation has soared to approximately $1.45 billion, making it the most valuable club in the U.S. .
The Saudi Offer He Refused
In a move that stunned financial analysts, Messi achieved this status without following Ronaldo to the Saudi Pro League.
Fresh off winning the 2022 World Cup, Messi was offered a deal reportedly worth $400 million annually to play in Saudi Arabia. He turned it down.
“Money was never a problem for me, nor an obstacle in anything,” Messi told Mundo Deportivo in 2023. “If it had been about money, I would have gone to Saudi Arabia or somewhere else.”
Beyond the Pitch: Hotels, Drinks, and Real Estate
Messi’s fortune is no longer reliant solely on his left foot.
· Real Estate: In December 2024, he listed a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) named Edificio Rostower Socimi on a Spanish exchange, valued at $232 million, which includes a portfolio of hotels .
· Business Ventures: He launched a sports drink, Más+ by Messi, in 2024, and is a global partner of the Argentine restaurant chain El Club de la Milanesa .
· Club Ownership: Demonstrating a vision for his post-playing career, Messi recently purchased Spanish fifth-division side UE Cornellà for an estimated €2 million. He also holds stakes in clubs in Uruguay (Deportivo LSM) and his native Rosario (Leones de Rosario) .
The “Silent” Empire
Unlike Ronaldo’s high-octane CR7 brand, Messi’s empire has been built quietly under the stewardship of his father, Jorge Messi. Despite past legal troubles with Spanish tax authorities regarding image rights, the family office has successfully diversified the World Cup winner’s wealth.
With the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, where Messi is expected to captain the defending champions Argentina, his earning power shows no signs of slowing down.
