The greatest soccer players of the century, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, have amassed fortunes throughout their successful careers. However, it looks like a female athlete is set to be worth even more than both of them combined.
We’re talking about tennis star Jessica Pegula, No. 5 in the WTA rankings, who is expected to be heiress to a £5 billion ($6.37bn) fortune from her father Terry, whose worth has been estimated at an impressive £5.32 billion ($6.77 bn) by Forbes.
Apart from owning several sports franchises including the NFL’s Buffalo Bills and NHL’s Buffalo Sabres, Pegula’s father is said to be one of the wealthiest businessmen in the US due to his ventures in the oil and gas industries.
Meanwhile, The Mirror understands Messi and Ronaldo boast a combined worth of just over £1 billion ($1.27bn). While the Portuguese superstar’s estimated net worth stands at £470m ($598m), the Argentine maestro‘s reported fortune is £554m ($705m).
Pegula, 30, has also seen plenty of money come her way thanks to her success on the tennis court, though they’re not even close to the career earnings from Messi and Ronaldo, as her estimated net worth is £9.4 million ($12m).
Jessica Pegula not happy with the “world’s richest tennis player” tag
Dubbed as “the world’s richest tennis player” due to her father’s fortune, which is not to her name yet, Pegula showed her unhappiness with this label around her on the Netflix series Break Point in 2023.
“Some people get this image that it’s really easy for me because my dad is very wealthy but that didn’t happen until I was 17 or 18. My dad was probably more hard on me and instilled a lot of work ethic in me. That definitely got me to this point,” Pegula said. “I hate when people write horrible stuff on social media or online. I don’t think I owe anything to prove those people wrong.”
How much does Cristiano Ronaldo make?
According to Fabrizio Romano, Cristiano Ronaldo’s two-and-a-half year deal signed with Al Nassr in January 2023 sees the Portuguese striker make €200 million per season with commercial deals included.
How much does Lionel Messi make?
The 2024 MLS Player Salary Guide shows Lionel Messi has a guaranteed compensation of $20,446,667.00 with Inter Miami for 2024, though reports claim his annual income rises to $50-60 million with sponsorship deals.