Cristiano Ronaldo invests in AI startup Perplexity, setting up a special area for interaction with fans. The "King of Football" business empire covers clothing, hotels, and movies

Portuguese football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo (C Ronaldo) has invested in the AI startup Perplexity AI, which is valued at $20 billion, expanding his business empire into the artificial intelligence (AI) field. This "king of football," with a net worth of $1.4 billion (approximately HKD 10.9 billion), has already established a global footprint in business investments and effectively utilizes his personal brand CR7 to generate revenue, including the CR7 museum opened in Hong Kong this year, as well as CR7-branded clothing, perfumes, hotels, and film production. More Interactive Experiences and Merchandise to be Launched C Ronaldo and Perplexity AI did not disclose the specific scale of the investment or financial terms. Perplexity AI stated that both parties have signed a global partnership agreement and launched the "C Ronaldo Interactive Zone" within the search engine, allowing fans to ask questions in real-time and generate personalized content. Perplexity AI also mentioned that Cristiano Ronaldo himself is a deep user of their products, and in the future, both parties will gradually launch more content, interactive experiences, and exclusive merchandise. To commemorate the launch of the interactive zone, Perplexity released a 90-second short video featuring two young fans discussing C Ronaldo's career statistics, including his Golden Boot awards and multiple Ballon d'Or achievements. C Ronaldo stated on social media platform X: "Curiosity is a necessary condition for achieving excellence. When you persistently ask new questions every day, you can achieve success. That's why I am proud to announce my investment in Perplexity." He also actively promoted Perplexity, stating that Perplexity understands that excellence begins with a thirst for knowledge and hopes to encourage the world to keep asking questions. Perplexity AI Valued at $20 Billion Founded in 2022, Perplexity AI has rapidly risen to become one of the fastest-growing AI companies in just three years, positioning itself as a direct competitor to Google, focusing on a "no ads, direct answers" search experience. In September of this year, the startup's valuation skyrocketed to $20 billion in a new round of financing, subsequently accelerating its layout of enterprise AI tools, paid subscriptions, and overseas markets. According to earlier estimates by Bloomberg, C Ronaldo's net worth has reached $1.4 billion, making him the first football player to surpass a billion in wealth. This assessment covers C Ronaldo's total career earnings, investments, and endorsement contracts. Statistics show that from 2002 to 2023, his salary earnings in European football have exceeded $550 million, along with endorsement contracts with brands such as Nike, Armani, Samsung, and Louis Vuitton, which have brought him substantial income. In 2023, C Ronaldo left Europe to join the Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr, signing a lucrative contract worth approximately £177 million (about HKD 1.77 billion) per year. Earlier this year, he renewed his contract with Al Nassr for another two years, reportedly valued at over £298 million (about HKD 3 billion), and holds shares in the club, further increasing his wealth CR7 Brand Value Estimated to Exceed HKD 900 Million In addition to this investment in an AI startup, Cristiano Ronaldo's business investments have already spread globally across various industries. The CR7 brand covers clothing, footwear, perfumes, everyday accessories, and even gyms, with the brand value estimated to exceed EUR 100 million (equivalent to over HKD 900 million). The CR7 brand opened its first CR7 Lifestyle Museum in Asia at K11 MUSEA in Tsim Sha Tsui this July, showcasing interactive exhibitions of Cristiano Ronaldo's career, trophies, and precious memorabilia. According to foreign media statistics, Cristiano Ronaldo's recent investments also include hotels, healthcare, media companies, and film production: Pestana CR7 Hotels In collaboration with the Pestana Group, invested EUR 75 million to establish luxury hotels in Funchal, Lisbon, Madrid, Marrakech, and New York. Insparya Hair Transplant Clinics A medical group focused on hair treatment, opened its first clinic in Madrid in 2019 and has since expanded to Portugal, Italy, and Oman. UR-Marv Film Production Company Founded in April 2025 in London in collaboration with British filmmaker Matthew Vaughn, has produced two action films. Vista Alegre Investment Acquired a 10% stake in the famous Portuguese porcelain and crystal company for EUR 17.3 million and also purchased 30% equity in Vista Alegre Spain. Medialivre Media Group Invested in a Portuguese media company, owning several well-known media brands such as "Correio da Manhã" and "Record." Whoop Sports Performance Company Invested in this American sports technology company in May 2024, which has raised over USD 400 million in venture capital since 2012. WOW FC MMA Fighting Promotion Company Invested in this fighting sports project in 2025, planning to hold competitions in Saudi Arabia. Padel City Sports Center Invested over EUR 5 million in 2025 to build a paddle sports center in Lisbon. Jacob & Co Watch Brand Collaborated to launch a luxury watch series named after Cristiano Ronaldo, including the Flight of CR7 and Heart of CR7 models. Real Estate Investment Owns multiple luxury residences in Lisbon, Portugal, including a mansion in Cascais with a built area of 899 square meters. Related Article: Forbes | Cristiano Ronaldo Named Forbes' Highest-Paid Player for the 6th Time, Earning Multiple Times More than Messi