Overcoming LeBron James, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar, Lionel Messi is the highest paid athlete in the world today. He holds a net worth of more than 600 million USD.
The highest earning athlete of the year
Lionel Messi is the highest paid athlete in the world today. Photo: Getty Images.
According to Forbes , Argentine soccer superstar Lionel Messi earned $130 million between May 2021 and May 2022, surpassing LeBron James, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar to become the highest-paid athlete. world today.
Much of that money came from on-field earnings over the past year, $75 million, more than any other athlete on the planet. His salary at Paris Saint-Germain alone is $35 million a year, which means he earns $673,000 a week, or $96,000 a day. In addition, according to the Evening Standard , the 35-year-old pocketed a $26 million joining fee when signing with the French team in the summer of 2021.
Messi’s non-football income was $55 million last year, trailing only tennis icon Roger Federer and NBA basketball superstar LeBron James. Specifically, he has a $20 million/year partnership with the Socios platform (a mobile app created specifically for football fans). The rest comes from advertising contracts with Adidas, Budweiser and PepsiCo. In June 2021, he also became the brand ambassador of Hard Rock International.
Wealthy Gorilla estimates Messi has a net worth of over $600 million. According to Forbes, the 8X player earned $1.15 billion during his career on and off the pitch. Only three professional athletes, LeBron James, Cristiano Ronaldo and Tiger Woods, have ever made more money.
How does Messi spend money?
Messi owns a net worth of more than 600 million USD. Photo: Instagram.
One of Messi’s biggest hobbies is luxury cars. According to Goal , Messi has an impressive car collection, including the $2 million Pagani Zonda Tricolore, Ferrari F430 Spyder, Dodge Charger SRT8 and Maserati Gran Turismo…
The Argentine striker is said to have bought the most expensive car ever, a 1957 Ferrari 335 Sport Spider Scaglietti, for $37 million in 2016. However, he denied this rumor with a post. on Instagram with satirical content. In it, he shared a photo of himself holding a toy car, with the caption: “My new car”.
Messi’s most luxurious property is a $ 7 million mansion in the suburbs of Castelldefels, Barcelona (Spain). This is a private, no-fly zone. The villa features a swimming pool, indoor gym, tatami room and spa, as well as stunning views of the Catalan mountains and the nearby beach. In addition, the property also includes a football field, where Messi likes to play with the dog Hulk.
Messi also owns an “eco house” themed around his career, a villa in his hometown of Rosario, Argentina, and a floor of a luxury apartment building in Saint Isles Beach, Florida, USA, which he owns. purchased for $7.3 million in 2021.
Messi and his wife and 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren live in a $7 million mansion in Barcelona. Photo: Instagram.
Since 2017, Messi has owned the MiM Hotels chain, operated by Majestic Hotel Group, which has resorts in Ibiza, Majorca and Barcelona (both in Spain).
In 2021, the brand opens its first winter resort in the heart of the Pyrenees, in the Aran Valley (Spain). According to Forbes , this 4-star hotel has 141 rooms, a spa, an indoor pool, a fitness center and a climbing guide service.
However, Messi was forced to demolish his hotel in Barcelona. Messi bought the building in 2017 for $35 million. Unfortunately, the hotel’s balcony is too big for the allowed level. Messi can’t fix it because removing or reducing the size of the balcony can both lead to the hotel collapsing…
Messi’s other hobby is traveling around the world. To serve the needs of traveling a lot, the celebrity bought a private jet Gulfstream V in 2004 for 15 million USD. The aircraft includes two kitchens and bathrooms, and can accommodate up to 16 passengers. The tail of the plane has the number 10 – his number from his time in Barcelona and the names of his wife, Antonella, and 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren on the steps.
This summer, Messi celebrated his 35th 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡day with his family at Ushuaia, the beachfront hotel in Ibiza. Former teammates Cesc Fabregas and Luis Suarez and their wives also participated.
According to the Miami Herald , Messi chose to vacation in Miami beach, South Florida, after Argentina won the Copa America 2021. He rented a 4-storey villa worth $ 10,000 / night in the island town of Key Biscayne as a place to stay during the period. rest. The villa has 5 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, gym, terrace and infinity pool.
Messi travels by plane with 15 million USD. Photo: Instagram.
Benevolent superstar
Not only enjoying a luxurious life, Messi is also interested in charity. In 2007, he partnered with Unicef (United Nations Children’s Fund) to establish the Leo Messi Foundation, to help vulnerable 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren around the world.
According to Unicef, in 2017, Messi donated a large amount of money to help fund the construction of classrooms for 1,600 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren orphaned because of the war in Syria. In 2019, the fund raised $218,000 to provide food and water to people in Kenya.
“I get excited every time I see a 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥 smile, when they think there is hope, when they feel happy. That is why we decided to establish the Leo Messi Foundation. I will continue to fight to bring happiness to my 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren with the energy and dedication I need to continue being a footballer,” he wrote on the foundation’s website.
Messi set up a charity fund to help 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren in need around the world. Photo: Insta
