Cristiano Ronaldo invests in AI technology startup
Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed he is backing an artificial intelligence technology startup as the Portuguese international looks to expand his reported £1 billion net worth, reports BritPanorama.
The AI startup, Perplexity, competes with OpenAI’s ChatGPT, widely used by millions of people across the UK. Ronaldo made the announcement on Thursday through a promotional video shared across his social media platforms.
The 40-year-old stated: “Curiosity is a requirement for greatness.” In his video, he added, “You win when you keep asking new questions every day. That’s why I am proud to announce my investment in Perplexity.”
Ronaldo expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, stating that Perplexity “is powering the world’s curiosity,” with a shared goal to encourage people to pursue more ambitious questions.
Founded in 2022, the AI-powered platform operates as an answer engine, retrieving information from verified sources and delivering concise summaries to users. Ronaldo’s connection to the company predates this investment; he acknowledged using Perplexity to prepare his acceptance speech for a prestigious award last October.
The footballer remarked during that event, “What is a Prestige Award? Is it an end-of-career award? It made me a little nervous, so I did a search on Perplexity, if you don’t know, look it up to see what it is, and I had a little help.”
Currently, Ronaldo remains football’s undisputed top earner, reportedly raking in more than double Lionel Messi’s salary. The Forbes rich list for 2025 places Ronaldo at the top, with total earnings of £220 million, including on-field pay from Al Nassr. His remarkable earnings are complemented by lucrative contracts, including a lifetime endorsement deal with Nike and various business ventures encompassing his CR7 brand.
Having made a record-breaking move to the Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr in January 2023, Ronaldo extended his contract in June 2025, making him the highest-paid player in football history. That extension, reportedly valued at over £300 million, includes an annual salary exceeding £178 million, a bonus structure, and a 15 percent ownership stake in the club.
As Ronaldo takes another ambitious step into the tech world, it illustrates how the realm of sports and technology continues to intersect, with high-profile figures exploring fresh avenues for growth and influence.
