August 10, (THEWILL) – Cristiano Ronaldo has cemented his status as the king of Instagram once again with a comfortable three-peat for the Portuguese legend.
The Portuguese superstar was named the platform’s top earner for the third consecutive year in the 2023 Instagram Rich List. Ronaldo earns an astonishing $3.23 million per sponsored post thanks to his massive following of nearly 600 million. That puts him well ahead of longtime rival Lionel Messi, who earns $2.6 million per post and comes in second on the list compiled by Instagram scheduling tool Hopper HQ.
The Rich List ranks the highest-paid social media influencers based on internal data and public information. Ronaldo and Messi are the only athletes in the top 20, which is otherwise dominated by celebrities like singer Selena Gomez and reality star Kylie Jenner.
Ronaldo’s earnings power underscores his unique popularity and personal brand. Even after leaving elite European soccer for Saudi Arabia, the 5-time Ballon d’Or winner remains unmatched in leveraging his fame online. He has personally attributed the influx of top players and managers across Europe to the Saudi Pro League to his influence.
Speaking about the numbers, Hopper HQ co-founder Mike Bandar. Said: “It’s still shocking to me that the annual money made on the platform increases every year. Yet, what fascinates me more is the consistent players at the top. It’s apparent that the glitz and glamour of traditional celebrities still holds power over the new ‘influencer’ status.”
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
