Few people live the luxury lifestyle quite as wholeheartedly as the rich and famous, and sports stars, in particular, are known for their penchant for extravagance. Earning the kind of eye-watering salaries that afford them the lives they once dreamed of and far beyond, often it seems that their days pass by in a blur of private jets, lavish yachts and five-star hotels, and while some are a little more reserved when it comes to their fortunes, others just can’t wait to splash the cash.
There’s a fine line between extravagance and ostentatiousness, and not everyone knows the difference – either way, there is no denying that these guys have got it made. From football to snooker, Formula One to UFC, for some of the world’s wealthiest, money is truly no object, and with multi-million dollar salaries sizably bumped up by lucrative brand endorsements, for some it seems to just keep on coming.
Here, we take a look at five of the biggest luxury lifestyle lovers in sport.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Having amassed an impressive fortune totalling upwards of $450 million, Cristiano Ronalos has long been known for his love of excess, and is regularly seen showing off his latest supercar or designer watch on Instagram. Projected to earn a whopping 31 million Euros in 2021 alone from Juventus Football Club, he also enjoys numerous brand endorsements with big names including Nike, Altice, DAZN, MTG and Herbalife which keep him comfortably in his designer suits. A huge fan of luxury travel, he also often stays at some of the most expensive resorts in the world, and some of the most iconic, too.
Owner of an extensive luxury car collection including a Bugatti Veyron, a Lamborghini Aventador and not one, but two Ferraris, he’s certainly not afraid of showing off his wealth.
Ronnie O’Sullivan
One of the sports world’s most outspoken snooker stars and one of the wealthiest, too, Ronnie O’Sullivan is as well known for his opulent lifestyle as he is his impressive snooker scores. With an estimated net worth of £42.5 million, the six-time world champion spends his money his own way, and perhaps more unusually, that includes buying a 60ft barge. Once moored on Regent’s Canal, which runs across North and East London, it seems it wasn’t the most sensible of purchases after all, since Ronnie didn’t manage to spend even one night on board before putting it back on the market. A true example of the kind of spontaneity that is common amongst the wealthy – because if you have all that money to spare, then why not?
Floyd Mayweather
When it comes to the more ostentatious kind of extravagance, few do it better than undefeated boxing champion, Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather. One of the richest athletes in the world, his net worth is estimated to be anywhere between $560 million to $1 billion – and he isn’t afraid to show it. Regularly seen flaunting his lavish lifestyle on social media, he owns his own private jet, regularly adds to his collection of supercars, and holidays on board luxury super yachts – it doesn’t get much showier than this.
Also a fan of gambling, Mayweather has won himself a reputation as one of the world’s high-rollers – once betting over $1 million on the outcome of a college football game.
Lewis Hamilton
A record seven-time Formula One champion, it’s safe to say that British driver Lewis Hamilton has got more than a few millions under his belt. With a net worth of a whopping $285 million, his ostentatious sense of fashion regularly gets him noticed on social media and at red carpet events in the world, and he can often be seen sporting bold designer labels and dripping in gold jewellery.
Unsurprisingly, he is a lover of luxury cars and has an enviable collection to his name. Add to that his ever-expanding array of diamond watches and pendants and his own personal private jet, and it’s safe to say that Hamilton enjoys the luxury lifestyle to the fullest.
Neymar
Brazilian footballer Neymar is no stranger to the luxury lifestyle, with a vast car collection including a Porsche Panamera Turbo – worth $400-550,000 – plus an $8 million yacht to his name. But despite enjoying an extravagant lifestyle, it seems that he has a softer side, too – and is a known philanthropist who has given extensive amounts of money to help impoverished communities in Brazil, with a focus on clean water, sanitation and education.
Nevertheless, his love for diamonds has not gone unnoticed, and with an impressive net worth of $200 million, it would be rude not to treat himself.
