Richest footballer in the world who played for Chelsea is worth 15 times Cristiano Ronaldo

View 2 Images

Cristiano Ronaldo became the first footballer to become a billionaire thanks to his sterling career earlier this year, but his wealth doesn't come close to making him the richest player on the planet.

Ronaldo's blockbuster new contract with Al Nassr is set to see him earn £492million over a two-year period , having first penned a record-breaking £173m-per-year deal in Saudi Arabia in 2023. The Portuguese star's latest agreement saw him surpass the £1bn mark.

According to Bloomberg , Ronaldo’s net worth rose to $1.4billion (£1.045bn) in October. It's perhaps no surprise the 40-year-old harbours ambitions of owning multiple clubs in the future .

Even Ronaldo's vast sums look paltry compared to one player. It's not long-term rival Lionel Messi , however, but instead a star few likely remember.

Faiq Bolkiah, who plays for Ratchaburi in Thailand, has a net worth that dwarves one of the world's biggest football stars. Bolkiah is reported to have a massive £16bn in he bank.

The 27-year-old is the nephew of the Sultan Brunei and one of several heirs to a £200bn fortune. Born in Los Angeles, Bolkiah began his football career with Newbury before gaining experience in the youth teams of Southampton, Chelsea and Leicester City.

The left-winger moved to Maritimo in 2020, without making a senior appearance in England, and signed his first professional contract. Bolkiah was unable to break through there either, however, and played just one game for their under-23s before moving to Thailand.

Bolkiah joined Chonburi and featured 32 times, recording two goals and four assists in his time at the club. He then made the switch to Ratchaburi in 2023, who have competed in the Asian Champions League .

View 2 Images

The Brunei international holds both American and Bruneian citizenship, but grew up in England. Though he never made his mark in the Premier League , he played alongside the likes of Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Tammy Abraham at Chelsea .

Another team-mate of that era, Ruben Sammut, claims the group used to poke fun at Bolkiah's wealth. "You would never ever have thought he was something like the 12th in line to the throne," Sammut told The Athletic .

"You would not have thought of him as royalty. He was a humble guy, trying every day like every academy player. We used to joke he didn’t need to play football but he wanted to play because he loved football.

"It wasn’t a regular thing we mentioned. It was that typical banter, saying he is royalty, saying, ‘What’s he doing playing with us?’ But we all knew deep down how much he wanted to play, so it was more good-willed passing comments."

Bolkiah may also be familiar with an England international cricketer . The footballer went to £58,000-per-year Bradfield College when he grew up in England . The Berkshire private school also saw Gus Atkinson, who is the same age as Bolkiah, come through its doors.

Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.