One of the most popular questions being asked on Twitter at the moment is this: who is worth more to Nike? The billionaire Cristiano Ronaldo has signed a $1 billion lifetime contract with Nike and owns a stake in Liverpool F.C. In contrast, the more successful Kevin Durant has a hefty stake in the Liverpool F.C. and has also won a slew of individual honors. The real question is: does the CR7 brand help the soccer giants?
Ronaldo has a $1 billion lifetime contract with Nike
Cristiano Ronaldo has signed a lifetime contract with Nike, reportedly worth $1 billion. This contract is similar to the one that LeBron James signed with Nike a year ago, which was also worth $1 billion. Both men have been with Nike for 13 years and have worn over 60 different Nike Mercurial boots. In the end, his lifetime contract is one of the most lucrative in sports history.
Many analysts believe that the deal is worth more than a billion dollars because it will allow the CR7 star to promote products through various channels. According to a study published by Hookit, Ronaldo’s social media presence generated $474 million in value for Nike this year. Clearly, this is a deal worth billions of dollars for Nike. However, the question remains, what does this mean for the future of the CR7 brand?
While the details of the lifetime contract with Nike have not been revealed, it’s clear that Ronaldo’s new deal with the sportswear company will help him reach his personal goals. Nike’s social media presence has helped them maximize the value of his new contract with the company. In 2016, he generated $474 million through 329 posts on Instagram, which is on par with Michael Jordan’s $1 billion lifetime contract with Nike.
The new contract between Cristiano Ronaldo and Nike will make the Portuguese player a billionaire. While his previous Nike contract was worth $17.5 million annually, this deal with Nike is far more lucrative. This new contract is the largest of his career, making him the third-highest-paid athlete in history. He will continue to be paid this money until he retires. There are no limits on the size of the contract, so the new pact will only increase his income.
The value of the social media following of Cristiano is far greater than his contract with Nike. According to Hookit, the value of social and digital media outlets is measured by the number of posts a brand makes on those platforms. In the first 11 months of 2016, Ronaldo’s posts on Instagram alone generated $474 million in brand value for Nike. With this value, Nike should easily be able to recoup its $1 billion investment in the soccer superstar.
Kevin Durant is Nike’s most valuable player
A perennial NBA all-star, Kevin Durant is one of the biggest sneaker stars in the NBA. His deal with Nike is worth more than $300 million over 10 years, including a $50 million retirement package. Durant’s sneakers are usually cheaper than other superstar collaborations, and his technical ability is apparent in the designs. Kevin Durant has also become an icon in the world of basketball. Since signing his contract with Nike, the 6-foot-10 forward has become a household name in the NBA. He currently plays for the Brooklyn Nets. His talent and style have earned him a contract with Nike, which was extended in 2014.
He entered the NBA as a youngster in 2007, and has won two championships with the Oklahoma City Thunder in just his seventh season. Nike is also the main sponsor of his jersey and sneakers. In 2016, Nike honored him with the Nike KD10, which features a full-length Zoom cushioning and Flyknit upper for maximum tenacity. He won his second NBA title this year, and won the Finals MVP award once again.
Along with his basketball skills, Durant has a variety of other business interests. He owns stakes in companies like Postmates, Acorns, and Google. In addition to his endorsements, he also runs his own media company, 35 Ventures, which has deals with Fox, ABC, NBC, Google, and others. His personal life is equally impressive. He is engaged to Monica Wright, but has not been married since 2014.
After winning the NBA’s Most Valuable Player award in 2013-14, Kevin Durant signed a 10-year endorsement deal with Nike. Interestingly, the partnership began well before that. In an interview with Slam Magazine’s Max Resetar, the star explained that he had been wearing Nike shoes even before signing his contract. The relationship with Nike has been a long-standing one for both companies.
Following the SuperSonics’ move to Oklahoma City, Durant’s shoe line became more popular than ever. The “Nerf” colorway, which came with a Nerf basketball and court, became wildly popular. Both of these items became extremely popular, and have soared in value on the reselling market. Similarly, the “Aunt Pearl” colorway debuted in 2008, named after Durant’s aunt. The “Aunt Pearl” colorway” brings a pop of pink into the line.
CR7 brand is Ronaldo’s income driver
Cristiano Ronaldo is a renowned footballer who owns the CR7 brand. This line of clothing and other merchandise first began with underwear, and has since expanded into a full clothing line for men and boys. In addition to the CR7 brand, Ronaldo has invested in the opening of several Pestana Hotels. He owns two hotels, and three more are set to open this year. Other income sources include the sale of soccer-related memorabilia.
The CR7 brand is one of Ronaldo’s biggest income drivers, accounting for around 25% of his endorsement revenues. The brand, a combination of the soccer player’s initials and his jersey number, first launched promoting branded underwear in 2013. It has since expanded into a full line of clothing, shoes, perfumes, and denim. Additionally, Ronaldo is generous with his time for charity projects, including campaigns for childhood hunger, obesity, and biodiversity.
The CR7 brand also generates revenue for Portugal. In addition to the football-related business, Ronaldo also owns a fleet of Bugattis. The latest model is the Centodieci, which costs $9 million, and the Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse, which is considered to be the fastest street-legal production car ever built. Several other high-end luxury vehicles are owned by Ronaldo, including the Mercedes Benz S-Class and the Ferrari 599, which he bought on his 27th birthday.
In addition to his lucrative soccer earnings, Ronaldo also benefits from massive endorsement deals. His life-time partnership with Nike has been worth US$1 billion. Other brands he endorses include Herbalife, Electronic Arts, TAG Heuer, Egyptian Steel, and MTG. His popularity has helped his brand garner more than 200 million social followers. He is also earning a massive amount of money from his social media accounts.
In addition to the CR7 brand, Ronaldo earns more than $120 million a year from various other business ventures. Aside from his lucrative contract with Nike, he also earns millions from the CR7 brand, which also includes branded clothing, accessories, and hotels and gyms. In addition to his lucrative contract with Nike, the CR7 brand has reportedly made him the first active team sport athlete to earn $1 billion in total career earnings.
Kevin Durant owns a stake in Liverpool F.C.
Adding to the growing number of basketball stars owning stakes in sports teams, Kevin Durant has announced his interest in investing in soccer. He plans to join Lebron James, who recently acquired a stake in Liverpool F.C. The purchase of the stake in Liverpool raised eyebrows because it was outside the “Big Four” sports in the U.S. But Durant sees the sport as a growing phenomenon in the U.S., and plans to use his ownership stake to promote the game. He also owns a minority stake in the Philadelphia Union, which is also owned by the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets.
LeBron James has been involved in professional sports for years, including the Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat. In 2010, he acquired a 2% stake in Liverpool with his business partner Maverick Carter. After purchasing his stake, James watched a game at Anfield, and was struck by the team’s supporters’ support. LeBron said that the fans’ enthusiasm was unlike any other he’d experienced. He later became an official partner in the FSG ownership group, and Maverick Carter joined him. The NBA star admits that he wanted to be more involved, and that he always wanted to own a team.
Aside from his stake in Liverpool FC, the NBA star has other business ventures. He has joined with Rich Kleiman in forming Thirty Five Ventures, and has already invested in the Philadelphia Union in Major League Soccer (MLS) in 2020. His interest in sports extends to the women’s game, as well. Kleiman and Durant are both board members of women’s professional sports league network Athletes Unlimited. In addition to the football league, the two have partnered with organizations focused on women’s sports.
