Forget Messi and Ronaldo—This Footballer is Richer Than Both Combined
Okay, let’s be real. When someone says “richest footballer,” your brain instantly pictures Messi’s cheeky grin or Ronaldo’s sculpted abs, right? I mean, those guys are walking money printers with their insane salaries and endorsement deals. But here’s the kicker—there’s actually a player out there who makes their combined wealth look like pocket change. And no, it’s not some secret superstar you missed. The truth is way crazier.
Meet Football’s Hidden Billionaire
So who is this mystery moneybags? Drumroll please… it’s Faiq Bolkiah. Never heard of him? That’s the whole point. While Messi was busy winning Ballon d’Ors and Ronaldo was building his CR7 empire, this guy was sitting on a $20 billion fortune. Yeah, billion with a B. Let that sink in for a second.
Here’s the wild part—he didn’t earn it through football. Not even close. Bolkiah comes from Brunei’s royal family (you know, the ones with all that oil money). His uncle’s the Sultan, which basically means he was born into a life where private jets are the equivalent of Uber rides for the rest of us.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
Let me break it down for you:
- Messi: Works his magic, gets $600 million
- Ronaldo: Scores goals, flexes, makes $500 million
- Bolkiah: Exists, inherits $20 billion
Kinda puts things in perspective, doesn’t it? While Leo and CR7 were sweating it out on the pitch, this guy’s biggest career challenge was probably deciding which luxury car to drive to practice. He did play a bit—Leicester City’s youth team, some Portuguese club—but let’s be honest, it was clearly just a hobby.
Why Royal Money Hits Different
Here’s the thing about old money—it doesn’t follow normal rules. While our favorite football stars were building their brands one Instagram post at a time, Bolkiah’s family was busy owning… well, basically half of Brunei. His dad Prince Jefri? Legend has it he once bought a gold-plated Mercedes just because he could. That’s the level of wealth we’re talking about here.
And that’s why you’ve never heard paparazzi chasing Bolkiah. Unlike our favorite football celebs, he doesn’t need the spotlight. When your bank account has more zeros than a phone number, fame becomes optional.
The Real Kick in the Teeth
What really gets me? There are guys like Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni—absolute legends in cricket—who’ve worked their butts off for years. And their combined net worth doesn’t even come close to Bolkiah’s pocket change. Even Michael Jordan, the GOAT of basketball and business, only has about a tenth of what this guy’s sitting on.
Makes you think, doesn’t it? We grow up believing sports is the ultimate path to riches, but sometimes you just hit the genetic lottery.
Final Whistle
So here’s the takeaway: Faiq Bolkiah’s story flips the script on everything we assume about wealth in sports. It’s not always about trophies and endorsements—sometimes it’s about being born into the right family. Kinda takes the “self-made” narrative and kicks it straight into the stands.
Still, gotta respect the guy for chasing his football dreams when he could’ve just lounged on a diamond-encrusted yacht. Makes you wonder—if you had that kind of money, would you even bother with morning training sessions?
FAQs (Because People Always Ask)
Wait, seriously? $20 billion?
Yep. That’s not a typo. His family could probably buy a small country.
Did he actually play professionally?
Technically yes, but let’s just say he wasn’t exactly carrying teams to victory.
Why isn’t he famous then?
When you’re that rich, you don’t need fame. Plus, royal families tend to be private.
Who’s the richest self-made athlete?
Probably Jordan or Floyd Mayweather. But they’re still playing in the minor leagues compared to Bolkiah.
Is he still playing?
Nah, retired in 2021. Guess he got tired of pretending to care about salaries.
Source: Navbharat Times – Default
