Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior, or “Neymar” to just about everyone in the world, is a Brazilian soccer superstar who now commands an income on the level with golf’s Jon Rahm – and the two share a common bond: Saudi cash.
As Rahm did with his nine-figure Saudi deal to play for LIV Golf, Neymar moved from Paris Saint Germain to Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal and saw his yearly compensation increase from more than $40 million with PSG to a reported $215 million.
He’s the third-highest-earning soccer player, behind only Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Neymar Net Worth
As the years pass, Neymar, who turned 32 in February 2024, has seen his net worth continue to expand, now estimated at between $230 million and $270 million.
Since he joined the Saudi club, Neymar’s net worth has grown from about $180 million to its present estimation and certainly has room to expand.
Neymar’s net worth is helped by his global popularity, not to mention his off-the-field newsmaking activities that inspire conversation among soccer fans and celebrity watchers alike.
His popularity is also reflected in the betting world, where many of the best online sportsbooks offer exciting prop betting markets on his performance, and even his personal life in some cases.
Salary & Career Earnings
Neymar’s compensation climbed as his accomplishments became elite.
Making a strong impression during his late teens in Brazil, Neymar drew the attention of the international soccer world.
He joined Barcelona in 2013 for a deal in excess of a reported $13 million, and, in his fourth and final year there, was making nearly $30 million.
Neymar drew even more fame because of his celebrated teammates Lionel Messi and Luis Diaz, who helped win the Copa del Rey and Champions League titles, along with the La Liga championship in Neymar’s first season there.
Ironically, it was Messi’s talent that ultimately cost Barcelona the services of Neymar, who wanted to carve his own niche.
He joined Paris Saint-Germain on a record transfer fee, a staggering $236 million paid to Barcelona directly.
According to El Mundo, on top of the $236 million, Neymar’s contract agreed to in August 2017 included a gross annual salary of $46 million.
Six years later, Neymar’s success – on the field and certainly in terms of worldwide visibility – allowed for another massive transfer, this time to the Saudi Pro League and the club Al Hilal.
Marca.com reported that the Saudis, as told to RMC Sport, paid a transfer fee of more than $60 million and signed Neymar to a two-year deal that according to France’s L’Equipe, is worth more than $80 million per year.
And Neymar says the quality of soccer might be better than Ligue 1.
Neymar’s career earnings stand at approximately $400 million.
Endorsements & Sponsors
Neymar was named the world’s most marketable athlete two years in a row. Neymar’s net worth shot up exponentially as his talent and outgoing personality coalesced.
Among Neymar’s sponsors and endorsement partnerships include Activision, Meta, Konami, Puma, Mondelez International, Puma, Flutter Entertainment, Epic Games, Qatar National Bank, and Quatar Airways.
Neymar had been in a lucrative relationship with Nike, but chose to leave that contract early – he was specifically tied to Nike’s Jordan Brand – and went with Puma.
The Puma deal more than doubled what his Nike contract paid, coming in at $28 million.
Neymar collects upwards of $40 million per year from his various sponsorship deals.
Business Ventures
Neymar’s business exploits include his entrance into the crypto world of NFTs (non-fungible tokens). His platform is NFTSTAR, with whom he signed in November of 2021.
He was reported to have invested in Bored Ape Yacht Club NFTs to the tune of just more than $1 million.
The value has fluctuated since, according to Bloomberg, and the recent rise in Bitcoin is likely to have helped incrementally.
The Daily Mail reported that Neymar collects more than a half-million dollars as part of his Al-Hilal deal for posting about the club on Instagram.
Neymar works with several charities including Global Goals, Quiksilver Foundation, and UNICEF.
Conclusion
Neymar has taken every advantage of his elevated stature at his big three soccer destinations, jumping when the time was right and collecting dizzying paydays in the process.
For more than a decade, Neymar has been mentioned in the same breath as Messi, Ronaldo and Mbappe as the sport’s greatest players.
His balance sheet reflects his success and savvy decision-making.