Cristiano Ronaldo invests in Perplexity, launches interactive CR7 Zone

Football icon Cristiano Ronaldo has taken a stake in fast-rising AI search engine Perplexity AI, expanding his sprawling business empire into artificial intelligence while rolling out a dedicated interactive fan zone inside the platform.

The Portuguese superstar, whose personal fortune is estimated at US$1.4 billion, has become a strategic investor and global partner in the three-year-old company valued at US$20 billion.

As part of the deal, Perplexity has launched a real-time “Cristiano Ronaldo zone” where fans can ask questions and receive personalized content about his career.

Ronaldo described himself as a heavy daily user of the service and said the partnership celebrates curiosity as the key to excellence.

The collaboration was marked by a 90-second video highlighting his records, including multiple Ballon d’Or wins and golden boots.

Already the world’s richest footballer, Ronaldo continues to diversify far beyond the pitch.

His CR7 brand (clothing, fragrance, gyms and more) is valued at over €100 million and opened its first Asian lifestyle museum in Hong Kong’s K11 MUSEA earlier this year.

Other ventures include luxury Pestana CR7 hotels in six cities, Insparya hair transplant clinics, a film production company with Matthew Vaughn, stakes in Portuguese porcelain giant Vista Alegre, media holdings, the Whoop fitness-tech firm, MMA promotion and luxury watch collaborations.

His latest move into AI adds another high-profile chapter to an investment portfolio that has made him sports’ first billionaire through salaries, endorsements and business deals.