Cristiano Ronaldo Takes Stake in Perplexity AI in His Biggest Tech Investment to Date
Billionaire footballer Cristiano Ronaldo has officially taken a stake in Perplexity AI, marking what is widely regarded as the most high-profile technology investment of his career.
While the company did not disclose the size of Ronaldo’s stake or the financial terms of the deal, it confirmed that it has signed a global sponsorship agreement with the football superstar and launched a dedicated interactive fan hub on its AI-powered search engine.
Founded in 2022, Perplexity AI has rapidly emerged as one of the fastest-growing artificial intelligence startups worldwide, positioning itself as a direct challenger to Google in the rapidly evolving search and discovery landscape.
Headquartered in San Francisco, the company reached a valuation of approximately US$20 billion during a funding round in September and continues to aggressively expand its enterprise-grade tools, premium subscription offerings, and international presence amid growing global demand for AI-powered search alternatives.
Cristiano Ronaldo, who is currently based in Saudi Arabia, holds an estimated net worth of US$1.4 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, which recently assessed his fortune for the first time.
Until now, Ronaldo’s investment focus has largely been centered on Portugal, involving smaller-scale ventures such as the 2024 acquisition of the Lisboa Racket Center, alongside investments in hotel chains, gyms, and a media group.
This high-profile investment comes just weeks after Ronaldo met with US President Donald Trump in Washington — a meeting that drew significant public attention after Trump shared a video featuring the football star, although no details of their conversation were disclosed.
