July 31 – Portugal and Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo is sport’s top earner on social media, according to new analysis by analytics firm HopperHQ.
The Portuguese and Juventus forward tops the HopperHQ’s 2019 Instagram rich list and can earn up $975,000 per post. With 172.8 million Instagram followers, Ronaldo is well ahead of second ranked Paris Saint-Germain and Brazil forward Neymar, who has 123 million Instagram followers and can earn up to $722,000 per post.
Football players dominate the top ten with eight of the top 10 ranking slots. Lionel Messi is third ranked with David Beckham ranked fourth. Beckham with 56.6 million followers has an earning potential of up to $357,000 per post.
He is not the only former player in the lost with trick specialist and former Brazilian star Ronaldinho ranked sixth. There are four South American footballer in the top 10 with Luis Suarez ranked 10th.
The NBA’s icon LeBron James is the highest-placed athlete outside the sport. His posts can yield up to $272,000. The highest ranked woman was former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fighter Ronda Rousey (US$67,700), just ahead of veteran tennis ace Serena Williams (US$60,500).
Ronaldo’s popularity however may have taken a hit – at least in South Korea where he sat 90 minutes on the bench during a Juventus pre-season friendly. Outraged fans have reached out to a law firm to seek a lawsuit.
The Portuguese was contracted to play 45 minutes against the K-League All Stars, but he never came off the bench. That angered fans who had paid premium ticket prices – up to the €300 – to see the Juventus star.
Instagram rich list:
Source: HopperHQ
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1714417587labto1714417587ofdlr1714417587owedi1714417587sni@t1714417587catno1714417587c1714417587