The richest footballer in the world is estimated to be worth around £15.7 billion, dwarfing the personal fortunes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi
Faiq Jefri Bolkiah of Ratchaburi FC
Faiq Bolkiah has a personal fortune estimated to be £15.7 billion
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It's a reasonable assumption that the highest-earning footballers such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi through their weekly wages and profitable endorsements are also the wealthiest globally. But there are notable exceptions, particularly when you happen to be connected to royalty.
Few footballers approach the staggering earnings that Ronaldo commands, with the 41-year-old receiving a substantial £3.42million weekly from his deal with Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr. Messi's arrangement with Inter Miami is valued at £20.2m annually.
Yet the multi-millionaire pair are mere specks in the financial universe when set against Faiq Bolkiah. The 28-year-old is of Bruneian heritage but was born in Los Angeles, United States, and is believed to be worth approximately £15.7 billion ($20bn).
He is the son of Jefri Bolkiah, a member of the Bruneian royal family and also the nephew of the Sultan of Brunei. His family ties position him to receive a portion of the Asian royal family's £200bn wealth.
According to Forbes, Ronaldo has an estimated net worth of £908.6 million ($1.2bn), with Messi slightly behind on £833m ($1.1bn). But they are nowhere near matching Bolkiah, whose personal fortune is calculated to be seven times greater than Ronaldo and Messi's combined riches.
While he holds the title of the world's wealthiest footballer, Bolkiah fell short when it came to ability. He endured a difficult spell in England having come through the academy ranks at Southampton, Leicester and Chelsea, yet was unable to make the breakthrough.
Lionel Messi - Cristiano Ronaldo
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are approaching billionaire territory(Image: FIFA via Getty Images)
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He was initially spotted by the Saints at 13, before being snapped up by Chelsea. It was during a heavy defeat for Southampton's Under-16s against the Blues that Bolkiah first attracted attention.
"At the time, Chelsea's age group (U-16) was very, very strong. They won everything. It was the age group with Tammy Abraham, Fikayo Tomori, and a lot of top players," Bolkiah told Mainstand.
"As a young player in England, everyone looked up to the players at Chelsea because they were the best. They won every youth tournament. We went there and lost 8-0 or 9-0, but it was one of the best games I've ever played in my life by far. I don't know how but even though we lost a lot, I showed a lot of what I could do."
Despite securing a deal with the Blues, Bolkiah failed to make an impression following his arrival at Cobham. With the likes of Tammy Abraham progressing through his age group, he departed in December 2015 for Leicester.
Chelsea's U21 Faiq Bolkiah during a friendly match Under 21 match between Chelsea and Burnley at the Cobham Training Ground
Faiq Bolkiah came through the Chelsea academy system(Image: Getty)
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While he described his time with the Foxes as "amazing", he failed to break into the first team and opted to depart in 2020. He subsequently signed for Portuguese side Maritimo, a move he now looks back on with regret.
"Maritimo said to me, 'You'll come here, you'll play,' so I said, 'I just want to be here for a year. The main thing for me is I want to play.' Obviously, that didn't happen. I definitely regret moving there," he said later.
"I feel like there was a lot of politics to do with it as well, why Maritimo wanted me. I didn't feel like they were being fully honest. With the clubs in Europe, and definitely at the last club I was at in Portugal, it had [an effect]. I've seen it as clear as day."
Bolkiah currently turns out for Thai League 1 side Ratchaburi, who are battling relegation, but finds himself firmly on the periphery with no prospect of featuring at the World Cup. During the 2025/26 season, he managed just two outings from a possible 30 for his club, yet still believes Asia represents the correct path for his career.
He said: "I never had (the thought) in my head that I would come to Asia. I sat down with my agent, my advisors and my family members, and I just said to them, 'I can't risk going to another club, them signing me for reasons outside of football, and not playing, wasting another year or two years'."
His footballing journey may not have unfolded as he had envisioned. Yet Bolkiah can still lay claim to the title of the world's wealthiest footballer — and not even Ronaldo or Messi can strip him of that distinction.