Ronaldo Becomes an Investor in Perplexity AI, a Google Rival

Cristiano Ronaldo, the famous footballer and billionaire, has decided to invest in Perplexity AI. Founded in 2022, the company has grown rapidly and is now valued at $20 billion (approximately CZK 460 billion). Ronaldo announced the news on the social media platform X, emphasizing that curiosity is the key to success. He said: "Curiosity is a requirement for greatness. You win when you keep asking new questions every day. That’s why I am proud to announce my investment in Perplexity."

Perplexity AI offers the Comet search engine, which is powered by artificial intelligence. In September, the company raised $200 million (approximately CZK 4.6 billion) in a funding round, bringing it to this high valuation. Ronaldo himself has been using Perplexity for some time—for example, in October it helped him prepare his acceptance speech for the Prestige Globe Award. His involvement began as a user and has now evolved into the role of investor.

A bonus for fans

The partnership between Ronaldo and Perplexity AI includes a special page called "Perplexity x CR7". The page showcases Ronaldo’s career, including his records in the Premier League, LaLiga, Serie A and the Saudi Pro League. Fans can find rare photographs, curated questions, iconic goals and the stories behind them. Ronaldo described it as "just the beginning" of their joint efforts to inspire people to ask more ambitious questions.

Ronaldo, who has more than 1 billion followers on social media, can significantly expand Perplexity’s reach thanks to his popularity. In the announcement, he said that "Perplexity is powering the world’s curiosity." The company emphasizes that Ronaldo represents discipline, consistency and continuous improvement, which aligns with its philosophy—every success is merely a starting point for the next question.

Ronaldo as a billionaire

Cristiano Ronaldo currently lives in Saudi Arabia, and his net worth is estimated at $1.4 billion (approximately CZK 32.2 billion). This is his most significant technology investment to date. Just a few weeks before the announcement, Ronaldo met with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington. The meeting went viral thanks to a video shared by Trump, but details of their conversation were not disclosed. This sparked speculation about possible business ties.

Perplexity AI has become one of the fastest-growing artificial intelligence startups and is considered a direct competitor to Google. Ronaldo signed a sponsorship agreement with the company, but the size of his stake and the financial details were not disclosed. The company is planning additional content, experiences and exclusive merchandise as part of the partnership.

Sources: perplexity.ai and investing.com