Cristiano Ronaldo invests in Perplexity AI, launches custom hub for 650 million fans

Cristiano Ronaldo joins AI company Perplexity as investor, brand ambassador - The Economic Times

Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo has become an investor in and brand ambassador for AI company Perplexity. Confirming the development in a post on X, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner said he was "proud to announce my investment in Perplexity". In addition, he unveiled a custom AI assistant, Ronaldo hub. Fans can now explore it to view previously unseen images from his personal archive, browse curated questions about all stages of his life, and relive his greatest goals on an interactive pitch. "It's an honor to be able to partner with @cristiano and welcome him as an investor to @perplexity," Aravind Srinivas, CEO of the company, wrote in an Instagram post. "We will work together to make Perplexity the best AI for asking questions." To promote the collaboration, Perplexity even released a YouTube video featuring two young Ronaldo fans discussing his achievements. With Ronaldo's over 650 million combined social media followers, Perplexity is eyeing reach in regions such as Latin America, the Middle East and Asia, where AI adoption is still growing, said online news website, Technosports.

Cristiano Ronaldo Invests in Perplexity AI, CR7 Digital Hub Launched

According to , Ronaldo's involvement reflects a shared emphasis on curiosity and self-improvement. The platform described the partnership as aligning the athlete's "legacy of self-improvement with an AI answer engine built for people who expect the same from their tools." The company also disclosed that Ronaldo uses Perplexity personally and "relies on it in high-stakes moments, including award speeches and major announcements." "Curiosity is a requirement for greatness....That's why I am proud to announce my investment in Perplexity," Ronaldo wrote as he announced his on X, formerly Twitter.

Cristiano Ronaldo invests in Perplexity AI - VnExpress International

"I am proud to announce my investment in Perplexity. Perplexity is powering the world's curiosity, and together we will inspire everyone to ask more ambitious questions," Ronaldo said in a promotional video posted on social media on Dec. 4, according to The Sun. The size of the stake and financial terms were not disclosed. Perplexity also secured a global sponsorship deal with Ronaldo and launched an interactive hub for fans on its search engine, Bloomberg reported. Founded in 2022, Perplexity has rapidly emerged as one of the fastest-growing AI startups, positioning itself as a direct competitor to Google. Ronaldo, 40, who currently resides in Saudi Arabia, has a net worth of approximately $1.4 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, which recently assessed his wealth for the first time. In October, Ronaldo mentioned Perplexity in a speech at an awards ceremony in Portugal, where he shared that he used the AI tool to gather information about the Prestige Award he was receiving. Prior to his move into the AI sector, Ronaldo's investments were mainly focused in Portugal, where he acquired businesses such as the Lisboa Racket Center in 2024, along with a hotel chain, gyms, and a media group. He was also recently photographed with tech mogul Elon Musk at a White House dinner hosted by U.S. President Donald Trump.