What would we do if we got a million dollars? What would be the first thing we’d buy if we won the lottery? Instead of asking these questions, let’s take a look at what some of the world’s greatest athletes did with the millions they earned. From Cristiano Ronaldo’s impressive car collection to Floyd Mayweather’s sparkling jacket, and an iconic UFC fighter who’s focused on fulfilling a childhood dream of collecting as many action figures as possible.
Real Madrid all-time top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo has one of the most impressive car collections in the world today. Bugatti? Ferrari? Rolls-Royce? Choose the most luxurious model of any of these brands, and Ronaldo probably owns it. He can pick a different car every morning, capable of going from 0 to 100 km/h in just a few seconds. Recently, the Saudis gifted him a new BMW, but it’s "only" worth a million dollars. In 2019, however, he purchased a Bugatti Centodieci for $10 million, a car that can reach 380 km/h, and Ronaldo is one of the few people in the world to own one. He also bought the limited-edition McLaren Senna (only 500 units worldwide), a car made as a tribute to Brazilian Formula 1 driver Ayrton Senna. Ronaldo even has family cars, like Mercedes models, with personalized CR7 engravings. In short, it’s good to be Ronaldo.
Patrick Mahomes, the Kansas City quarterback, owns 180 pairs of shoes, enough for him to wear each pair twice a year (so they don’t collect dust). The first thing he did in his new home was convert a room into a giant shoe closet with shelves reaching to the ceiling. His collection includes special pieces, such as a pair inspired by "Game of Thrones," one of the rarest in the world. Adidas gifted him a custom pair of diamond-studded sneakers, and, of course, he owns Yeezys by Kanye West (which can cost $1,500 a pair, if you can even find them). Mahomes makes sure to actually wear his shoes, which, he says, makes him a real "sneakerhead" rather than just a collector who’s obsessed with the money he earns.
One of the greatest UFC legends of all time is a Brazilian who loves breaking routines. While Brazilian soccer players are known for their love of parties, Anderson Silva spends his money on superheroes. He has a collection of over 6,000 action figures, worth at least $2 million. His collection includes an Optimus Prime figure made especially for him, a replica of Captain America’s iconic shield, and an Iron Man helmet. "Cars and watches? They don’t interest me," he admitted. "I grew up on other things. I’m a geek, and I’m proud of it. My mom used to buy me expensive toys just to see me smile. People say it’s childish? Let them. When I was a kid, I imagined myself becoming a superhero." Today, he works with factories in Japan to reserve models he wants.
Neymar is known for his extravagant lifestyle and love of partying. He’s hosted private events that cost millions, demanded Barcelona and PSG pay salaries to his entourage, and even flew Brazilian singers in just to perform one song. He bought a private helicopter worth $15 million, branding it to ensure everyone knows it’s his. Now, he can’t be late for training—assuming he’s fit enough to attend. Back in Santos, Brazil, he can flaunt his wealth without criticism. He even arrived at training in his helicopter, with photos earning millions of likes rather than questions like, "Why does he need this?" or "Has his career been wasted?"
LeBron James is famous for meticulously taking care of his body, but after games, he likes to relax with a glass of wine. Not just any wine, though—he drinks bottles from some of the world’s most famous wineries, like Château Pétrus in France, where a bottle costs an average of $5,000. It all began when he heard that a glass of wine every evening is good for the heart, and it escalated into building a wine cellar in his house. "My friends and I drink wine at night like we’re old men," the 40-year-old joked, adding an interesting comparison: "Like basketball, you need to truly understand wine to appreciate it." LeBron certainly ages like fine wine, and unlike most people, he can actually afford to taste decades-old vintages to see if the cliché holds true. Kevin Durant once teased him for being stingy, but LeBron knows how to live like a king when he wants to.
At 7'1" tall and weighing about 327 lbs., Shaquille O’Neal couldn’t settle for a regular bed. Instead, he requested a giant round bed featuring the Superman logo—and someone made it for him. The bed has a diameter of 9 meters and can accommodate dozens of average-sized people. In his Florida mansion, Shaq had 12 bedrooms, 15 bathrooms, an indoor basketball court, and a pool. Shaq loves everything "big and as over-the-top as possible." When he saw the mansion, he purchased it immediately, even though he was still on a rookie contract. Luckily, he later signed massive deals that allowed him to handle the mortgage payments.
Many soccer players love luxury watches, but in Kylian Mbappé’s case, you can be sure they’re authentic. He’s an ambassador for the luxury brand Hublot and owns watches from Audemars Piguet (with models sometimes reaching $100,000) and classic Rolex designs, like the "Rolex Daytona," which costs up to $50,000. Mbappé loves showing off his watches, believing he’s the new king of soccer. Fortunately, his performance backs up the confidence, so he can buy flashy watches without interference—even though the time could just as easily be checked on a phone. While Mbappé doesn’t talk about his collection, he’s often spotted wearing standout timepieces. Modesty isn’t exactly the theme here.
Michael Jordan, known for his frugality, has many stories centered on his spending habits, like arguments with Chicago Bulls teammates over card games involving just a few dollars or golf matches that turned into fierce competitions due to his competitive nature. Now 62, Jordan spends his time competing in fishing tournaments. He purchased a yacht branded with his name because he’s a highly successful businessman and takes it to tournaments in beautiful locations like Costa Rica. After selling the Charlotte Hornets for $3 billion and one of his mansions for $15 million, he has plenty of time for hobbies. Even if people stopped buying Air Jordans tomorrow, Michael would never have to worry about money. He could enter fishing tournaments under a pseudonym, but the massive "23" on his yacht makes it clear who he is.
Floyd "Money" Mayweather, worth over $1 billion, is the highest-earning boxer in history and a superstar beyond the sport, thanks to his love of flaunting his wealth. In 2020, he bought an $18,000 jacket by the French brand Balmain for his birthday. What’s special about the jacket? It’s made of mirror fragments, creating a sparkling, luxurious look (or a garish one, depending on your perspective). This isn’t even the most extravagant thing he’s spent money on—he reportedly bought a golden crib for his children. Mayweather loves posing with stacks of cash in various locations, from his bed to his private jet, justifying his nickname "Money." He’s even donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to Israel and visited the country at the start of the war.
UFC star Conor McGregor loves the sea, but he won’t settle for renting a yacht. Instead, he bought a Lamborghini yacht, designed to look more like a sports car than a boat. Called "the supercar of the sea," it costs $3.6 million and has a green design. Don’t worry, he also owns a Lamborghini car. Having earned over $500 million in his career, he can afford it. He also owns his own whiskey brand but advises against drinking and driving.
"It doesn’t matter who you are—candy makes you happy." This isn’t a line from "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" but from NBA forward Giannis Antetokounmpo. He bought a candy vending machine for his home and later became a partner in a candy company, saying, "I got tired of paying for candy and wanted it for free." He also launched a line of colorful shoes inspired by his favorite candies. Giannis admits he’s addicted to gummy bears and chocolate, but luckily, it doesn’t affect his performance on the court.
When boxing legend Muhammad Ali said he "floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee," he probably didn’t imagine the phrase would inspire a massive diamond-encrusted bee necklace worth $250,000. Antonio Brown, known for his controversial personality and love of jewelry, also owns a gold chain weighing a kilogram, which he bought for himself for his 30th birthday. For those who feel awkward about buying themselves gifts, Brown proves it’s possible. His flashy, heavy, attention-grabbing necklace screams "I’m here"—just like the football player it belongs to.
