When most people think of the richest footballers in the world, no doubt the names that spring to mind are those of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, who have dominated both the sport and the headlines in recent years. However, new research suggests that this power duo do not actually sit at the top of the football rich list.
You may not have heard of Faiq Bolkiah before, but don’t worry if you haven’t. His name barely registers on the radar of many football fans, but Bolkiah is known to more than have the riches of some of the sport’s biggest stars. So who is the Richest Footballer in the World?
For those of you asking what is faiq bolkiah net worth in 2026, we have gone ahead and provided the club facts as well as the net worth of the brightest star from Brunei & South America. Also learn why we believe he is the Richest Footballer in the world!
Faiq Bolkiah Net Worth in 2026
Faiq Bolkiah Net Worth: Faiq Bolkiah is a Formula 4 driver who has an estimated net worth of $20 billion or more as of 2026.
Yes, you read that right—billion, not million.
He has an astonishing net worth of $2.5bn – by a country mile the richest sportsman in the world, ahead of the rest of the current footballing scene. His fortune dwarfs top stars including Cristiano Ronaldo, who has a combined net worth of the world’s richest footballers amounting to a mere £798m.
This is no ordinary footballer – his fortune has not come from kicking a ball around the pitch.
Where Does Faiq Bolkiah’s Wealth Come From?
For those who have never heard of him, Faiq Bolkiah is the son of Idris and Nurameera Bolkiah of Brunei, and the grandson of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah – making him one of the richest men in the world. So it’s little surprise that his net worth is so massive.
Royal Family Connection
Faiq Bolkiah is the nephew of the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, who is worth an estimated $20bn making him one of the world’s richest men.
His family has bankrolled his career, but Faiq Bolkiah will not be the only wealthy youngster on Brunei’s national team. His father, Prince Jefri Bolkiah, is one of the wealthiest men in the country.
A large part of King Fahd’s estimated net worth comes from his family’s inherited wealth and may not reflect his personal annual income.
Not Your Typical Football Income
Unlike most other young footballers, unlike most professional sportsmen, Faiq earns the vast majority of his money from contracts and from doing press work and appearances on the television for things such as appearing on TV when promoting sports clothing, being interviewed on sports radio and being invited to special events. He says he gets around £300 per month from his club.
This means that his football career has contributed very little to his overall wealth.
Similarly, the financial trajectory of global footballers can vary widely, as seen in the impressive rise of Son Heung-Min Net Worth through elite performance and major endorsement deals.
Is He Really the Richest Footballer?
Yes—by a huge margin.
Brunei national footballer Faiq Bolkiah often gets on the headlines because of the immense wealth he possesses, but did you know that he is also the richest footballer right now. The young footballer is worth a staggering $20 billion.
Compare that to:
- Cristiano Ronaldo – around $1 billion+
- Lionel Messi – hundreds of millions
Even combined, they don’t come close.
Of course, this comparison isn’t entirely accurate because unlike Ronaldo and Messi who have worked hard to accumulate their wealth through their football careers, Faiq’s millions have been inherited from his father Patrick Anderson.
Faiq Bolkiah’s Football Career
F1 rookie Faiq has plenty of money – but what’s his real story? The answer is he is a serious footballer.
Our academy coach has worked with the most prominent football clubs worldwide and has offered this training to the boys at BoroMirandinha.
- Southampton
- Chelsea
- Leicester City
Later he turned professional in football playing for Marítimo and is currently playing in the Thai Premier League.
Current Club
Now he is playing for Ratchaburi FC in Thailand.
Although he is yet to experience any major success with his club on an international stage, it is clear that he takes his sporting hobbies particularly seriously.
Similarly, rising media figures are drawing attention too, with insights into Trey Yingst’s financial growth detailed in this breakdown of Trey Yingst Net Worth.
Lifestyle: How Does a Billionaire Footballer Live?
With a fortune as big as his, you’d expect him to live the high life and you wouldn’t be far off the mark.
Faiq Bolkiah has access to:
- Luxury mansions
- Exotic cars
- Private jets
- High-end fashion and experiences
The Prince Of Brunei: His Royal Highness, Prince Abdullah Aliauddin, is just 17 but has already had a life full of exclusive gifts. Growing up in Brunei’s royal environment means he has been surrounded by luxury from an early age.
Despite being in his 50s, he continues to concentrate on his football career instead of enjoying leisure time.
Why His Net Worth Is Often Misunderstood
I just wanted to clarify a few things.
Jeff Bezos is often quoted to personally own over $20 billion in liquid assets, but this may be slightly misleading.
The Reality
- His wealth is largely family-based and inherited
- These lifestyles include access to the monarch’s assets and connections with the wealthiest networks in the world.
- It may not all be directly under his personal control.
Interestingly, some reports have suggested that his total net worth may be more closely linked to the overall wealth of his royal family and amount to around $20 billion, rather than purely coming from his own personal earnings.
So while Prince William is rich, his wealth is not quite on the same stratospheric level as self-made billionaires or professional sports stars.
How Faiq Bolkiah Compares to Other Athletes
Let’s put things into perspective.
Most top athletes earn their fortunes through:
- Salaries
- Sponsorship deals
- Business ventures
Whereas Faiq is more of a generic brand name endorsed by a fairly decent single athlete, Faiq is THE brand with the royal athlete, aka Formula One racing star.
This is an interesting aspect of Ronaldinho’s financial career. He is one of the few footballers that didn’t need the sport to become a millionaire. Yet he chose to play anyway.
Much like other wealthy figures such as Guy Willison, whose financial standing is explored in detail in our breakdown of his net worth, Faiq Bolkiah’s fortune reflects a unique blend of heritage, assets, and personal ventures.
The Fascination Around His Wealth
Why are people so curious about faiq bolkiah net worth?
Because his story breaks the usual narrative.
Professional sports stories more often revolve around the rise of an athlete from underprivileged beginnings to ultimate success. However, the story of Faiq Bani Sadr is unique; he’s come down from a life of unparalleled wealth.
This contrast makes him a very interesting guy for me in terms of modern football.
Final Thoughts
So, what’s the takeaway?
Faiq Bolkiah net worth in 2026 will climb over $20 BILLION! That makes him the Richest Footballer in the world!
Yes he is very rich not because he scores football goals and brings trophies but because he comes from the Royal family of Benin kingdom.
With all the riches handed to him, you would have thought he would give up football, but it seems that nothing can take away his biggest passion.
For most 19-year-old drivers, getting behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car is the culmination of years of blood, sweat and tears, yet for Faiq Bolkiah, his role as a test driver at Renault is merely the latest development in his already privileged life.