(Feb 19): Cristiano Ronaldo is putting a small part of his personal fortune into health and wellness technology by investing in a digital platform owned by Herbalife.
The 41-year-old Portuguese footballer, who has played in Saudi Arabia since 2023, spent US$7.5 million ($9.5 million) on a 10% stake in HBL Pro2col Software LLC, Herbalife said alongside fourth-quarter results.
“Investing in Pro2col felt like a natural evolution — in addition to representing Herbalife, this is about helping shape and grow a platform that can truly change how people engage with their health and wellness,” Ronaldo said, according to a statement from Herbalife. Bloomberg News has reached out to Ronaldo for further comment.
Pro2Col’s platform uses an individual’s unique data to build a wellness plan specific to them, with daily habits and smart nutrition tracking, the company says.
Ronaldo — who became the first footballer to join the Bloomberg Billionaire’s Index in 2025, with an estimated net worth of US$1.4 billion — has been a paid endorser of Herbalife since 2013.
Herbalife surged 15% in pre-market trading. Mizuho Securities analyst John Baumgartner sees the Ronaldo news as “enhancing brand potential.” On the results, Baumgartner said the firm has seen a further revenue recovery, ahead of consensus.
See also: Macquarie-led group to buy Qube Holdings for US$8.3 bil
The rally follows long-term underperformance for the shares. Over the past five years, the stock has declined by about two thirds.
Back in 2012, billionaire investor Bill Ackman placed a US$1 billion bet against the company, triggering a high-profile battle with Carl Icahn, who took a large long position.
In 2016, the Federal Trade Commission required Herbalife to pay US$200 million and restructure its business to settle US claims that it deceived customers. Ackman exited his position in 2018, though he claimed vindication when the shares plunged 43% to a 14-year low in February 2024.
Uploaded by Magessan Varatharaja
