How Lionel Messi Spends His $600 Million Dollars

Lionel Messi is the second highest paid athlete in the world in 2021. He's also the richest soccer player. He used his salary to buy epic mansions, spacious private jets, and sleek sports cars. Now that Messi's moving from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain, his salary is taking a slight hit. Oh no! But as one of only four athletes who surpassed $100 million in total earnings in 2021, his current $600 million net worth is only going to grow as he cashes in on lucrative endorsement deals. From lavish yachts to swanky Miami penthouses, here's how the soccer star spends his millions. Let's jump right in with the question you all want answered. How lavish are Lionel Messi's mansions? Messi's multi-million dollar real estate portfolio starts in Spain. The athlete's first major home purchase happened in 2009 when he paid $2 million for his house in Barcelona. The mansion was already spacious and unique when he got his hands on it, but Messi spent millions more adding upgrades, like renovating the pool area and adding a small soccer field. Today the home is estimated to be worth between $7 and $10 million. The home includes a dining area in the garden and a terrace with a section for barbecuing. Peaks we've gotten of the interior feature beige floors, walnut furniture, and plush dark sofas. The home also has its own state-of-the-art gym. The property is located in a prestigious and expensive suburb where Messi benefits from a fly zone right over his house. One of Messi's other mansions benefits from this kind of privacy too. He owns a stunning riverfront home near his hometown of Rosario, Argentina. There aren't many images of the mansion and its price is unknown, which means Messi's search for privacy is definitely working. He also reportedly owns his modest childhood home nearby. Some of Messi's other real estate purchases have been publicized. In November 2019, he paid $5 million for a condo in Miami's Porsche Design Tower. The 60-story tower features a revolutionary car elevator system that transports residents and their cars to their apartment, where their vehicle will actually double as an apartment key. Messi can store his cars in a sky garage visible from the unit through a glass wall. Apartments here also feature floor-to-ceiling windows, private pools, and outdoor kitchens. In April 2021, Messi upped his Miami real estate game when he paid $7.3 million for the entire ninth floor of a different building. The Regalia Miami unit he bought has four bedrooms, four-and-a-half bathrooms, and a whopping 2,100 square feet of terrace space. There's also a 1,000-bottle wine cooler, and the ninth-floor apartment came fully furnished. There are plenty of amenities in the building, including a spa, fitness center, chef's kitchen, and a champagne bar. Now that Messi has signed his contract with Paris Saint-Germain, he needs to find new living arrangements in the French city. Thankfully, he already purchased a swanky apartment in Paris back in 2016. It's reported that Messi and his family will live in this six-bedroom apartment in Paris' prestigious 16th arrondissement, known as the South Kensington of Paris. The large apartment is an old mansion that was converted into a luxury flat with a shared garden and terraces with spectacular views. Messi reportedly spent $9.4 million for the Parisian paradise. We've seen where he likes to live, but how does the soccer star like to travel? Let's start with his epic car collection, which is estimated to be worth over $3.5 million. We know a few of the confirmed models in his collection, and they're pretty impressive. The Audi R8 Spyder is worth about $150,000. Messi's been spotted behind the wheel more than once. He's also plenty fond of his Maserati GranTurismo S, and who wouldn't be? With six-speed sequential semi-automatic transmission, this spacious car is capable of getting from zero to 60 in just 4.8 seconds. Messi's model is worth $130,000. Messi also has a second Audi, an Audi R8 V10. The 109,000-pound sports car is worth about $150,000, and while that may be impressive, it pales slightly in comparison to another of his favorites, an over $200,000 Ferrari F430 Spyder. This model is equipped with aerodynamic simulation programs and a simple classic interior. Rounding out his collection is another classic, a Dodge Charger SRT8. This powerful car has an engine capacity of 425 horsepower with a 6.1-liter Hemi engine. It's worth about $80,000 and just might be the cheapest model in Messi's garage. Lionel Messi likes to take the skies and jet set around the world. He does it all in his $15 million private jet and often brings along friends, family, and his teammates. The jet features the names of his entire family on the steps and his number 10 on the tail. Inside, there are two bathrooms, a kitchen, and enough seats for 16 people. The seats can all be folded up and turned into eight comfortable beds for long haul and overnight trips. The private jet is a Gulfstream V and was reportedly made by a company in Argentina and designed specifically for Messi. However, he doesn't outright own the jet. Instead, he leases it. Another mode of transportation that Messi doesn't outright own but is often spotted enjoying is this luxurious yacht worth over $13 million. The 92-foot or 28-meter long yacht is called the Mayora 7C. The opulent yacht can reach speeds of 25 miles or 40 kilometers per hour. It features four bedrooms plus a VIP suite and comes with a tender garage, a wave runner, and two kayaks. The yacht costs Messi about $50,000 per week to rent. The soccer legend also has been spotted on other lavish yachts, like this $89,000 per week charter he enjoyed in Ibiza with friends and family. The inspiration yacht sleeps eight people in four cabins and features a large sun deck, outdoor dining, and several solariums to soak up as much vacation sun as possible. For Lionel Messi, being a millionaire isn't just about enjoying himself. He's the founder of the Leo Messi Foundation, which helps underprivileged children find better opportunities in education and health care. He's also been a UNICEF ambassador since 2010. Throughout his career, the former Barcelona player has participated in individual fundraising activities to help out the underprivileged. For example, he's played in global football matches benefiting various charities. He's even funded construction of a brand new gym and dorm inside his boyhood football club, Newell's, back in 2012. In March 2020, Messi made a $1 million donation to help fight the pandemic. He and his fellow Barcelona football club teammates also took a 70% cut in their salaries during the state of emergency to help pay the salaries of stadium staff that were suddenly out of work. From fancy homes to sleek cars and giving millions away to charity, how has Lionel Messi managed to build such a lucrative career for himself? Lionel spent an impressive two decades with Barcelona, having joined the team as a 13-year-old prospect. He scored 672 goals in 778 games with Barcelona and won a record six awards. He made headlines when it was revealed that his contract with the team was an astonishing $674 million. Since the contract included two upfront payments, $140 million as a renewal fee and $94 million as a loyalty fee, his annual salary worked out to about $110 million. Unfortunately, Barcelona has been in a dire financial situation in recent years. The team's debt reportedly topped $1.3 billion. According to league rules, player salaries can't exceed 70% of club revenue. Even if Messi accepted a 50% pay cut, his salary would have caused the team to be spending a whopping 110% of their revenue. This is why Messi ended up signing a two-year contract with PSG in August 2021. It'll earn the soccer star about $75 million per year. Messi arrived in Paris to sign the contract with a rose gold Yacht-Master Rolex, displayed prominently on his wrist. The $27,300 Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master features a 40mm 18k gold case that houses a black dial top with a matte black organic bezel. While Messi's contract is less than what he's used to, he's entitled to a cut of jersey sales and performance bonuses that are expected to bring his annual income to over $90 million. Messi also has other sources of income to help round out his salary. He has a lifetime sponsorship deal with Adidas, clothing line designed by Tommy Hilfiger's sister Jenny Hilfiger, and his own retail outlet, The Messi Store. In 2021, he made about $97 million on the field and another $33 million from sponsorships, endorsements, and other off-field activities. While Messi's professional life may be undergoing a massive transition, it's safe to say the world's richest soccer player knows how to make and keep his millions. If Messi is the second highest paid athlete of 2021, who's the first? That would be Conor McGregor, who made an impressive $180 million. Lionel Messi comes in next with $130 million, but back in 2019, he topped the list of highest earning athletes for the first time with $127 million. Do you think he'll ever top that list again?