NEYMAR: How one of the world’s highest-paid footballers makes and spends his millions

Neymar Jr. has been compared to Pelé, and some believe he can even better than Lionel Messi.

While that is debatable, what is not is that Neymar is now one of the highest-paid footballers in the world, thanks to his new deal with Paris Saint-Germain, and he is also one of the world’s most marketable athletes.

This all adds up to big contracts and a lavish lifestyle that includes boats, cars, and a famous on-again, off-again girlfriend. This is fitting for one of the biggest stars in the world’s most popular sport.

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Neymar signed his first professional contract when he was 17 with the Brazilian club Santos, where he was making approximately $1.2 million a year.

SOURCE: UK Daily Mail

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In 2010, Santos rejected a $20 million bid for Neymar to join West Ham United in the English Premier League. He was just 18 at the time.

SOURCE: UK Daily Mail

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At the time, Neymar's agent publicly rejected a pay raise from Santos.

SOURCE: UK Daily Star

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Later that year, Neymar rejected an offer from Chelsea in the Premier League that would have paid him approximately $4.8 million a year. At the same time, Neymar was becoming an international star with the Brazilian national team.

SOURCE: UK Daily Mail

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Neymar then agreed to a new five-year contract to remain in Brazil, making about $4 million a year.

SOURCE: Forbes.com

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Huge pressure was placed on his shoulders when he was dubbed "The Next Pelé."

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Pelé added even more pressure when he said Neymar was better than Lionel Messi.

SOURCE: UK Daily Mail

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In 2013, Barcelona paid $120 million to acquire Neymar from Santos.

SOURCE: UK Daily Mail

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But the transfer sparked controversy when it was revealed that $54 million of the transfer fee was paid to Neymar's parents. This led to the resignation of Barcelona's president, Sandro Rosell.

SOURCE: FC Barcelona, BBC Sport

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Neymar signed a five-year contract with Barça worth $76.8 million for an average annual salary of $15.4 million.

SOURCE: FC Barcelona

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He'll be making much more than that now. In addition to the record $263 million transfer fee, PSG will reportedly pay Neymar $53 million a year, giving him a salary on par with Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

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Off the pitch, Neymar's endorsements pay him approximately $22 million a year.

SOURCE: Forbes.com

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In 2011, Neymar signed an 11-year deal with Nike worth $1 million a year.

SOURCE: Forbes.com

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Neymar was the first footballer to have his own custom-made Air Jordan soccer cleats. While the left boot has the numbers 10 (his number with Brazil) and 11 (his club number), the right boot has the No. 23, something Neymar requested as an homage to Michael Jordan.

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He even has a pair of Jordan socks — and not just with the Jumpman logo.

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He was named Eurosport's "Most Marketable Athlete" for 2013, the second straight year he topped the list.

SOURCE: SportsProMedia

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He has also appeared on the cover of the video game series "Pro Evolution Soccer."

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He signed on with L'Oreal to start an advertising campaign for Drakkar Noir.

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Neymar also has endorsement deals with Gillette, Panasonic, and Beats by Dre.

Source: Forbes

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Neymar is even commanding cameos in Hollywood movies, as he had a small role in "XXX: Return of Xander Cage."

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Neymar has expensive taste, and his list of extravagant purchases includes an $8 million yacht that also costs $120,000 a year to maintain.

SOURCE: Forbes.com

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He also has a vast car collection that includes a Porsche Panamera Turbo with a price tag of $400,000 to $550,000.

SOURCE: Forbes.com

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Neymar was recently spotted driving an Audi RS-7, which starts at $114,000.

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Neymar also has a private jet.

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It looks posh inside.

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Neymar is also a big fan of Gaga Milano watches. He once spent about $180,000 in one visit to a Gaga Milano boutique in Tokyo. That later turned into an endorsement deal.

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He appears to have very expensive taste when it comes to earrings.

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He has an extensive collection of model cars.

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Neymar's most recognizable expense is with him wherever he goes. Maintaining this hairstyle cannot be cheap.

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I twas pretty wild at the start of the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

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But after a disappointing draw in Brazil's first match, he toned it down for the second match.

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All of those are in stark contrast to the more natural look he had been sporting, such as when he was spotted at the 2017 NBA Finals sitting alongside Lewis Hamilton.

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Neymar has what has been described as an "on-off" relationship with Brazilian actress Bruna Marquezine. She was spotted watching Brazil practice during the 2014 World Cup.

Source: UK Daily Star

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In mid-2017, he declared his "Never ending love" for Bruna. But by late 2017, they had reportedly split.

Source: The Sun

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And by April, they were back together,

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Neymar has one son, Davi Lucca, from a previous relationship. Neymar reportedly pays $15,000 a month in child support.

SOURCE: Forbes.com

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In his spare time he likes to play first-person shooter video games.

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He's also a big-time poker player. He previously had an endorsement deal with

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He also played in a private tournaments during the 2016 and 2017 World Series of Poker tournaments and won a seat in the 2016 event, but did not play.

Source: Poker Listings

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He loves poker so much that he even revealed that during PSG's league-clinching match, he was playing online poker while he was recovering from a foot injury.

Source: ESPN; Julien Froment

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It is unclear whether Neymar ever purchased a house during his time in Barcelona. But at one point he was staying in this rental property.

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With Neymar's move to Paris Saint-Germain, he was living in an enormous 5-story house in Paris and reportedly paying $17,000 per month in rent. But he recently had to move out of the house and to a more secret location after fans reportedly scaled his walls and were found on his property.

Source: The Sun; The Daily Mirror

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Now check out another athlete who is also a fashion icon.

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