Where the money comes from
| Rich List rank | 38th overall and 7th among sports stars on the Sunday Times 40 Under 40 list, 2024 (via Insider Media) Insider Media |
| Businesses | His own sports bar, Elevens, and backing for a mini-golf bar, Par 59, in Cardiff (2024 report) Insider Media |
Gareth Bale is Wales' most famous footballer and one of the most decorated British players ever. He started at Southampton, became a star at Tottenham, and in 2013 joined Real Madrid in a world-record transfer. In Madrid he won five Champions League titles and scored a famous overhead kick in the 2018 final. He also led Wales to the Euro 2016 semi-finals and to the 2022 World Cup, their first for 64 years, before retiring in January 2023.
The Sunday Times 40 Under 40 Rich List 2024 valued him at £70 million, 38th overall and seventh among sports stars, according to Insider Media. That is about $94 million at the October 22, 2026 exchange rate.
How he made his money
Bale's fortune comes mainly from his years at Real Madrid, where he was one of the best-paid players in Europe, plus the transfer and contract bonuses that came with his record-breaking move from Tottenham. Endorsement deals added more during his peak years.
Since retiring he has turned to hospitality and golf. Insider Media's summary of the 2024 list says he has his own sports bar, Elevens, and backs a mini-golf bar called Par 59 on St Mary Street in Cardiff. He has also played in celebrity golf events alongside stars such as Novak Djokovic and Rory McIlroy.
About this estimate
Bale's £70 million estimate is from the Sunday Times 40 Under 40 list published in 2024. Insider Media reported that he did not appear in the 2025 rankings, so this is the latest Sunday Times figure we could find for him. He turned 37 in 2026.
We show the figure exactly as reported, in pounds, with a rough dollar conversion. We have not updated it ourselves.
The Sunday Times Rich List measures identifiable wealth, such as land, property, business stakes and significant shareholdings. It cannot see private bank accounts, so the real figure may be higher or lower.
Career and money timeline
- 2006
Makes his debut for Southampton at 16.
- 2007
Joins Tottenham.
- 2013
Joins Real Madrid in a world-record transfer.
- 2014
Wins the first of five Champions League titles with Real Madrid.
- 2022
Captains Wales at their first World Cup since 1958.
- 2023
Retires in January, aged 33.
Gareth Bale net worth FAQ
What is Gareth Bale's net worth?
The Sunday Times 40 Under 40 Rich List estimated in October 2024 that Gareth Bale is worth £70 million. That is the most recent published estimate from the Sunday Times 40 Under 40 Rich List that we could find; we do not update it ourselves.
Where do these numbers come from?
The net worth figure is the Sunday Times 40 Under 40 Rich List's own published estimate, linked with its date at the top of the page. Every figure on this page is linked to its source below.
Is Gareth Bale on the 2025 or 2026 Sunday Times Rich List?
Not in the sports rankings we could check. Insider Media reported that Bale and Raheem Sterling missed out on the 2025 40 Under 40 list, so his latest Sunday Times figure is £70 million from 2024.
Sources
- Insider Media, Who are the UK's richest sports people under 40? (Sunday Times 40 Under 40 Rich List 2024 figures) (October 9, 2024)
- Insider Media, Who are the UK's richest sports stars in 2025? (Sunday Times Rich List figures) (June 4, 2025)
- Background facts: Wikipedia, Gareth Bale (accessed October 22, 2026). Used for career facts only, never for money figures.
Photo: حسین ظهروند, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Every number on this page comes from the named source next to it. Totals and percentages are simple sums of those published figures. We never fill in missing years with our own guesses. How we handle estimates.