Cristiano Ronaldo just crossed a huge line, he’s now officially the first footballer ever to reach billionaire status, with estimates placing his net worth at around $1.4 billion.  That’s not just from goals and trophies though it’s from massive contracts, brand deals, smart business moves, and a global brand empire.

A big chunk of his wealth now comes from his Saudi club contract, which is said to be worth over $400 million.  Add to that years of endorsement deals with Nike, Armani, and others, real estate, hotels, perfumes, and more, Ronaldo’s earnings span way beyond the pitch.  

Before this, most public sources estimated Ronaldo’s net worth in 2025 somewhere between $275 million and $600 million, depending on what you count (salary, endorsements, assets).  But with this new milestone, those older numbers look modest in comparison.

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So who’s behind him now? Here are some names frequently mentioned, along with their rough net worths:

• Lionel Messi: Often considered Ronaldo’s peer in both football and finances, Messi’s fortune is estimated around $580 million in some sources  .
• Neymar Jr.: A top earner from both salary and endorsements, Neymar is often listed in the top 5 richest players.
• Kylian Mbappé: Young, marketable, and already stacking big contracts and brand deals.
• Faiq Bolkiah: He’s often listed as the richest footballer if you include inherited wealth. Some say his net worth is in the billions, though not from football itself.  

These numbers are noisy. They depend on what you include (investments, private assets, debts). But Ronaldo’s jump to billionaire status changes the conversation. He’s not just a player anymore, he’s a business mogul, a brand, a legacy.

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The question now: who’ll be the next footballer to break into the billion-dollar club? Messi? Mbappé? A royal heir playing on the side? Watch this space.

Zelda Williams, the daughter of the late comedian and actor Robin Williams, has made a powerful and emotional statement online, one that’s resonating with fans, artists, and critics of artificial intelligence alike.

In a series of Instagram stories, Zelda pleaded with people to stop sending her AI-generated videos that attempt to recreate her father’s likeness and voice. The clips, which have circulated heavily across TikTok and YouTube, use generative AI to imitate Robin’s expressions, tone, and humor. While some fans claim they do it as a “tribute,” Zelda made it clear that these videos are anything but respectful.

She wrote, “Please just stop sending me AI videos of my dad. Stop believing I want to see it or that I’ll understand. I don’t, and I won’t. If you are trying to troll me, I’ve seen way worse. I’ll restrict you and move on. But please, if you have any decency, stop doing this to him and to me. To everyone, even. Full stop.”

Her message didn’t end there. Zelda went on to explain how disturbing and dehumanizing it feels to see her father’s legacy reduced to a digital puppet. “It’s dumb, it’s a waste of time and energy, and believe me, it’s not what he’d want,”she continued. “To watch the legacies of real people be condensed down to just ‘vaguely looks and sounds like them’ so that’s enough,  just so other people can churn out horrible TikTok slob puppeteering them is maddening.”

She described this kind of AI-generated content as the equivalent of taking real art, real humanity, and turning it into cheap, soulless content for clicks. Her exact words struck hard: “You’re not making art. You’re making disgusting, over-processed hot dogs out of the lives of human beings, out of the history of art and music, and then shoving them down someone else’s throat, hoping they’ll give you a little thumbs up and like it.”

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Robin Williams, known for his warmth, humanity, and quick wit, passed away in 2014, a loss that deeply impacted millions around the world. Since then, fans have often paid tribute through art, videos, and memories. But Zelda’s statement serves as a strong reminder that even in the digital age, consent and respect matter.

AI recreations may seem like a harmless nod to nostalgia, but for families like the Williamses, they blur painful boundaries between memory and exploitation. As Zelda emphasized, these recreations strip away the essence of what made her father’s work human, the soul, spontaneity, and authenticity that no algorithm can ever replicate.

Her words echo a broader concern shared by many in Hollywood and beyond: that AI is crossing ethical lines in entertainment, especially when it comes to the likeness of those who are no longer here to give their consent.

For now, Zelda’s plea is simple, heartfelt, and deeply human: stop sending her AI videos of her father. Stop pretending that imitation is tribute. Let Robin Williams, the man, the artist, the father, rest as he deserves to: in peace, not pixels.

Independent rapper Russ Diemon has once again sparked a conversation about the music industry’s obsession with numbers. In a series of recent posts, Russ took aim at the streaming culture that dominates today’s charts, calling out artists who “fake their streams” while defending those who build genuine fanbases through real sales and support.

On X (formerly Twitter), Russ wrote, “Spotify should remove the public display of streams. Half the streams are fake anyway, and you don’t know who’s doing what. LMAO as it should be.” He followed that up by saying Spotify “knows exactly who’s faking” but simply adjusts their numbers quietly, removing fake plays and cutting them from playlists.

That statement set off a wave of online debate, especially because Russ has long been one of the few mainstream artists openly criticizing how streaming platforms measure success. According to a report by LoveBScott, Russ said the entire system is misleading fans and hurting independent artists. “You don’t know how many of those numbers are real,” he wrote, suggesting that many popular artists benefit from artificial boosts funded by labels or bots.

The rapper’s frustration isn’t new. Earlier this year, he also took issue with Billboard and Luminate, saying that the chart system was unfair to independent musicians who sell albums directly to their audience. He accused Billboard of favoring major-label artists and even claimed that they “cheat artists” by removing real independent sales while allowing others to bundle or inflate their totals.

Fans quickly connected his comments to the recent debate around Taylor Swift’s album sales, as many online critics had questioned how her records continued to post massive first-week numbers. While Russ didn’t name her directly in this particular thread, he’s made it clear before that artists who still sell physical albums deserve respect. For him, it’s not about who’s bigger but rather about who’s real.

disclaimer I haven’t listened to a Taylor swift song in like 10 years but I’ve just seen so many brain dead takes on this albums success that I gotta say something lmao

billboard only counts 4 physical sales per customer and 1 digital sale per week fyi and her building a fanbase… https://t.co/12hmB6oHPn

— RUSS (@russdiemon) October 8, 2025

Russ’s core message is simple: the industry has become too focused on metrics that don’t reflect reality. He believes streams can be bought, manipulated, and inflated, but the connection between artist and listener, the kind that leads to someone buying an album, showing up to a show, or following every release can’t be faked.

Also Read: Taylor Swift’s “The Fate of Ophelia” Is Shattering Streaming Records and Owning Pop Radio

It’s a perspective that hits especially hard coming from Russ, who’s built his career outside the label system. From his early days uploading music independently to selling out arenas on his own, he’s built a fanbase that genuinely supports him. His words cut through because they come from experience, not bitterness.

In an era where everyone’s chasing numbers, Russ Diemon is reminding the industry that what matters most isn’t how big your stream count looks — it’s how real your listeners are.

HBO’s highly anticipated Harry Potter reboot has stirred major buzz after leaked photos showed veteran actor John Lithgow dressed as Professor Albus Dumbledore. Snapped during filming on a beach in Cornwall, England, the photos—first shared on Reddit by user u/i-tiresias—show Lithgow in Dumbledore’s iconic flowing robes and silver beard, hinting at the show’s cinematic scale. The series is set to premiere in 2027, and will span seven seasons, each covering one book from J.K. Rowling’s beloved saga.

The viral images prompted immediate fan speculation. One Redditor asked, “What scene does Dumbledore have on the beach? Only one I can think of is maybe the HBP seaside cave thing, but that’s way later in the series.” Another joked, “Is this the scene where Dumbledore becomes the Bay Harbor Butcher?”

Lithgow’s imposing stature also caught attention. “He looks massive in that second picture,” one fan commented, while another quipped, “It looks like they have him on a really long leash, like they’re letting him play in the sea for a bit as a treat.” According to Metro and Screen Rant, Lithgow was not just walking the shore—he was rehearsing lines from cue cards, signaling serious prep for the role.

The series features a mix of seasoned actors and fresh faces. Joining Lithgow are Janet McTeer, Paapa Essiedu, and Nick Frost, with newcomers Dominic McLaughlin, Arabella Stanton, and Alastair Stout playing Harry, Hermione, and Ron.

Also Read: Google Earth Hack Reveals HBO’s Harry Potter Series Set! Fans Go Wild for Privet Drive Sneak Peek

Despite ongoing controversy over J.K. Rowling’s views on gender identity, HBO and Warner Bros. are moving forward with the project. As one Redditor summed up: “It’s a shame that my love for John Lithgow could never outweigh my loathing for JKR.”

Still, the excitement around the new series—and Dumbledore’s beach moment—is undeniable.

What do we think about John Lithgow as #Dumbledore in HBO’s Harry Potter?? pic.twitter.com/dFe0KdFyYU

— Movie Media (@MovieMediaX) October 8, 2025

Taylor Swift and Blake Lively’s longstanding friendship has consistently been the stuff of admiration for their fans. But things looked shaky after Lively’s alleged legal battle with It Ends With Us co-star and director Justin Baldoni. Rumors of a falling out between the Life of a Showgirl artist and the actress started circulating online, disappointing fans. But now, the outlook seems to be reconciling, and Swifties couldn’t be more elated.

Their strongest indication of a renewed friendship came indirectly—as at the hands of Swift’s fiancé, Travis Kelce. On a recent episode of his podcast, New Heights, which he cohosts with his brother Jason Kelce, the NFL luminaries casually mentioned Blake Lively as “our friend,” reigniting hopes among fans. When talking about Lively’s movie debut in The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants, Jason remarked, “It is also the movie debut of our pal Blake Lively. She killed it. Absolutely wonderful, as Bridget.” Travis joined in, “Killed it. I may be a little biased, but I thought Bridget’s tale was the most realistic and perhaps most fun.”

Jason and his brother continued gushing over Lively’s performance, with Jason commenting, “Bridget, she kind of hit me – clearly tall, strong, bold, gorgeous, and athletic. I had to admit, not the greatest run. Blake, I adore you; does not present as a star sportswoman run.” The warm tone and words they used were telling us strongly that there is no ill feeling between Lively and Swift—or between them and their respective inner circles.

Surprisingly, listeners found that this podcast segment had been recorded nearly a year previously but not published until recently—just one week following the release of Taylor Swift’s new album, The Life of a Showgirl. The timing created speculation that the release was planned and perhaps in concert with Swift’s renewed friendship with Lively. Adding fuel to the flames was Swift’s song called CANCELLED, which speculators said would speak about the emotional aftermath of having a close friend—perhaps hers with Lively.

Adding fuel to the story, Blake Lively liked one of Swift’s posts advertising the new album just recently, an action fans took as a tacit but strong endorsement of her reconciliation.

Also Read: Taylor Swift’s Latest Look Will Leave You SPEECHLESS – See Her Showgirl-Inspired Outfit!

Although Swift and Lively have not officially spoken regarding their speculated falling out, the discreet online exchanges and goodwill gestures indicate that the pair is now on good terms again much to the delight of Swifties around the globe.