Cristiano Ronaldo Invests in Perplexity AI, Enters Partnership

Billionaire footballer Cristiano Ronaldo has taken a stake in Perplexity AI Inc., marking the Portuguese star’s most high-profile investment to date.

The size of the stake and financial terms weren’t disclosed in a statement published Thursday. Perplexity AI also entered a global sponsorship agreement with Ronaldo, and launched an interactive hub for fans on its search engine.

Cristiano Ronaldo at a dinner with US President Donald Trump and Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, at the White House in November.

Photographer: Anna Rose Layden/Politico/Bloomberg

Founded in 2022, Perplexity has emerged as one of the fastest-growing AI startups, positioning itself as a direct challenger to Google. The San Francisco-based company was valued at $20 billion in a September funding round and has been expanding its enterprise ...