Neymar Sr. has boldly claimed that he became a millionaire before his son, Neymar Jr., even stepped onto the world stage. The entrepreneur revealed that since 2006, he has held the rights to Neymar’s brand and image, and by 2013, while Neymar Jr. was earning a modest R$ 200,000 as his highest salary, Neymar Sr. was raking in a staggering R$ 40 million annually through his business ventures.
Neymar Sr.’s Business Prowess
“I earned more money with my son than he did. I was rich before he hit the big time. By 2013, Neymar’s biggest paycheck was R$ 200,000. When he left Santos for Barcelona, he didn’t even have R$ 5 million in his account. And here I was, already making R$ 40 million a year through my company [with his image],” Neymar Sr. boasted on the Round Cast podcast.
“Since 2006, Neymar has been a client of my company. He’s the individual, I’m the corporation [owner of his image]. But he makes all the decisions. Nowadays, 90% of our contracts come from abroad,” he added.
Neymar’s Career Independence
As his son’s manager, Neymar Sr. has emphasized that Neymar Jr. now holds complete control over his career trajectory and has the freedom to steer his own course.
“He’s out there, with all the power in his hands and feet. I’ve done my part. The only thing he lets me do now is give advice. I’m always whispering in his ear: ‘Slow down, go right, go left, speed up.’ But when the going gets tough, we stick together and follow the same path,” he said.
The Future of Neymar’s Football Career
Neymar Sr. also touched on his son’s future in football and the inevitable day when Neymar Jr. will hang up his boots.
“It will break my heart when that day comes. But we’ve got at least three or four more years of Neymar at his peak, ready to achieve more greatness. His contract with Al-Hilal runs until June 2025. I’m watching the market closely, preparing for his return. And let me tell you, he always comes back stronger than before. I don’t have a crystal ball for the future. We adapt to what comes our way. We’ll see what Neymar wants, but Saudi Arabia has been good to him, offering him protection and happiness.”
Neymar Sr.’s Business Empire
Currently, Neymar Sr. commands a business empire with five companies under his belt: Ns10 Holding and Participações SA, Lisul Serviços Especializados para Aviação LTDA, N Consultoria Esportiva e Empresarial LTDA, the Neymar Jr. Project Institute, and N N Administração de Bens Participações e Investimentos LTDA, all of which generate revenue from Neymar Jr.’s image and endorsements.
