All of Kylian Mbappé’s Money: How Much Does the Real Madrid Forward Earn?
Kylian Mbappé is not only a superstar of modern football and Real Madrid's major acquisition in recent years but also a well-established brand. It is no coincidence that just before Euro 2024, the French forward was named by Forbes as the most commercially successful athlete under 25 in the past year. Mbappé earned $110 million, with $20 million coming from sponsorship deals and off-field investments. The footballer is focused on the future, understanding that consistency is critical.
Mbappé earns €14 million annually from his contract with Nike alone
Mbappé is managed by an empire led by his mother, Fayza Lamari, and Belgian lawyer Delfina Verheiden. His mother realized her son's vast football and commercial potential when Kylian signed his first contract with Nike at 12. Under a 10-year agreement until 2029, the sportswear giant pays the French forward €14 million annually. In 2017, Lamari established the family company KEWJF to manage Mbappé’s assets and promotion, which was rebranded last year to Interconnected Ventures (IV). IV includes Verheiden’s law firm and former investment banker Ziad Hammouda, with a team of over 30 people.
Currently, Interconnected Ventures oversees four companies: Coalition Capital, which handles investments; Collective Motion, which manages the player’s image rights; Cultural Factory, which focuses on branding; and Zebra Valley, which produces content and documentaries. Through Coalition Capital, Mbappé acquired a controlling stake in the French club Cannes this summer, a team he played for as a child. According to Le Parisien, the deal cost €20 million, and the new owner promises to clear the club’s debts. “We considered several options, but Cannes seemed the most attractive. Negotiations took several months,” commented Lamari on the deal.
Cultural Factory has registered seven trademarks for Mbappé in the past year, including his name, initials, goal celebrations, and even his catchphrase, “Don’t talk to me about age.” With Zebra Valley, the footballer established a strategic partnership with the NBA in 2022 to create content that connects football and basketball fans through essential stories. In addition to sports, Zebra Valley produces music, technology, and youth culture content. Collective Motion handles everything related to the player’s image. Thanks to them, Mbappé secured 80% of image rights in a five-year contract with Real Madrid — a groundbreaking concession from President Florentino Pérez.
Like many top athletes, Mbappé has a range of prominent sponsors. In his everyday life, he loves glasses, so he eagerly signed a deal with Oakley — last year saw the launch of the first Signature Series 2023 collection. “For me, being a footballer means understanding the importance of attention to detail,” Mbappé said. “I brought the same mentality to creating my new signature collection with Oakley. The bold and bright colors reflect my personality, while the glasses are aesthetic and versatile. Just as I have my own playing philosophy, each glasses model has its own style.”
He endorses top global brands and donates 30% of his income to his mother’s charity
Luxury watch brands usually avoid football, focusing on sponsoring golf, yachting, equestrian sports, Formula 1, and tennis. However, Mbappé is an exception, having signed a deal with Hublot at 19. During Euro 2024, he was seen wearing the Hublot Big Bang Steel White Diamonds with a skeleton dial adorned with diamonds and sapphires before and after matches. Mbappé also endorses luxury brand Louis Vuitton, NFT fantasy football startup Sorare, international hotel operator Accor, premium suitcase maker RIMOWA, and collectible card producer Panini. In 2025, Nike will create its own shoe line for Mbappé.
“Kylian and his team know how to say ‘no,’” Steve Martin, director of MSQ Sport + Entertainment, said in an interview with The Athletic. “It’s hard for any footballer to resist sponsorship offers, but Mbappé manages to be selective, preferring only reliable brands. He is not covered in logos, does not do photoshoots every other week, and does not promote products that don’t align with him.”
In February 2020, shortly after turning 21, Mbappé wrote an article for The Players' Tribune, filled with life lessons from his childhood in Bondy — a Parisian suburb with high poverty and a significant immigrant population. “In Bondy, you learn values that go beyond football. Maybe there isn’t a lot of money. But we are dreamers. Maybe that’s because dreaming is free.” Kylian continues to dream even after moving to Real Madrid.
Thanks to his parents, the forward understands that life is not just about taking but also giving. After winning the 2018 World Cup, Kylian donated his €350,000 bonus to the charity Premiers de Cordee, which helps children with disabilities through sports. In 2020, the Inspired By KM Foundation was established, managed by his mother, and received 30% of Mbappé’s earnings. “Initially, I wanted the distribution to be 50/50, but we settled on 30%. I told Kylian that I wouldn’t work for a smaller percentage. I’d rather retire and sunbathe in the Maldives,” Lamari told Le Parisien.
Mbappé has tried to merge social responsibility with his commercial partnerships in a new way. In December 2019, Nike’s clothing line was named Bondy Dreams, featuring 93 — the administrative number of the Seine-Saint-Denis region. The deal with Oakley includes charity work for children with impaired vision. “Sports stars who see sponsorship as a duty will never see an acceleration in their value,” says Gareth Balch, CEO of marketing agency Two Circles. “Mbappé creates value for those he works with by presenting his personality authentically and supporting causes he believes in.”
Mbappé to Receive €150 Million Signing Bonus for Move to Real Madrid
Kylian Mbappé has significantly expanded his influence through his friendship with French President Emmanuel Macron, even walking the red carpet with him at the Cannes Film Festival. When the far-right won the European Parliament elections this summer, Mbappé took a stand, urging voters to oppose radicals in the French parliamentary elections. “Mbappé is a smart person who understands that today you cannot be a top-level athlete with global influence without taking a clear stance,” says Jean-Baptiste Gégane, author of the biography Revolution Mbappé. “He also realized that, to paraphrase Michael Jordan, ‘Republicans buy sneakers too.’ Hence, his commitments align with his interests, which may sometimes be criticized in France.”
Now, Kylian is ready to conquer Madrid and Spain, highlighting an essential aspect of his relationship with Real Madrid President Florentino Pérez — he is not just an employer but a partner. This collaboration is expected to benefit both sides, as seen during the player's presentation, which attracted over 80,000 fans at Santiago Bernabéu. “Moving to Madrid could give Mbappé’s brand a tremendous boost,” says Martin. “He’s already a big star, but playing in Ligue 1 limited his visibility. Madrid operates commercially on a different global level, as seen with Jude Bellingham.”
Mbappé will earn less at Real Madrid, but it’s all relative. His salary in Madrid will be €31.25 million per season before taxes, compared to €72 million at PSG for the same period. Pérez handled the situation very cleverly and fairly: considering the free transfer from Paris, he will give the money the club would have spent on Kylian back to the player as a €150 million signing bonus. Mbappé will receive this amount in equal installments until 2029. Additionally, there’s the significant achievement of securing an option for 80% of image rights.
“All of this means a new chapter in this well-thought-out story. With a new football team on the field and a strengthened team supporting his brand, Mbappé could become one of the most famous and highest-paid athletes in history,” believes Gégane. “Now, the forward needs to prove whether he belongs in the same category as Pelé, Jordan, Roger Federer, or Tiger Woods. This story starts now.”
Published by Patrick Jane
04.09.2024