World’s richest footballer’s net worth is 344 times more than Premier League’s best paid star

Erling Haaland is the highest-paid player in the Premier League, but the Manchester City striker is a long way off ever being the world's richest footballer, even with his huge contract

Faiq Bolkiah (L) is set to inherit a staggering amount(Image: Peter Van der Klooster, Getty Images)

Erling Haaland may be on a hefty £500,000-per-week contract with Manchester City, but his wealth pales in comparison to that of Faiq Bolkiah.

Despite never making a senior appearance in any of the world's top leagues, Bolkiah is set to inherit an astonishing fortune. Haaland, who already boasts a reported net worth of around £58million, will significantly increase his bank balance by at least another £273m if he fulfils his contract at the Etihad Stadium until 2034.

However, this sum is dwarfed by the wealth Bolkiah stands to inherit. The 27-year-old, once a promising talent in Chelsea's esteemed academy and the youth systems of Leicester City and Southampton, has not managed to make his mark at the highest level.

The Los Angeles-born winger signed his first professional contract with Maritimo, a club in Portugal's second tier, five years ago. In 2021, he moved to Thai League 1 side Chonburi, where he made just 32 appearances before transferring to league rivals Ratchaburi, where he has been since 2023.

While players in the league won't be earning anywhere near as much as some of Europe's top stars, Bolkiah doesn't need to worry about his income. He is the heir to a staggering £20billion fortune - around 344 times the amount Haaland is currently worth, reports the Mirror.

As a member of the Brunei Royal Family and nephew to the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, Faiq's wealth is largely derived from oil and gas reserves, luxury properties, and investments that far outstrip those of most athletes and celebrities. However, his vast fortune hasn't affected his humility, as evidenced by the opinions of his former peers during his time at Chelsea's academy.

Erling Haaland's Manchester City contract is worth a fortune(Image: Getty Images)

There, he played alongside the likes of Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Tammy Abraham, as well as Ruben Sammut, who noted his grounded nature. In a previous interview with The Athletic, Sammut said: "You would never ever have thought he was something like the 12th in line to the throne.

"You would not have thought of him as royalty. He was a humble guy, trying every day like every academy player. We used to joke he didn't need to play football.

"But he wanted to play because he loved football. It wasn't a regular thing we mentioned. It was that typical banter, saying he is royalty.

Bolkiah pursued a career in England but now plays closer to his native Brunei(Image: Pakawich Damrongkiattisak/Getty Images)

"Saying, 'What's he doing playing with us?' But we all knew deep down how much he wanted to play, so it was more good-willed passing comments."

Haaland is set to spearhead Manchester City's quest to reclaim the Premier League title from Liverpool this season. Despite finishing third last term, the 25-year-old forward was in scintillating form, netting 22 times in 33 league outings for the Sky Blues.

The Norwegian international also shone at the Club World Cup this summer, bagging three goals and providing an assist in four matches before Pep Guardiola's men were knocked out in the round of 16 by Al-Hilal.